Perspective from DC

It's been a tough week. That I somehow got involved in the sausage-making process of news gathering didn't make it easier. I'm not a specialist in covering crimes and misdemeanors. But as a Korean speaker, I was asked to track down as many friends, acquaintances, church members and relatives as I can.
It basically involved three days of driving all over town, talking to pastors, community leaders, diplomats, reporters, laundry shop owners, realtors, video shop clerks, hairdressers and other hard-working Koreans in Fairfax County. I met more Koreans in a span of three days than the two years I've lived here. Most were reluctant, and only two or three knew anything substantive.
As troubled as I was about the event, being involved in the coverage made me somewhat more detached and helped me cope with the news. When I attended the Tuesday night candlelight vigil in Fairfax County held by about 400 Koreans or so, I was there more as a newsman and had little time to participate in the collective outpouring of sorrow and apology.
Still, it was not easy tossing out direct questions at reluctant and defensive Koreans who had nothing to do with the act itself.
While I'm at it, let me add that I think the issue of racial backlash will turn out to be an overblown news angle. Most Koreans will find out that the racism they may or may not face isn't any worse than it was last week. And for some Korean Americans to believe otherwise may be a reflection of their inability - even after decades here - to shake off the we-are-still-guests mindset.