Maryland’s Mean Kids in the Lunchroom

 

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. There’s a celebration on May 30th at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods.

The Howard County Library System has curated a reading list to broaden our understanding. You can find it here.  They have been hosting events throughout the month at various branches, as well.

Meanwhile, in State Government…

Republican delegates mocked colleague’s accent, implied he was a Chinese spy, also titled:

Republican delegates face criticism for video mocking Chinese-born colleague, Pamela Wood, Baltimore Banner

Del. Mark Fisher and Del. Brian Chisholm posted a 13-minute video on social media focused on Del. Chao Wu, a Democrat representing parts of Howard and Montgomery counties. Throughout the video, they engage in racist stereotypes and insinuate that Wu has communist sympathies.

(Reminder: you can access this article for free through the Howard County Library System website.)

You may remember Delegate Chao Wu from his service as a member of the Howard County Board of Education. You may also remember that he and I don’t exactly see education through a similar lens. 

Oh, the Humanities! Village Green/Town² 2/20/2019

I called him out over actions and attitudes that concerned me. You will notice that it was possible for me to do that without making fun of his ethnic heritage, his accent, or by insinuating he was a spy. Why would I? That was not the point. It never entered my mind.

Since that time Dr. Wu, a Democrat, has been elected as a State Delegate representing a district that falls within Howard and Montgomery Counties. The Banner article relates the information that Wu …”holds a doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has worked as an engineer and data scientist…”

It’s not surprising that he has taken an interest in issues concerning his field of expertise. Yet that’s what the two Republicans claim to find suspicious.

Let’s face it, these two have been emboldened by the current national political leadership to give their outright racism free rein. They are nothing but the mean kids in the school lunchroom who mock the new kid with taunts of:

• you look funny 
• you talk funny 
• your lunch looks weird
• look at me I’m Chinese, too! (Uses hands to make slanty-eyed expression)

This sickens me. These two men have no business in government /public life.

Del. Fisher, upon being called upon to face the consequences of his own actions, released a statement that essentially says:

I’m mad that I got caught and that House Speaker woman sends mean letters.

Or, to be completely precise about it:

Fisher responded to requests for comment by sharing a link to a social media post from the far-right Maryland Freedom Caucus — of which the Calvert County delegate is a member — that criticizes Peña-Melnyk for “sending private letters policing podcasts and using CCP-style speech tactics” against caucus members.

Here’s the mean letter.

Delegate Chisholm hadn’t responded as of the time that the Banner article went to press. I wonder what his excuse will be.

Honestly, there’s no legitimate excuse. A sincere apology would only be a first step, followed by a great big helping of accountability.

Accountability for unacceptable behavior. Does America even do that anymore? I sure hope that Maryland does. 

Village Green/Town² Comments