I’ve got good reason to love Jeremy Lin. I’m an Asian American who went to Harvard. I didn’t play basketball, but I did play white guys in black theatre productions. (You take your extra-curriculars where you can). So my love for Lin is real. I’m just realistic. I root for the Golden State Warriors and we had a mild case of Lin-phomania last year.
Lin-sanity is a New York phenomenon. I’m not sure it can be sustained.
I wish Jeremy nothing but the best. No Schadenfreude from me. He’s a Norcal homey. He worked hard and when he had his chance this time around he delivered. But I’m not sure if last week was one of those special weeks you remember forever because you just don’t replicate it that easily. I ran for 187 yards on 7 carries as a Pop Warner half-back. I still talk about that. OK, yeah, Jeremy’s doing it in the NBA. Big diff. I hope he has a long run and can play at the level he’s shown, but I remember last year in Oakland when he couldn’t get off the bench.
Still, we can thank Jeremy for reinforcing the point to all of America–there’s a difference between Asian and Asian Americans.
It’s more than a technicality. It’s a point worth stating over and over.
We forgot the distinction in WWII and opened up internment camps—for Americans.
As China shows its economic might, some in this country are trying to blur distinctions again.
Maybe Jeremy Lin will help remind people during this critical time in world history, there are Asians, and then there are Asian Americans.
For more,check out my post on the Asian American Legal Defense Fund blog:
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