When awful comedians run out of material, they start denouncing society and its"political correctness".  The political correctness that looks down on racist jokes and the use of slurs on certain groups as well as the political correctness that dictates that misogynist is not okay are frequently targets for these rants.  Other times, thanks to the anonymity of the Internet, "trolling" (intentionally posting inflammatory remarks) becomes an outlet for the racist and sexually frustrated.  All these individuals, however different share one thing in common.  These idiots tend think they know better than everyone else, that society is stupid and political correctness is somehow constraining them from expressing themselves.

Let us consider the case of In-Goo Kwak.  This student at Tufts (with the urging of his dormates of course) was upset over the "political correctness" on campus and decided to express this by parodying a campaign poster of a fellow Asian-American student.  The posters, which are almost the same in design feature a picture of Kwak with the captions "squinty eyes, Big Vision" and "Prease vote me! I work reary hard!".  I've never found ethnic humor particularly funny, but I can say that this is not only terrible comedy but sucks at being a parody too.  Who is the target audience here?  It's not Kwak's fellow Asians, its other people that think Asians are "hilarious".  There are a few people willing to reduce themselves to a racist caricature for laughs and I assert they all have on thing in common, an burning desire for attention.

Look at me! I'm Asian! That's hirarious right?  Pay attention to me! Pay attention to me! Why don't you notice me?  Damn political correctness.

If I may, In-Goo Kwak, you are not funny, not in the slightest.  Now your friends may get a kick out of the funny impressions you do but let's make one thing clear.  If you want to make an ass of yourself for attention, go ahead.  Free speech allows you to do that.  However, when you "parody" someone by making fun of her posters, you are attacking an entire community.  I don't know Alice Pang, but by mocking her in that way, you reduced her to a stereotype.  You dehumanized her and relegated her to her ethnicity, not her accomplishments, her personality or her feelings.  No one in our generation can truly grasp the ugliness and discrimination behind these stereotypes but I can tell you, that even today, in an elementary school somewhere, some kid is getting picked on for having "squinty eyes" or "brown skin".  Some kid is being called a "lo mein eater" and another is being made fun of for eating curry.  I went to school in New York City so I KNOW this is how it is for students.

A few months ago, we at Binghamton University protest remarks made by student representatives toward an Asian student during a heated argument.  In the days before the protest (and even now), we received threats and angry protests not just from Caucasian students but more so from other Asians on campus.  They felt that we were "separating" Asians from the rest of the campus and were being too "politically correct".  Others, who think of themselves are arbiters and peacemakers urge us to, "transcend race and work together".  Ironically, those people are the least informed about the system andenfranchised racism.

What's the big deal?  Asians have squinty eyes and some Asian people do eat dog.  Why do you people have to start trouble?

Stereotyping is the greatest enemies to Asian-Americans.  While we all equal under the law, arguably disparities remain.  Hollywood is still no-mans land for Asians and in the business world, Asians have a hard time rising into upper management.  There are many people who think Asians "can't do" certain things.  Why do they think so?  Stereotyping.