My first thought upon watching the shocking reveal of the results show was that everyone thought Jessica would be safe because she has had such a consistent season overall in her performances, that people simply voted for their other idols in hopes that they instead would stay. This resulted in Jessica having the lowest number of votes - not because people didn't like her, but because most took for granted that she would be safe. That is my honest opinion and what I think really happen.
However, there have been so many remarks about this incident and its relation to racism. I think the people who are making these comments see it from two aspects of what they interpret racism to be #1- actual race and ethnicity and #2 - looks. And in the case of Ms Sanchez, she falls into both categories in that she is not 'white' and she definitely looks 'asian'. I can definitely see how easy it is to assume that the american public or voters are biased towards white blond looking girls like Taylor Swift, but I really do not believe this was the case here. I think a lot of other factors come into play like likeability and showmanship.
Being someone who has had some exposure to the country, its people and the way they live, it is extremely difficult for me to buy into the argument that americans are racist. In all my experience with them, never have I once felt this way - not in school, not amongst friends, teachers, not even with boys. Everyone in general are so open, so accepting, so willing to accept each others differences. It is a society that thrives because of its very diverse community and are willing to see the best that every culture and every different personality brings.
While surfing the Americon Idol website, I came across a post that really sums up how I feel and I completely agree with this poster 100%. She/He seems to be writing to people who do not live in America and probably have never had the chance to be exposed to the American culture and way of living at least where ethnic differences and culture are concerned.
For ease of reading I have paragraphed the post although originally it was posted as just one long paragrah:-
"In all seriousness, what's funny about all these racist remarks is that I am an American, and I had no idea Jessica (although it was obvious her heritage was different than mine) was of "Pinoy" ethnicity until around the 3rd or 4th week after the live shows started and I took my first look of the season on this forum. I just recently learned that her father is a Mexican-American from Texas (my home state), and her mother is, of course, "Pinoy". I've loved her voice since the first time I ever heard her; which was on the first live show and have believed all along that she might well be the one to win this season; even though she's not my favorite as I am in my 50's and prefer a different genre of music and vocal style than that of which Jessica will probably pursue in her career.
Americans as a whole are also very diverse in their preferences in music. However, the most popular singers are either rap, R&B, or pop in the younger generation, and the young girls who love whoever they think are the cutest boys (no matter the color of their skin nor their ethnicity I might add) and country/country rock fans are the ones who do the vast majority of voting on AI; and it has been especially hard to overcome that in all these years. Also, IMO, the producers of AI have everything to do with the outcome of this show. In any case, I wish Jessica absolutely the best no matter what and am sure I will see her on my television for years to come as she will more-than-likely have a very long and successful career.
Americans are made up of so many different ethnicities you have absolutely no idea. If ethnicity was truly such a racial issue here, we'd probably be in an unending war within our borders. None of us were Americans until our fore-fathers came over here and ultimately stole this country from the Native Americans. THEY are the only "true pure" (if that's what you want to call it) Americans. People from all over the world come to America to benefit from what our country has to offer them. We welcome them with open arms, and this is what we get? Convenience stores on almost every corner of America are now owned by Arab/Arab-Americans. We give work to Mexican-Americans who are trying to better their lives also. We work with all these different ethnicities, we go to school with them, our children go to school with them, and one day my grand-children will go to school with them. Many are BORN American; just as Jessica was, and future generations will all, of course be naturalized American citizens just as Jessica is. We neither like nor dislike ALL of them; just as Americans neither like nor dislike a whole lot of other Americans, but my own personal experience with people of your ethnicity has actually been a very positive one.
I was a Registered Nurse for over 25 years and had the pleasure of working with many "Pinoy" nurses, who I had the utmost respect for and who I enjoyed working with very, very much. I felt all of them to be very kind, gentle, compassionate, easy-going, and just down-right SUPER human beings based on that experience, so it's actually so very disappointing for me to see so many racist comments on this forum and can only assume that YOU must certainly be the ones who are racists for even making them. I didn't raise my children to think nor act this way, and I know for certain that people of different ethnic origins does not matter to my sons as long as they are decent human beings.
As I said though, I am in my 50's and just happen to prefer a different style of music now, and no matter what each of our individual opinions are, I think maybe everyone making these racist remarks must surely be very naive about what really goes on with American television and the music industry and they either just need grow up or shut up. Period! "
I especially liked the part where she pointed out that americans are made up of so many ethnicities and that most of the people there have come from elsewhere and that the native americans are the true pure americans if people want to really focus on that. What she was trying to say is that the vast majority of americans are aware that everyone in that country was technically an immigrant from almost every part of the world imaginable. And although america has battled slavery - mostly between the white and black folk, they have overcome it and the america today is a lot more liberal and open minded than the america of yesteryears.
Racism and biasness exist everywhere, and even more so here in Asia with the Indians having their casts and the Malays insisting on superiority and special rights and the Punjabis only insisting on marriage within their community and the Chinese discriminating against people who aren't fair and the list just goes on and on. Who are we to call the americans biased? Americahas given plenty of opportunity to people of all racist from all parts of the world to be a part of their world and most recently a very colored man was voted into Presidency. Is this not demonstrative enough of a nation tolerant and accepting of a person no matter where they are from?
The next time we pass a comment on another being racist we should take a good hard look at ourselves, who we vote into power, what we stand for, what our children are taught in schools, Why do malay students riot when the goverment want to open up places for students of other races in universities, why indian and chinese communities still insist on their own schools and so on. So we are a far far cry from what america has achieved and we are far far behind in terms of being ready to give equal opportunity to ALL people regardless of race, religion and ethniticity. So we should basically really just shut up.
Here's a video of Jessica singing Stuttering. For those of you who haven't watched it, you can decide for yourself if this girl is indeed talented or not, and if what Randy said - "One of the best singers in America" is true.
