EPICANTHUS

Nawww, I ain’t got nothing even remotely profound to offer vis-a-vis tomorrow’s momentous election, except that it feels like history is going to be made and that the people have a chance to make a huge impact on the political process, stir things up a little. I love the smell of history in the morning. It smells like… like donuts and coffee.

Back to Asian America, though, there are many, many leading Asian American groups prowling the electoral waters, aren’t there? Sending out press releases, making themselves available to the media. So business as usual on that front.

API this and APA that showing up on TV and radio saying we’re “trending” a certain way because of this, that and huh. Asians in the media have also had a field day, serving up their respective communities for the great white eye in the sky (now in HD). Asian American (National) Journalists Association’s recap will be seen on C-Span, Saturday at 3:45 a.m.

I only know one thing or maybe two. What Asian Americans don’t need in this potentially transcendent moment is for a bunch of slanty-eyed journalists to tell America what we’re thinking. “Now, with a report on the Asian American voting bloc, here’s our Natalie Nissan in Chinatown. Nancy?”

The awfullest stereotypes are being foisted as fact on why Koreans in New Jersey will be Obama’s ace in the hole or that Japanese Americans will go McCain-Palin because they are by far the most assimilated Asian American subgroup with a proud heritage of military service. How about the secret nobody talks about: That Asians are so totally racist, a Bradley Effect will have them going for Mac and Sarah in droves tomorrow.

But it is an exciting time. This is the most exciting political campaign I have ever experienced. I’ll be tracking the Korean vote in Virginia. Nobody’s talked about the influence the church has on this community and whether stands on abortion and the teaching of intelligent design in public schools will color their decisions. How will Obama’s criticism of South Korea’s trade surplus flavor their political bi-bim bap?

Then there are the newly naturalized Chinese and Filipino communities, different as night and day. Nobody’s even mentioned the Southeast and East Asian American communities. Asian American vote? Bah!

And… will our youth go to the polls in large enough numbers to be a real factor? Because they haven’t in my lifetime, even during the tumultuous ’60s and ’70s, when they were conspicuously AWOL.

I am upset with the “No on 8″ folks in California (those seeking to block the religious right-inspired ban on gay marriages) and, in particular, with George Takei for trying to ride the coattails of the Japanese American internment issue in a last-minute desperation move to stave off defeat Tuesday. Shame on you, Mr. Sulu. You almost made me mad enough to vote yes. You abdicated any leadership role in the community through your disturbing appearances on Howard Stern, which were sad and unfunny. And shame on the Japanese American National Museum for allowing itself to be a part of Takei’s gay marriage grandstanding. Bachi ga ataru, yo!

Okay, I gotta split. I’m going out in search of McCain-Palin lawn signs.

Yes/No on Calif. Prop. 8