(April 5, 2006) — Of all the mocking labels of teenage jargon, the word “FOB” sticks out like a sore thumb. In this Eurocentric society, no one wants to get caught branded with this “fresh-off-the-boat” name of shame— especially since FOBs occupy a not-so-coveted tier of the teenage social hierarchy. Don’t agree with me? Try acting like one and see if your friends don’t disappear like a pack of opportunistic hounds. But how exactly do people fall prey to this name-calling disgrace? From what I’ve observed after six years of immigrant life, if you’re an Asian immigrant and every word you say rings with the heavy accent of your native tongue, you would most likely be considered a FOB. Okay, so…what’s so funny about being new to this country and remaining rooted to your cultural ways? Why do people who fi t this description have to bear the ridicule of an offensive name? Like most things invented by kids aged 13 to 17, I think this name-calling trend is nonsensical and a waste of breath. Try as I might to disregard this issue, however, the cynical redhooded fi gure on my left shoulder says there’s a reason why FOBs are so often the butt of jokes, and it’s not just because of immaturity on the part of high school students. In fact, with the real source of the problem identifi ed, you will eventually see that instead of being the cause, teenagers actually belong to the victimized unit. The truth is, we are still experiencing the ongoing effects of European domination in our society: white is still better. Why do you think only Asian immigrants bear the FOB mark while those of French or German descent remain unscathed? Of course, we don’t say this out loud because things said out loud would have to be real, and if this thought materializes, we have to deal with the consequence of having provoked the currently complacent public into some sort of an “unwanted” response. Hence, we keep our mouths shut but continue to accept the colonial mentality as a daily part of American life. Am I right or am I right? Ever since the Civil Rights movement, our government has been stumbling over itself trying to make everything appear “politically correct.” Such advertisements sponsored by federal agencies as the National Guard can be guaranteed to exhibit a racially diverse staff. First, there are the two “musthaves”— the white and black representatives—and then there might be an Asian or a Hispanic thrown in there as an attempt to generate a welcoming atmosphere, when in truth this nation has still not shaken off much of its “nativist” leanings. To Americanize is still the mission. The aim is still to turn this melting pot of assorted cultures into a homogeneous stew of white-washed individuals. Because isn’t it true that an army of robots is easier to handle than a mass of hungry immigrants?