Understandable

You might want to sit down for this. The word "American" has many connotations. Myself – I think of democracy, black and white portrait photographs of dead presidents, freedom, and the Gilded Age. Immigrants come to "America," half-expecting golden streets and flowing cash. They assimilate into "American" culture, looking for liberty and opportunity. “American” isn’t alone in being a multi-flavored word. I think of “Taiwanese” people as cheerful, open, technologically advanced, forward-thinking people. Like many people, I tend to dwell on the best of my heritage. “TAF” (or "Taiwanese American Foundation" the summer camp) too, has a connotation truly my own. I associate “TAF” campers and counselors with “generous”, “sincere”, “loving,” and “pro-Taiwan.” After a week of lauding the distinct flavors of Taiwanese food, nightmarkets, clothing styles, music, and culture in general, I can't imagine one of my friends supporting unification with China - a culture we have decided as different from ours. They are, in my mind, linked to two nations. All that said: it is mathematically proven that a “Taiwanese-American” is friendly, democratic, and technologically advanced, with high hopes for a bright future. Throw a TAF participant into the mix, and an all-around cultured and lovable person is the result. Pop. It was sudden. I was writing about the heated Frank Hsieh-Ma Ying Jeou race when I realized the possibility of any audience member having different opinions than myself. I had just assumed that my audience – you - would lean the same way I did. The inklings of truth have been cropping up everywhere. Some members of The TAF Blogring on Xanga are pro-unification, others aren't. Some support Ma Ying Jeou, or else Frank Hsieh. Some are Republican, Democrat, Undecided. In Facebook groups, I see the idea of Taiwanese pride displayed differently. CNN, Time, Newsweek, Associated Press, the local newspapers – they interview declared “Taiwanese-Americans” with views that vary from person to person. Every person is different. This is not an idea new to me, and I am dumbstruck by my own naïveté. I had assumed that if you actively engaged in Taiwanese-American organizations, spread Taiwanese culture and politics, or knew that boba originated in Taiwan, then you would be friendly, democratic, technologically advanced, and have high hopes for a bright future. My epiphany has shown me that “Taiwanese American” has a meaning I’d often ignored. It simply means you have at least a drop of Taiwanese blood and you live/lived in America. This phrase says nothing about your political affiliations, favorite ethnic food, or whether you kick sleeping puppies. So, I know nothing of your personality or opinions but you may stand for whatever doesn’t make you want to sit. Jessica posts posts at http://www.xanga.com/skiazoura. The writing there is not her own, but she encourages readers to guess if she’s a puppy kicker herself.