harry, did you see the last sentence of the article ("if you understand satire...")? granted i thought it was a little over the top, and he probably lost quite a few readers in the process, but i didn't find it outright objectionable, either.

You have obviously completely missed the point of the article. The joke is not on the Asians - it's on Mecha and BSU because of their stupid rally for affirmitive action. It's modeled after Jonathan Swift's Indicent Proposal. By writing this, you've proven to the world that you know nothing about english literature and can't take a joke. Congrats.

Are most people unquestioning sheep who don't rigorously apply _consistent_ standards of logical analysis to mainstream media propaganda?Would Mr. Levine find it funny, or objectionable and offensive, if we replaced "Asian" with "Jews":"If you're going to blame anyone, I say we blame the Jews.""I agree that it's hard to find other white people I can identify with on a campus that feels more like Tel Aviv than L.A.""I hear some liberal arts colleges accept head shots from applicants, and I think a similar program at UCLA would be monumentally successful at helping us weed out the young Ariel Sharons and Netanyahus from potential Mandelas, Lincolns and Estefans.""These overflow Jews could then be funneled into a new UC campus where they can be free to explore their identities. Indeed the UC system has a brand new campus that fits the bill perfectly. Say hello to the UC Merced Yarmulke."In fact, if we do unto others as others do unto us, in this lesson of double standards and hypocrisy, it would be easy to point out another glaring hypocrisy of ommission in the mainstream dialog about affirmative action:Asians and whites may lose out to other minorities because of arguments of over-representation and diversity...BUT -- "Over-represented" Jews are not counted & scrutinized as a separate group, and instead are mixed in the white applicant pool. Therefore, Jews, who are also "model minorites" are completely buffered from the negative effects of affirmative action by the numerically larger group of non-Jewish whites, and therefore can dominate within the white applicant pool within elite Universities.This pointing out the obvious and unsaid truth.Racial/ethnic double standards.Hypocrisy.And the complete lack of penetration of reality, fairness, and truth into the media, when it comes to asians.

I fail to see how this is modeled after Swift's indecent proposal that dealt with the problem of poor irish in Britain by suggesting eating their children.This seems to me as a closeted bigot trying and failing to write a funny article and nothing more.

"Satire" or not, it's still racist horseshit. Ain't nothing satirical about a white guy slurring Asian folk.

Unfortunately the Asian Invasion Satire is very racist, trying to be funny or not, the writer should be addressing the problem of the lack of Blacks and Latinos on campus.

Sheila - if you're going to try to show someone up with your superior knowledge of English Lit, learn the title of the piece you're referencing. Swift wrote a MODEST proposal. Indecent Proposal is a Robert Redford movie.

I just read the article and the author is actually pro-Asian. He clearly makes the case that Asians are on campus because of their grades and test scores.

I even wrote indecent proposal in my previous submission, I hate how pop culture gets stuck in the mind and won't leave. Still this isn't modeled after Swift.

yeah, i have to agree with brad. it's pretty clear that the author was protesting affirmative action policies by making the argument that asians dominated the campus because they earned it through their test scores. he's being "pro-asian," i guess.but the whole thing is problematic, because he's missing (again) the whole point of affirmative action policies, and he's using a pro-asian stance to do it. the article is all around stupid, although not for the reasons that harry outlined.

I don't ever post here, but I feel like I need to combat the conservative multiculturalists on this thread who are silencing my inner civil rights activist and disgracing the political potential of my Asian American family. It is VERY clear to me that Jed Levine is criticizing the efficacy with which Affirmative Action is able to address historic and institutional racism present in academic institutions. He is as leftist as they can get, and his arguments are similar to Cheryl Harris' on Affirmative Action in her 1993 article "Whiteness as Property" in the Harvard Review. I think what sums up his thoughts best, and what also parallels with a Harrisonian logic is this little snippet of Levine's article:

"But these people are wrong. Affirmative action makes sense, because, as any pre-med will tell you, treat the symptom, not the disease."

I may be biased because I attended UCLA for 2 years and enjoyed the overrepresentation; but I don't think my bias would change that Jed Levine is not "oppressing" Asians with albeit racist satirical rhetoric, rather he is in support of fair and transparent systems which seek to address racism for the long-term. It would behoove many in this thread to take note of yet another satirical quote of his on how Affirmative Action affects Asian Americans, particularly in how it homogenizes and neglects to serve our Asian American community:

"How can we fix this gross inequality and make sure that UCLA better reflects the racial makeup of California? How can we curb the Asian invasion?"

Honestly, Jed Levine's satire doesn't only serve as a wake up call to his white brethren; it is also to us Asian-Americans who seem to think voting isn't important and also don't realize that we are voluntarily giving up our right to citizenship by not becoming politically aware, if not active. What is our responsibility as Asian Americans and as proprietors of the future of America is that we ought to realize how poor a solution Affirmative Action is in its most recent form.Jed Levine forces us to do this through his racist lens, but he simultaneously implores us to criticize Affirmative Action and make it better. If there ever was a "whiter" thing than the power to affirm an underrepresented minority's status through action, it is Affirmative Action, and that's not just me talking -- those words are in line with African American, UCLA professor of law Cheryl Harris' thoughts. *Not that her race, socioeconomic status, affiliations, etc. should qualify my statements above, but there are always those pessimists out there...*Peace to the Middle East (and Jammu & Kashmir).Best,MudPhud Girl

i think Levine had satirical intent... the problem is that hes just completely inept at penning satire.

The usual rule in effect is that people don't denigrate another race (which has less power and is already too often stereotyped) to make a point.It's socially more appropriate for a person to make fun of his/her own specific group.

