Kevin Na -- Perception, Nationality, and Citizenship on the PGA Tour
Kevin Na has been really tearing it up as the youngest golfer on the PGA. Following his effort at the FBR Open where he finished second to a flawless Phil Mickelson, he's placed second after a thrilling playoff against Mark Calcavecchia and Geoff Ogilvy at the Tucscon Chrysler Classic.
One would imagine that such success would warrant some accuracy in reporting the biographical details of this outstanding young golfer, but apparently not. Kevin is of Korean descent, but raised since age eight in the United States and is a naturalized US citizen http://news.hawaii.com/article/2004/Jan/18/sp/sp02a.html . He should be referred to either as Asian American, Korean American, or of Korean descent, but usually he's given the shorthand of "Korean Golfer". Maybe it's the goofy Elord hat he wears (do Koreans really wear this stuff, I thought it was all Gucci, Prada, etc.).
Some articles even compliment him on his English skills http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=golf&story_id=022605c1_corky&page_number=1 , this of course is the classic backhanded compliment that immediately places the subject of the phrase as the other or marginalized participant in American life.
Like they say, if I had a dime for every time I've been complimented on my English . . . Well hopefully Kevin will continue on his trajectory of terrific performance and this will force professional journalists to be more accurate in describing his citizenship and participation in American life. Perhaps Kevin can commiserate with Tiger Woods, who has issues with how his heritage has been presented in the press and in the general public.
It'd be tragic if he was excluded from a future Ryder Cup team just because some culturally misinformed person makes the mistake of believing Kevin to be a Korean citizen. He's got to be nervous enough that he might get nabbed by the notorious Korean military, which loves to surprise unsuspecting Korean Americans with draft inductions at the airport. Often with a dramatic arrest right before the unsuspecting victim boards his plane.
One would imagine that such success would warrant some accuracy in reporting the biographical details of this outstanding young golfer, but apparently not. Kevin is of Korean descent, but raised since age eight in the United States and is a naturalized US citizen http://news.hawaii.com/article/2004/Jan/18/sp/sp02a.html . He should be referred to either as Asian American, Korean American, or of Korean descent, but usually he's given the shorthand of "Korean Golfer". Maybe it's the goofy Elord hat he wears (do Koreans really wear this stuff, I thought it was all Gucci, Prada, etc.).
Some articles even compliment him on his English skills http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=golf&story_id=022605c1_corky&page_number=1 , this of course is the classic backhanded compliment that immediately places the subject of the phrase as the other or marginalized participant in American life.
Like they say, if I had a dime for every time I've been complimented on my English . . . Well hopefully Kevin will continue on his trajectory of terrific performance and this will force professional journalists to be more accurate in describing his citizenship and participation in American life. Perhaps Kevin can commiserate with Tiger Woods, who has issues with how his heritage has been presented in the press and in the general public.
It'd be tragic if he was excluded from a future Ryder Cup team just because some culturally misinformed person makes the mistake of believing Kevin to be a Korean citizen. He's got to be nervous enough that he might get nabbed by the notorious Korean military, which loves to surprise unsuspecting Korean Americans with draft inductions at the airport. Often with a dramatic arrest right before the unsuspecting victim boards his plane.
posted by Don Sheu @ 9:03 AM
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