Article from March 09

Please enjoy this video by Shannon Sun-Higginson titled Hapa Perspectives. Also, enjoy this month's article Most Of Us Are A Nation Of Cowards. Attorney General Eric Holder took a lot of crap for the comment. I have no issue with what he stated because it holds much weight. Although I don't agree with his wanting to bring back the AWB (yes I am a gun owner and NRA member), I do agree with him on this issue. Communication is an important part of our society and we as a society seem to be going in reverse. How long before we bust out the sticks and mud and do a little cuneiform? Anyway, enjoy this month's installment. And don't worry, you'll see my mug next month! Keep it Hapa people!

Best, Frank

Most Of Us Are A Nation Of Cowards
by Frank Y Pak Agostinelli

US Attorney General Eric Holder punched everyone in the mouth recently. There are times when punching someone in the face will make the world a better place. Please don’t focus on my nursery rhyme. Focus on the fact Eric Holder is right, we are a nation of cowards. And before the “there’s no such thing as race” crowd comes running in, hopped on Starbucks latte with water pistols blazing, know your role and shut your mouth! I have zero tolerance for the tide pool mentality of the supposed, alleged high society types. Just remember I’ll be the one protecting your rights (and ass, even though you attempted to rip mine) when SHTF.

I couldn’t help but smile when I heard the comments. I wasn’t offended for obvious reasons but I know a great many were. Without having to guess, this is what happens when one spends their life with their head up their ass. My only problem with Holder’s comment is the focus being centered on the word “cowards.” I really don’t know what people in America expect. More lies? Why? Did you get your feelings hurt? Aw. Too bad. There are no government bailout programs for racial cowardice. If White America has a problem with this statement it is because a) there was a huge majority who voted for an alleged first Black president and therefore his election proves there is no more racism (in their shallow minds) in America and b) the ones who voted for President Obama specifically did this in an effort to drive away the White Guilt (and there were zero reasons to feel guilty) to prove there is no more racism, well take your pick. Moron. Idiot. Imbecile. Or all of the above. Just because you washed your car doesn’t mean it’s clean.

During his speech, Holder did state “we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race.” He is right. I speak about it a great deal and no one gives me a problem. At least nowadays. Back then, yes. Then again, who really wants to give me a problem? It doesn’t matter if you are username Ladiesman 217on a forum board that tip toes on about race relations. It’s easy to speak freely or be an ass behind a keyboard and a monitor. Speaking about race, face to face doesn’t happen as often as Holder intimated it should. There is a problem that stems from face to face discussions. Emotions can run wild and some people have hearing and listening problems. I have had heated discussions with only two sides.

Whites and Blacks. Some Whites gave me problems. Some Blacks gave me problems. No one, no matter what race wants to get hit with a dismissive “oh here we go again,” which has been in my experiencing the WTF card when engaging some White people on race. It is not to be outdone by the “I love everybody no matter what color they are” proclamation declaration. Really? Why the disclaimer? You’re so full of crap you need Exlax. The same people who make this declaration get worried when people of “any” color move to their neighborhood.

Some Blacks will go on about being enslaved by America and the 400 years bit. Or how they are being held back from achievement. People like Bill Cosby, Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Thomas Sowell, Walt Williams, Maya Angelou, and take your pick of any Congressperson and most notable Republican Michael Steele, the first Black leader of the GOP have been held back. It’s old like a Chico And The Man rerun and holds no weight whatsoever now. It did 50 some odd years ago. But this is 2009. You will never hear me say the past does not matter. It does. It matters what happened what happened 233 years ago. It is all about what you do with this information and apply it so it doesn’t happen again in the future or for future generations. Even those who are descendants of Africans who were sold to America (through many different hands that started with the tribe’s chief) cannot use this argument.

Believe it or not, two different races of people can actually sit down and have a civilized exchange and both benefit positively from the moment. It’s called the art of communication. Face to face that is. Not over a DSL or cable or satellite or phone line. Whatever happened to discussions between people? There was a time when people went to a coffee shop not to plug in and tune out but to BS with some of their friends and locals about important every day issues. Those days need a comeback. There is no “we need to figure out a way” here. The answer is quite simple and always has been. Talk, listen, absorb and then reapply. Sometimes we may want to believe it’s some kind of out of reach skill. It’s not and never has been. It’s matter of not being lazy and putting our best foot forward! We all have something to offer and we need to expand our boundaries when it comes to other people. We are cheating ourselves by staying to ourselves.

I could ramble on about Holder’s comment but to me it would be just filling out space on a page. He doesn’t deserve any extra credit, fist bumps, low fives, high fives, or over exaggerated pats on the back. This is something we all should be doing. He does get “credit” for bringing it to the attention of everyone. The media should have focused not on three words. Their efforts would have been properly utilized in “discussing” face to face the best way to bridge the gap and become a nation of one.