Shot in the Foot

Anyone can imagine the throngs of people trying to get to work each morning whether by train, bus or car. It's packed and some nerves are frayed. I was late this morning waking up and I wait patiently to get on the train because there's soothing music playing on my iPod. As the local train I was on approached the station, the express train came rumbling in as well.

A woman, perhaps in her late 50s or early 60s, dragged her, presumably, granddaughter out of the local train and rushed to the doors of the incoming express. When the doors opened, she forcefully tried to get into the train pass other waiting commuters and exiting passengers. When told by the person she pushed aside to take it easy, she smiled and kept pushing her way through.

I took some angry stares because I fall into the Asian category and the elderly woman was Chinese. For all the progress Chinese and other Asians have made in terms of social progress in America, such actions like this woman's reverse strides as they add or reinforce questionable stereotypes. To exacerbate the situation, she, without malicious intent though unkindly, pushed aside other folks to grab a seat vacated at the next stop. Again, angry stares were thrown my way.

These experiences and actions surely undermine the awareness of the collective Asian contribution to America and the world. Yet, I can also understand why they behave this way as Confucius once said to respect the elders. But didn't he also say or imply that patience is a virtue?