In the ensuing days, we have been further saddened by the ways in which Seung-Hui Cho's ethnicity and immigrant status have been emphasized in some quarters. We feel that this works to distance him from U.S. society and reinforces a misapprehension that has been present for over a century: the idea that Asian Americans-even those born here-are perpetual foreigners and therefore not "real" Americans. While Cho originally immigrated from South Korea, he did so at the age of eight and, therefore, was raised and socialized as an American.
Without placing Cho's ethnicity or immigrant identity in the proper social context, such emphasis may foster misplaced racial prejudice, suspicion and discrimination. As the Asian American Psychological Association observes, "Psychological research has indicated [that] experiences with specific individuals of color have the clear potential to be generalized – to the detriment of the community and the shared goal of justice and equality." Thus, as Stewart Kwoh of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center suggests, we must be alert to potential backlash while we also work to "help heal the nation and support the Virginia Tech community."
We recall that the race of the white shooters was not highlighted in discussions of the killings at Columbine High School eight years ago, nor in other high-profile cases that occurred in California; Jonesboro, Ar.; Paducah, Ky.; Pearl, Ms., and other schools in the United States. While it is beyond our scope to speculate here on the causes of such violence, we can say this: Just as other shootings were the exception rather than the rule in their communities, so too must Cho's actions be understood as the aberrant behavior of an extremely troubled individual. Let us not add to our burden of loss by stigmatizing immigrants, entire ethnic groups, or nationalities for tragedies that arise from some combination of mental illness and the pressures of modern society.
We must try to understand and ameliorate the complex factors that cause some young people to commit atrocious acts of violence to others and to themselves. Rather than fixating on race, ethnicity or immigration status, we appeal to the media and other public forums to focus attention on the issues of gun control, the culture of violent masculinity, and resources for the effective diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Let us try to make our communities more compassionate by reaching out to those who feel alone and forging communication across cultural boundaries.
This letter was written on the behalf of the Five College Asian/Pacific/American Studies Committee.
Karen Cardozo
Amherst College, Visiting Five College Professor of American Studies,
Co-Chair
Richard Chu
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Five College Assistant Professor of
History, Co-Chair