"The entire American society is out to get Asians."

That line sums up the feelings of a sub-culture of Asian Americans.

I've been reading a few Asian American articles on American media and society. There's a distinct feeling among these writers that the media is out to portray Asian Americans in a poor light, subconsciously and consciously. They attack advertising, television sitcoms, theater, and movies. The conspiracy, they say, makes Asian Americans look like evil, foreign, dim-witted, obedient beings.

The most recent attack, they say, is from Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace.

I've got another line that sums up the feelings of this sub-culture:

"We're paranoid, sensitive, and will jump all over your ass if you even dare breath the word 'yellow.'"

That probably got your ass hairs in a bunch. Before you label me as ignorant, let me just say that I don't disagree with the poor portrayal of Asian Americans in American media and entertainment.

I just don't think there's a formal Conspiracy out there. I don't think there are men in black suits sitting at a shiny marble table right now, ordering Steven Spielberg to put a diminutive Asian American character in his Jurassic Park movie.

I think the display of Asian Americans in movies as gangsters, kung-fu experts, or subservient sex objects are a characteristic of American society and the prejudices of the world at large.

But why not fight the prejudice at where it is truly apparent, rather than a space movie that has Asian influences?

A recent article in the Asian American publication hardboiled, titled "Asiatic Empires In Space?" by Leyla Lee, questions the entire Star Wars saga. According to this article, the Empire is a representation of a general Asian culture.

The Stormtroopers are rigid and inhuman and can be interpreted as "…an exaggeration of the stereotype that Asians are robotic and unfeeling."

Darth Vader wears a Samurai-like uniform and wields his lightsaber in the manner of Kendo warriors.

The aliens of Star Wars bow to each other, just like many Asian cultures do.

And in Star Wars I, Queen Amidala's garments are a mockery of traditional Asian dress.

"It's bad enough that Asians are deemed as exotic, perpetual foreigners," Leyla summarizes, "now the descriptions weird and freakish can be added to that list."

I think Leyla's been eating too many prunes.

This is not an attack on her as a person; perhaps she was pressured to write an article like this because this is the kind of material that sparks interest and increases readership.

Who wants to read an article about peace and happiness, right?

She's by far not the only one who writes about the Conspiracy of American media and entertainment against Asian American culture. She's just the latest one, and certainly won't be the last.

But come on… Star Wars as an attack on Asian Americans?

I've been taunted many times as a child for being Asian American. But never have I been accused of being a "Darth Vader" or an "evil Jedi." No connection between the force and me has ever been made by the bullies.

I'm not saying that the American media is totally kind to Asian Americans. Sure, there are some racial biases out there, just as there are towards all other races.

I'm just poking fun at how far some people will go to perpetuate a believed conspiracy.

And guess what? According to George Lucas, the man himself, Star Wars was inspired by Akira Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" (1958). In this film, Japanese soldiers help a princess escape enemy territory. Apparently, Mr. Lucas was a big fan of Mr. Kurosawa's work, which included "The Seven Samurai" and "Rashoman."Mr. Lucas' respect for this Japanese filmmaker's productions runs deep. Star Wars is, in a way, a tribute to Mr. Kurosawa's talents.

I guess that explains Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers, huh?

. . .

Do you think there's an anti-Asian American conspiracy in the media?