To the Editor:
After reading the thoughts of the students who attended [Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation’s Summer Youth Leadership Program], I am wondering what in the world they were taught there.
With exceptions to be sure, too many of them seem to be wallowing in self-pity, obsessed with their image, and resentful of the stereotypes they imagine that non-Asians have of them. They seem to have their own stereotypes of non-Asians as ignorant and bigoted, and somehow standing in the way of their advancement.
Perhaps they brought this pathetic mentality into the program, and you were unable to change it in three weeks. I hope you made some effort to do so rather than making it worse.
Their negative thinking and victim mentality is unlikely to lead to any kind of leadership role. I would hope that opinions such as mine will be taken as well-meant criticisms, not as hostility, and that they will reflect on them.
— Trad Barengs, Seattle