Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights
by Kenji Yoshino
Book Summary Information
Author: Kenji YoshinoEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-02-20
ISBN: 0375760210
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780375760211
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Book Reviews of Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights
Book Review: Great book, easy to read, but problematic central premise
Summary: 5 Stars
While I like the book and find it to be VERY well written, I find it thought provoking in that I seriously disagree with its central premise.
We had this as assigned reading in a class on Asian American issues. The author is law professor who started out as grad student in creative writing. Having previously attended law school myself, I have got rank this as one of the best written books on a legal topic I've ever read. The book charts the authors personal path, both as an Asian American negotiating his other status in American society, struggling between his parents wish for him to be more Japanese and the pressures of American society, his struggles to be a writer of poetry and find his voice, and in the process his coming out (recognition of his own gayness).
His essential argument is that folks like him, who are insecure about owning a self identity that conflict with the norms around them, need legal protections to make it safer for them to 'own' (slang term: to unflinchingly accept as one's own responsibility) their own identities, above and beyond any civil rights law that already exists. That there should be laws to protect them from having to conform to local standards, even if their overall civil rights are already protected.
I disagree. I found myself going through the book yelling at the author and demanding that he "grow a pair" be it with his parents or with regards to his gayness. I was relieved to see him admitting that he envied the people around him who could courageously own their inner selves, and wished he could be more like them. His ultimate judgment however is that it is the role of government to protect the weak so that they don't have to fight for themselves. This is a stand I can't support, as ultimately it will result in a bunch of Lilly livered whimpering weakling. Its like the worst form supporting people who refuse to work.
Civil rights, in the grand American tradition and in my own opinion, should be given to anyone (assuming they above the age of 16) with enough backbone to stand up and fight for them. This is true at both the group and personal level. If you can't do that than clearly thats your own problem. It is not the role of law to made up for cowardice or laziness. Parents who overprotect their children end up with bunch of spoiled brats who can't hold down a job, as a society this does not benefit us.
Being American is about being willing to 'own' (stand up for) your independence. It is, as some have put it, a form of government designed for adults, not for coddling children.
Oh, and I'm a democrat.
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