The Model Minority stereotype is a myth. If this stereotype were true then why is it that average Asian American's income is far less than that of their white colleagues? In fact, this stereotype is quite dangerous because the actual statistics shows us that there are many more Asian Americans who fall under the poverty line than most of us would imagine. Also, your reference of figure skaters is extremely faulty. In ANY competition there will be fans on opposing sides so your example doesn't substantiate much of anything.

A better gauge of Asian American acceptance is in the media itself. When is the last time you saw a mainstream movie with a leading Asian American that didn't have some stereotypical character? The average (non-Asian) American does not make a distinction between someone who is from Asia and someone who is Asian American so Asians are far from being viewed as white. Perhaps, Asians are generalized as being more compliant and studious but certainly not white. Even if we were to go by the Model Minority standard, it's predominantly accepted as an East Asian (Japan, China and Korea) archetype. Which would not even apply to Annie Le since she is Vietnamese and although she attended Yale, I read that she came from a modest background and was awarded a scholarship.

There also have been plenty of Asian Americans (as well as other minorities) murdered that have not made the national headlines. As far as I can remember, this is the first time I've seen an Asian American get this kind of coverage.

Although... all of this is pointless because no matter how much people try to sensationalize this or any other senseless killing, the fact remains that someone (a human being) was brutally murdered and their friends and families have to cope with it so I don't believe trying to understand and sympathize is misguided or unreasonable.

... any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. -John Donne

If you "cloned" a skater with Kwan's identical personality and identical credentials - but made her African-American instead of Asian-American - you would see a much less appreciative response to that skater. That skater wouldn't be granted such lofty accolades as Michelle has.)

So, in a large sense, you are correct. Broadly-speaking, Asians do "count" as white. And in this case, it certainly didn't hurt that Annie Le was pretty, brilliant - and was on the verge of marrying a white/Jewish man. She was a sympathetic and embracable figure - and the story of her murder was seen as worthy of extensive national coverage.

What I was puzzled by was the way NPR yesterday went on and on about security at research labs. If she was killed by someone who worked in her lab, then the security system was irrelevant. Should there be constantly monitored cameras in the labs themselves, with panic buttons, just in case an authorized person attacks a co-worker? Should we have that in non-research workplaces as well?

The non-attention-getting story that surprised me the most was the Milwaukee serial killer.

And let's not forget the ridiculous amount of coverage that Natalie Holloway received or even that woman who faked her own kidnapping, Jennifer Wilbanks.. hey maybe you can do an editorial about America's love affair with "the missing pretty white girl".

The fact that both the accused and the victim were so young also helped fan the flames.

Of course we're paying attention. I didn't even really care that she went to Yale.