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| easily offended advice: don't sweat the small stuff |
After the resolution was read by the clerk, Commissioner Frank Avila invited three men of Indian descent to join him at the podium, to recognize their contributions to Indian-American civic associations and businesses.
Frank Avila, commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. | MWRD
“You know,” Avila declared, “when I first came to the board, they all thought that I was Indian, and so, I can say, being the first Asian, being elected to the board, ha, ha, that I like to celebrate the Asian month with my colleagues.”
OPINION
Ha, ha. Frank Avila is not Indian. He is not Asian.
Avila is Mexican-American.
There was awkward laughter in the hearing room.
Commissioner Josina Morita didn’t think it was funny.
Morita, 37, is Chinese- and Japanese-American, and the first Asian to be elected to a countywide board.
Later in the meeting, she took the mic. “I want to be clear that I found it offensive and inappropriate for commissioner Avila to say that he was the first Asian American commissioner (because he was) mistaken for Asian American,” she said.
Josina Morita, commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. | MWRD
“The Asian American community has fought for over 100 years for respect and representation in this country and in this county, and I don’t think that those comments are appropriate, even as a joke.”
When we talked by phone Thursday evening, Morita was still steamed. But it’s nothing new.
The urban planner and community organizer won her first election in 2016. On the campaign trail, she experienced “blatant” racism and sexism, she said. Comments about the slant of her eyes, a question about whether a private part of her anatomy “tasted Chinese.” And worse.
Chicago and Cook County are blessed with rich diversity. Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing racial groups in Illinois. Yet people of color and women continue to endure ignorance, disrespect and outright racism. If elected officials who supposedly hold power are disrespected by their peers, what can the rest of us expect?
Avila apologized. “I didn’t mean any harm when I made that statement,” he said.
Maybe Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle can help set him straight.
Last week, Preckwinkle was elected chair of the Cook County Democratic Party, becoming the first African-American and woman to hold the post.
Even more important than making history is her pledge.
It’s time to “reject politics-as-usual,” she declared last month when she announced her bid to lead the party.
“Our Democratic Party cannot and must not be a Good Old Boys Club. Women, working people, young people, and communities of color are leading the grass-roots resistance to Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda. It is past time that we had a party where their voices are truly heard, and their contributions are truly valued.”
The former Hyde Park alderman and two-term county board president is a longtime champion of diversity and inclusion.
In her new role, she must set a tone that demands respect and equity for women and people of color, and supports rising, diverse leaders like Morita.
I miss Shaved.
ReplyDeleteBetter than the best.
DeleteSo do I. Really miss him
DeleteHonestly, I don't even see where this clap trap merits a posting here, except to underscore what an easy and profitable gig the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner's gig is. Do they do anything else besides introduce meaningless, patronizing resolutions?
ReplyDeleteOff topic - Although signage has been posted around the ward regarding infrastructure improvements by the gas company, it none the less is really goddamn aggravating to see the number of streets torn up. It was a real cluster #u@k the weekend of the South Side Irish parade watching motorists try to navigate the neighborhood, especially east of Western. Why the various utilities cannot better coordinate with each other on these projects is also confusing. Sewers, water mains and now gas lines have been replaced, individually, in the last few years. That means the streets were excavated, resurfaced, excavated again, resurfaced again and now excavated again. Duplication of effort seems an awful waste of tax dollars. If not anything else, would it be possible to send notifications as to the length and extent of these infrastructure improvements. Obviously the long term benefits will outweigh the present inconvenience but it sure the hell is aggravating to go through all the bullshit to avoid all those "rough, grooved surfaces" just to get home.
ReplyDeleteFollow the money. Just like the repaving of streets, these people contribute heavily to the Mayor. In turn, they get to do whatever they want. That and the incompetence of the people the Mayor has hired, many of whom are either suburban raised or from out of state. When the Streets and San was run by the 11th Ward, streets weren't torn up like they are now, and traffic all over the city wasn't in a constant state of gridlock.
DeleteEvery car coming down my torn up street, regardless of speed, sounds like they're pulling into my driveway with all the rocks and gravel strewn all over the street. Should be interesting to see if they can get some of this mess cleaned up before the Ridge Run.
DeleteI'm offended that someone this unstable can get elected.
ReplyDeleteI call upon Avila to resign immediately!
ReplyDeleteYes. I am offended by his apology !
DeleteAnother brainwashed social justice warrior and white hater just looking to be "offended" and so be able to try to advance her revolutionary agenda. Thanks 19th Ward Democrats.
ReplyDeleteWhat does she mean by "The Good Old Boys Club"? That is a racist and highly offensive term.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in KINDERGARTEN a kid called me names and I went home and told my Dad, and yes I was teary eyed. He told me then at age 6 - "sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you". Good God these people don't even realize how wimpy they sound. And the truth is in this situation, the guy was attempting to be a self deprecating butt kisser. Doesn't matter - he went afoul of the thought police.
ReplyDeleteNo one can take a joke anymore. He was clearly making fun of himself. Are we looking at a situation where the Asians start getting uppity?
ReplyDelete