Roar like a Lion, or Hide like a Turtle
by: Wanda Tung

        How did America get to the position where it's at today? Was it through making laws, suggesting changes, and recommending propositions? Looking back on our country's history, we can really observe how our society has changed. Civil rights to immigration rights have vastly changed over the past generations along with many issues about racism. Through expression and inspiration we can bring positive change to our society. An important thing that motivates us to change as American citizens is advocating our opinions. We define emotions in this matter as the verbal and nonviolent approach to being recognized in this society.

        I think emotion and passion is necessary in order to be a good citizen. Being a responsible citizen means being active in our politics and voting consistently. Showing feelings to certain topics expresses how concerned citizens are with an issue that should and need to be brought out. For example, concerned and frustrated citizens show that they want to be involved in this society for the better. As people express there emotions on a certain issue, it illustrates how important they think the issue is. Without being committed as a citizen and showing expressions, change in this society will not exist. Actions, rights, and bills will not be able to pass or even suggested without intense citizens. Expressing emotions in this country is essential in being a true citizen which motivates citizens to become activists. Rage, not violence, is enough emotion to stir something inside of a citizen that helps them do something constructive.

        We can relate this to the current war and the citizen's perspective on it before and after. At first, Americans supported the war between the United States and Iraq . However, throughout the years, many Americans think that nothing has been accomplished over these wars but simply a waste of money and lives of innocent citizens. Many were silent about the war for years and surprisingly nothing changed in that period of time. As time went on, Americans started to protest for a new plan. Things began to change and people started to speak out about their real opinions on the war. How did Americans advocate their ideas to the public? There were many resources such as bumper stickers, activist posters and even numerous antiwar web casts on “YouTube.” People's opinions were recognized due to their passionate feelings. To change the world, people need to take a stand and truly show their emotions.

        An activist women author, bell hooks proves that black rage or rage in general is a crucial aspect in our society. Hook's story, “Killing Rage,” expresses many facts and opinions about her observations of African American activism over the past years. After reading her story, I believe that it is a major necessity to speak when times are needed. In her essay, hooks also explains that we need to speak up in order to reform our world and our civilization to what we want it to be. Many African Americans only say things from a distance because they feel inferior and powerless to the authorities of our country, mainly because of past slavery and dominate power of Whites. But what the authorities do not realize is that we are the ones who are in control of them. The government and the authorities work to accomplish the goal of having a better world. If we truly stay silent, how can the world really change for the better? Conflicts do not get resolved unless someone speaks out. Many citizens everyday get frustrated and stay unsatisfied with conflicts because they lack the motivation to voice their opinions. For example, African Americans have reached as far as they could in our society today due to their black activists such as Malcom X. Hooks portrays that, “it is clear defiant articulation of that rage that continues to set Malcolm X apart from the contemporary black thinkers and leaders who feel that “rage” has no place in anti racist struggle” (hooks 13). Many activists and the people of the African American society have the same thoughts, feelings and opinions on these conflicts. The only thing that sets these two groups of people apart is expressing their anger which illustrates rage. Malcom X suggested to the African American population that, “If they hit, you hit back.” Martin Luther King, another life struggling black activist recommended that, “If they hit, you shall turn the other cheek and walk away.” By expressing their strong opinions, showing anger and rage as true citizens, they helped create committees, churches, and form community and family outreach for all races. These two black activists, known for their courageous rage, were very influential to our American society depicting racism, prejudice and discrimination not only to African Americans, but to a larger community of minorities.

        Through many activists and social movements, we are granted the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion in the United States . Why don't other countries have the same opportunity to be free? Why do we worship our gods without any guilt or fear in America while many other Middle Eastern citizens are stoned to death for worshiping the “wrong” God? How did we as Americans even have the chance to express homosexuality in our country? Not only have we had racial activists, or religious activists, we have also had activists for homosexuality. Harvey Milk, a young small camera shop owner, changed the views of the whole Bay Area. Not only did he make a huge impact to this society, Milk also attempted to change the constitution of America . How did this manifest? How did one man motivate and influence other citizens of America to be comfortable with homosexuality? Harvey Milk's opinions and concerns illustrated his rage on not being comfortable and equally accepted in our American society. He first started promoting his views of homosexuality to his customers, then gradually promoted through his candidacy on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Over time, he formed his supporters and influenced a community in San Francisco of the Bay Area known as, “The Castro.” His reasons, motivations, struggles and active programs helped create one of our propositions and suggestions today. In November 2008 election day, Proposition eight not only expresses the capacity of homosexuality in public, but it went as far as amending the law in California due to the same sex marriage. When Harvey Milk was assassinated many years ago, homosexual activists protested and showed frustration through their rage of not being accepted in this society. The members of the homosexual community knew that by showing rage it would help how Americans today in history should define the issue of equal rights. By using their passions for rage, homosexuals challenged the social norm rather than be outcasts in America . From black rights to gay rights, both actions have created change.

