Since I have been giving speeches for over half my life, I don't mind facing debating tactics. They are treated like guests enjoying the privileges of this country. They understand that they are expected to remain polite. So they keep their mouths shut, even though they as much of a right as other citizens to take part in our political process. Or if they speak up, they are looked at with some sort of suspicion even if the next person voices similar views.
Stereotypes have a self-fulfilling quality.
Stereotypes give us images of other people, but they also give us scripts to follow. It is no surprise that Asian Americans feel excluded from race matters. As D'Souza, the author of books such as The End of Racism , observed privately when we debated initially, it isn't often that an Asian American is invited to comment on civil rights, much less that two Asian Americans are given the opportunity. As much as I disagree with D'Souza's opinions, I agree with him that more Asian Americans should be offering their opinions. I am heartened that what happens to me extends to him as well.