Comments Section Reveals: NYT Readers Are Sick and Tired of Cultural Appropriation, Too

I avoid “comments section” under articles with as much dedication as I avoid the doctor’s office during flu season.  You know, if you give go there, you’ll find all kinds of sick things.  But one comments section under an article in the New York Times actually gave me hope.

The article in question was written by journalist who apparently has a very good life, because she had enough energy to complain about a salad.  Yes, a salad.  I should let her explain her angst with the intro to her piece called, “Why Is Asian Salad Still on the Menu?”

One Friday night at a bar in San Francisco, I took a look at the menu and found myself face to face once again with the curious modern-day ubiquity of the Asian salad. The “Asian Emperor Salad,” with its “31 ingredients representing the tastes, textures and flavors of Asia,” stirred something other than hunger in me.

I tried to identify exactly what that was. I made a halfhearted joke to my husband about just which Asian emperor this salad was honoring. I thought about its grand imprecision, which irritated me as a Chinese-American. And I wondered, who cooked up this thing?

I was reasonably sure it wasn’t anyone Asian, but I did some investigating to find out.

No, I didn’t read to find out what her academic research into the salad-related cultural appropriation of Chinese people uncovered.  But I did look at the comments section, which had some amazing observations:

Give me a break: Sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, red onions, shredded carrots, thin sliced celery, chopped sushi ginger, orange segments, and fried wonton skins are all very recognizable flavors used throughout Asia. What makes them racist? Just like Italian, Polish, and French dishes made in the US differ from their authentic namesakes, so does a salad with “Asian” in the name. At the same time, it conjures up a familiar flavor and uses a consistent base of ingredients. How are Asians discriminated against in the broad enjoyment of Asian salad? Just because I have Lebanese roots, should I be offended that Gyros, olives, Hummus, Baba Ghanouj and pita bread are included in “Middle Eastern” plates? These flavors are enjoyed across the Middle East and cannot be claimed by one country. Time to get over the oversensitivity and enjoy the food!

and

Try googling this article and see how many “Asian” recipes from the New York Times come up. Even the venerable Mark Bittman gets into the act.

and

Perhaps Ms. Tsui’s essay is an example of protest procrastination—let’s complain about something symbolic because that is easy! Then we can feel like we’re doing something!

Ban the veil! Ban the Asian salad! Well, just as getting rid of pieces of cloth doesn’t reach the hearts of those who are bent on terrorist jihad, so getting rid of tacky salads won’t reach the hearts of those who scorn Asian people.

Here’s what I want to know: how do we get to a deeper level of discussion about the ways that we humans divide and hurt each other?

and

People get a life. This political correctness reads way to much into our food naming choices. Get upset when your fired from a job or denied your civil rights because of your differences. Its a matter of priority.

and

At the risk of piling on, I will mention that I spent the better part of a year in Greece, and can report that there are numerous kinds of “Greek Salads,” some with simply tomatoes or tomatoes and onions and others with cabbage or cucumbers, and on and on. My guess is that the author is talking about a “country salad” which includes numerous ingredients, including a fat slice of feta cheese on top. But what a slight to Hellenic, culinary arts to be so reductive! Then, there are the poor Italians, suffering as they do, from our mistaken, American notion that their cuisine can only be colored red, and smothered in garlic-laden gravy. I understand Ms. Tsui is suffering, but I hope she finds some solace in the knowledge that she has a lot of company.

and

I’m just going to go out on a limb here and credit the “white audience” with the smarts to know that the Asian salad isn’t any more Asian than the Ortega tacos are Mexican or the SpaghettiOs are Italian. I’m pretty liberal and Asian, but this is the kind of crying wolf – whining wolf actually – that makes people tune out when we complain about actual racism. Gimme a break.

Here’s the truth.  People are so sick and tired of all this whining and condescension….  Yes, even readers of the New York Times.

 Image Credit: WikiCommons

h/t Ann Althouse