        Personally for me, one of the biggest influences of my educational opportunities was contributed by a man named Gordon Lee. Lee is one of history's most famous Asian-American activists from the 1970s. He attended Columbia University , where he occupied Kent Hall demanding Ethnic Studies programs to be offered in schools. Although it was tough for an Asian-American man to be heard in the 1970s, Lee fought for his rights and the rights of students who wanted to expand their understanding of other cultures, specifically those of Pacific Islanders and Asians. He soon became one of the founders of the Asian Media Collective. Lee also joined a community organization in Honolulu Chinatown, called the Third Arm. During this time, he spent long and exciting years assisting residents in Chinatown to fight for urban renewal.  

    Not only did Lee impact me, but every student that lives today and many generations to come. Lee helped expand the understandings of what it is to be an Asian-American. He impacted many of the different cultures of the Asian Society such as Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese bringing them together to work as one. Lee stated the importance of different ethnic acknowledgments and their contributions. My parents emigrated from China , leaving the rest of their family behind to help make our dreams reality. Being a first generation Asian-American, one of my main struggles growing up was going to an all American Catholic School . I was the only girl who had black hair and black eyes. I would be the girl who eats hot rice plate lunches while watching the other girls eat their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Having no one to relate to at my school really disappointed me and made it harder for me to motivate myself to go to school. I remember in first grade, my teacher mentioned Chinese New Years. She talked about someone named ‘Mr.Lee' who made it possible for every school to learn more about the Asian culture. We finally had a day at school, where I was actually appreciated and happy to be who I was! While everyone made colored lanterns, I was the only little Chinese girl who dressed in a traditional Chinese New Years dress. Everyone admired my culture and my traditions. This “Mr.Lee” made it comfortable for me to be myself in my school environment which led me to meet more friends. Although I had many friends growing up, my family still didn't quite fit into the ideal "American Family" picture. My parents tried to be involved with my friends as much as possible, but it was very hard for our parents to communicate. Like many immigrants, my parents knew it would be a struggle settling here, in a new country -- starting new lives. As time passed, my parents met many other Chinese families with the same struggles. Through each other's support and Lee's words and speeches, we made it possible to strive for our best. Lee wanted the different cultures to help build and make everyone's life in America more accepting and secure. As both a first generation Chinese and an American, Lee helped open many opportunities for me. He made it possible to learn different foreign languages and cultures in schools today. He also made it possible for me to remember my heritage and my traditions that were brought back from Hong Kong.

        In my Psychology class, we learned about Roger's three main criteria for healthy living. The first one was genuineness stating people should be able to open up their feelings to other people. Through genuineness, Lee opened up many of the cultures responses to our society living in America . It opened the immigrant's point of view of this big melting pot. Secondly, Rogers mentions empathy, where people should be able to help, share and interpret emotions. Through empathy, Lee motivated many of the other different cultures to share and help each other forming one big family. He wanted all the ethnicities to unite, diminishing racism. Lastly, he mentions acceptance. Lee has supported Roger's main criteria's because he has opened acceptance in the society. Acceptance was Lee's biggest theme and initiative for his motives.

        Looking back in our history of America , many things have changed and will continue to change. We need to take in advice from many of our activists who choose to show rage and make a difference in our history. Hooks recommends that, “progressive black activists must show how we take that rage and move it beyond fruitless scape goating of any group, linking it instead to a passion for freedom and justice that illuminates, heals and makes redemptive struggle possible” (Hooks 20). In order to make a change in this country, we need to speak up, we need to be heard. We should no longer have the fear of speaking our own mind and suggesting new propositions for this country. Overall, I believe that rage and expressing emotions is very significant but only to a certain extent that will help transform or motivate others, not letting rage be mistaken for violence.

Works Cited

hooks, bell. Killing Rage: Ending Racism . Militant Resistant, New York : Henry Holt, 1995. pg. 8-20.

Lee, Gordon. Lee Gordon, Alfred Mccoy . Progressive 1997, Madison WI. Audio cassette recording