Asian America

According to C.N. Le from www.asian-nation.org (see links section):

“First, I define “Asian Americans” as the population living in the U.S. who self-identify as having Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry, in whole or in part, regardless of whether they’re U.S.- or foreign-born, a U.S. citizen or not, length of residence, or in the U.S. legally or illegally.” 

Now, here’s where I have to respectfully disagree with him on this matter.  And this is why–if you’re not an American citizen then you are simply not an American.  It’s as plain and simple as that. Even if you have a green card or a visa, you’re still not an American.  You’re just an Asian foreigner who happens to live, study, or work in America.  And because of that, it does not qualify you as being an “Asian American”.

If I went to France and went to school there with a student visa, that does not make me French, let alone a French Asian.  And if I went there illegally, that gives me even less reason for to claim myself as a French Asian.  So the same goes will all foreigners that come to America—just because you’re here and just because you may live here does not automatically entitle you to be an American.  Citizenship is what makes you American—not presence.

If you come to America from Asia and you go through the process and earn your citizenship, then you’re effectively an Asian American, even if you were born and raised in Asia for a majority of your life.  Kabeesh? 

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