Reply #48: I do have a doctorate in science.

[mainer]

So no, when you say "yourself included" as one of those who've lost interest in science, I hardly think it applies to me -- or to Asian-AMERICANS who make up a large number of scientists and physicians in this country.

Whether third generation or new immigrant, Asians get lumped together as "outsiders" in this country. We all get tarred with the same prejudice. To imply that third generation Asians should just "get over feeling attacked" is being completely unrealistic about what it's like to be an ethnic minority that has visibly non-white features.

My sensitivity to the subject is this: when Americans get riled up about all those chink scholars coming over from China, their anger and hatred ends up spilling over onto American-born Asians as well. White Americans can't tell the difference. An asian face is, by definition, alien. And why is it that Americans are angriest about grad students from China (and India as well)? If the hordes of scientists were coming over from Russia or Germany, there simply wouldn't be this same reaction because those people are white. The anger -- and the feeling that "oh no, we're doomed!" is in large part because the grad students we're talking about aren't white.