In case you haven't yet noticed, I'm half Asian. Half yellow; half chink; half math genius; half can't-drive-to-save-my-life. Whatever you call me, it won't phase me, because half of me can't open my eyes wide enough to see the haters anyway.

Obviously, everyone knows about the huge movement to be more politically correct, especially in the case of gender and race. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally all for education and making sure no one is marginalized or socially excluded, but I would argue that there are definitely times during which having that discussion absolutely isn't worth it, even if it's with your consistently judgmental family members.

Now, maybe I'm not a part of one of the more prevalent minorities, but I like to think I've faced my fair share of racial judgment and stereotyping. As I was at work this past weekend, an older white gentleman approached me and asked me about my "background," without offering an introduction or even a "hello." I didn't have to think twice about what he was really going after; he had probably made a mental bet with himself to guess which "type of Asian" I was, and wanted to confirm so that he could pat himself on the back for his knowledgeable Asian index. Knowing what he wanted to hear, I said I was Korean, to which he nodded thoughtfully and told me about a decent Korean BBQ nearby. He told me about his Filipina daughter-in-law and asked if my last name was Kim, Lee, or Park.

I get it. I mean, I'll never really understand what it's like to be an older white gentleman, but I get it. The problem with today's younger generations is not hypersensitivity, but it's a lack of tolerance for people with different understandings. All those "racist grandparents" we complain about are having just as difficult a time understanding today's culture, the personal freedom and openness we strive to have, as we are understanding their mindsets. I'm no history major, but I'd bet money that these older folks grew up in a very different time, one which wasn't filled with much racial inclusion or cautious political statements.

I'm not perfect; I've gotten frustrated with some people and their ignorant questions. Sure, joking that I eat rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner isn't super fun. Assuming that I'm Chinese because it happens to have the largest Asian population makes me very uncomfortable. But we still have to remember that some people literally don't know better, and arguing really isn't helping anyone.