Something about using an alias gives people more latitude and freedom to speak honestly and candidly, without the perceived fear of being marginalized or ostracized for having an opinion that differs the party line or one that dares critique Asian culture. Strong voices have recently blogged some salient insights into issues related to Asian American Christianity, behind aliases, like thecuttingtruth, emergingtruth, TheoCross, bluebutton, and prayerboi516. While I don’t necessarily want to out them, I’d like to read their bio and get the back story on their perspectives.
I’ve heard some leaders remark that anonymous comments are useless, and they’d only listen to feedback that come from people with their real name. The reasoning: people should stand behind their words, and not frivolously rant and vent. In an individualistic society, that’s modus operandi and people are allowed to air their difference of opinions in the open. Not so in an Asian or Asian American context.
kimchichipo calls out the default narrative of many Asian American Christians and their Asian American dream [ht: x_paperstars]:
It’s a shame what so many of us Christians have placed on the thrones in our lives. Regardless of our passion and vocational calling that we claim might be in ministry, many of us still expect to following the traditional Asian-American path to succes: do well on the SATs, do well in school, go to youth group and possibly serve there, go to prom, graduate from high school, go to a UC, maybe serve on a college ministry; go on some missions or something, graduate from college and maybe go to graduate school, find a good wife candidate, find a good job, have kids, maybe serve at a home church and send your kids to youth group, and then eventually, die.
kangaroo802 also exposes this idolatry:
Be a Lawyer, Doctor, or Engineer…these are the 3 pillars of occupational life for most Asians (at least in terms of desirability). These are necessary occupations needed for society to function, they are indeed respectable professions. They are also very real places for someone to live out Christian life; there is nothing incompatible to doing good work as a Lawyer, Doctor, or Engineer as an expression of faithfulness and worship to God. But what we readily see exposed primarily in OUR CHOICES as 2nd generations is a continuation of our parents idolatries lived out in our lives.
Switching gears to the broader topic of multiethnic diversity — it’s still an occasional conversation because it’s still not a part of the tiers of organizational and institutional life, especially at most churches and denominations. This panel is at a denomination’s annual conference. Anyone missing from this diversity panel? (what would our aliased bloggers say?)
I think there is a difference between a pseudonym and a blog alias. Well, it’s not even an alias, because my name is on the blog itself. I can only speak for myself but I am not critiquing the AA culture and church behind some anonymity. Maybe it’s more a part of the blog culture.
I guess I could call my blog “Daniel.D.Lee” but that sounds nowhere cool as “Theology of the Cross”.
It’s kind of like what Billy Park is doing with “Reforming KA Ministry” except I didn’t really see the point of putting my bio and pic there. I thought about it, but said to myself that my ideas are more important than my background. Maybe I’ll include it so people don’t confuse my blog as being pseudonymous, which is not my intent.
As far as my background goes. I grew up in Northern Virginia. Did campus ministry full time for a while in Virginia AA campus ministries. Went to NJ for seminary and came out to LA to serve as a college pastor at a KA mega church. Now, am involved in an AA church plant. that’s the short story.