::Friday, May 14, 2004::
THE "ASIAN" FACTOR
..La Toya London's ouster from American Idol signals the emergence of the Asian voice in American culture. Though disproportionately low as a percentage of the whole U.S. population, Asian-Americans are becoming more aware and more involved in events affecting their welfare. Although the Idol show hardly counts at the top of things that profoundly impact their lives, Asian-Americans see the significance of making a statement and finally breaking out of the stigma of merely being a "statistical blip" in past Census results. Whether it may have been the "Hawaiian factor" or that there were two African-Americans to vote for that may have split their numbers, Asian-Americans see in Jasmine Trias an opportunity to be heard, to matter and to make a difference. To cast the deciding vote that swings the calculus of things is merely a bonus.