I have no clue what to make of this. I was in Orange County just four days ago. Young white high school girls were complaining about the difficulty of getting into Berkeley and UCLA due to the "Asian Invasion." And these were 14-17 year olds! And you think segregation exists in poor communities. In OC rich Asians and whites are pretty much segregated and stare down each other!

Way up at the top of the comments, someone decided to show us the other side of the article by replacing Asian with Jews. I would just like to know when Jews become a race? It is a big mistake to racialize a religion. It happens so often that when I was growing up, no one believed that I was possibly allowed to celebrate the holy days because I was Black. How could a Black person be Jewish?Yes, Jews are a minority, but not a racial one. Good points, up until "BUT -- "Over-represented" Jews are not counted & scrutinized as a separate group, and instead are mixed in the white applicant pool." The U.S. understanding of Jews seem to be Eurocentric. That can be attributed to the Holocaust, which happened in Europe. Further exploration of Judaism leads us to millions in China, India, Ethiopia, Morocco, Algeria, Brazil, and so on. They (I no longer practice any form of religion) come from every race on the planet.http://www.antiracistparent.com/2006/10/16/i-wish-my-parents-knew/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew#Ethnic_divisions

I'd just like to point out that Jed Levine is a common Jewish last name. But I think that hiding... knew that before he/she made their comment above.RE: comment by blah on 10/14/06

The usual rule in effect is that people don't denigrate another race (which has less power and is already too often stereotyped) to make a point.

It's socially more appropriate for a person to make fun of his/her own specific group.

Do you, like The Man, also make up rules as you play the game blah? That's called cheating. It's deplorable in the real world.RE: comment by anonymous on 10/14/06

i think Levine had satirical intent... the problem is that hes just completely inept at penning satire.

I know, you expressed this in your earlier comments. I am not praising Levine's writing. The Daily Bruin never had very prolific writers even when I went there; I only picked it up for the crosswords to do in Physics 6H lectures. But I agree, his writing could have reached farther. However, I also feel that what is absent in his writing is equally important and is what hints at the need for change in Affirmative Action.

MudPhud Girl, it's pretty outrageous and galling that you accuse me of "deplorable" "cheating"??? -- When I point out that it is indeed the usual custom that people can make racist jokes towards themselves rather than another.That's why it's usually regarded as racist when a white person uses the "n" word when describing black people. It's usually regarded as anti-semetic when others use the "k" word, or draw offensive caricatures.It's more deviously characteristic of the "The Man" (inc) when asians are bashed for protesting.The impression that you are giving me is that:1) _East Asians_ have fewer rights to complain than others2) that there are higher standards of respect for other groups than for East Asians3) that vehement characterization of East Asians in the media is much more acceptable than for other ethnicities.How about we all start making racist caricatures of Indians and Jews in order to make satire of Affirmative Action? Why not? So it's ok with you? Right? Or are you a hypocrite if you have a problem with that?What gall."Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." -- I keep expecting it to be applied equally to asian-americans, but it's proving to be a farce.

lol blah. you can't read.i explicitly stated that (east) asian americans needed to address the lacuna of affirmative action as it does not serve them as well as it should (see my very first comment, last paragraph); as do south, southeast, and other asian americans need to re-evaluate it.also, i don't see anywhere that levine used any racial slurs in his piece. that being said, blah, don't read or reply to my comments if they hurt your feelings that much. i'm not a hypocrite, i'm a b*tch who doesn't stand for mediocrity. apologies if you can't handle my intensity.best,mudphud girl

mudphud, nice try.Did you ahem... "read" in my rebuttal, any disagreement or comment about Levine's position against affirmative action?When Levine's inept racist satire treaded onto offensive virulence when he described East Asian students as little Mao or Kim Jong Il -- ie: as aspiring evil dictators. He compares black, white, and hispanic students to Mandela, Lincoln, and Estafan. -- Ie: as potential great rights advocates, presidents, and entertainers.Would it cross the line into vehement, hateful, bigotted characterization to describe muslim students as potential Osama Bin Ladens?Whether or not I agree with his political views, I do not have accept his hateful use of racist satire directed at East Asians, despite insistence from people like you.Trying to enforce the acceptibility to make hateful racist characterizations of a minority, while holding oneself above the same rules, is what is truly deplorable.I pose the question as to whether it would be acceptable if the tables were turned, and there is silence. Or perhaps the response is avoidant acknowledgement because the tables cannot or should not be turned, and that Levine uses East Asians for racial caricature because it is more "socially acceptable", there is more precident for this type of racism, and that he would anticipate less criticism.Perhaps the stereotype of East Asian timidity, putting a lower priority on issues of "ego", and of "swallowing bitterness" contributes to notions that East Asians are an easy target.Nevertheless, "don't tread on me".-- Despite the insistence of a potential Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin. ;-)

Who in here would fight for what is right for Asians? Go against the system to denounce injustice against Asians in a diplomatical way.

Anonymous,I see your point. I think it is important for young Asian Americans to become activists. I may not be the revered humanities student who broke all stereotypes since I am going into medicine, but I have personally hit the streets and fought for better health care for uninsured and elderly South Asian immigrants.While this doesn't quite fall into Affirmative Action issues, I try. I don't have much money or many connections (yet), but fighting for better health for minorities in an inherently racist system is more important to me than sitting in a safer place at home away from places where my patriotism could be questions.I think a lot of the problems within the system could be addressed if young Asian Americans became mobilized to vote and pushed for better legislation. I agree with your, albeit, rhetorical question :)Best,MudPhud Girl

Anyone smart enough to get into the UC system should have no problem understanding the authors point. Those who are troubled by a strong feeling of insecurity and lack reading comprehension skills may not.- THE END -