08.22.08
Is it “Bad Karma” to mock Asians with “Chinky Eyes”?
Is it “Bad Karma” to mock Asians with “Chinky Eyes“? Maybe Sharon Stone can shed some light on this one.
08.12.08
Olympic Fallout … part Deux
I’ve found the news coverage of the Beijing Olympics provided thus far to be highly opinionated at best. Why should persons of Chinese descent living in America be concerned? Because in a group setting, you’re the defacto “China customer service rep” and will be expected to address these issues from a “Chinese person’s perspective”.
So as the press tears China a proverbial “new one”, let’s ask a few questions and make a few observations about the more noticeable recurring themes.
2008 OLYMPICS: USA VS CHINA
“China-USA rivalry shapes Olympics” (a USA Today front page headline)
(Comedic) Question: Since the press seems to have shaped into a battle between two nations to see who wins the most gold and most overall medals, why have all the other countries in the world even bothered to show up?
CHINA’S BRASS TACTICS OLYMPIC PROGRAM
“Chinese directing athletes into sports that award lots of medals” (title of a USA Today article)
Question: What are these sports and who is taking home the lions’ share of medals? The only ones I can think of off the top would might be swimming and track and field. Hmm.
“China’s communist government has plowed untold resources into developing athletes for Olympic events that award a lot of medals.” (USA Today)
Question: I’d be curious to see a listing of how much money, dollar for dollar, the highest spending countries are putting into their respective Olympic programs. If China is indeed the highest spender by far, OK, we’ll take the hit for that. So let’s see the numbers.
“Sports officials sweep the country measuring and testing young children for their potential in various Olympic sports, then enroll them in a network of sports schools.” (USA Today)
There are no questions here, this is simply an untruth. The phys. ed. coaches in the (let’s call them) “regular” schools may give the option based on the performance of the student. The operative word here is option. No one is forced to go to a school they don’t want to. USA Today simply did not do their research on this one.
“they want to win every time” (USA Today)
Question: Enlighten me because I can’t seem to think of too many athletes who enter a competition thinking: “Ehh, I’ve already won a few, I guess I don’t really have to win this time.”
… Forcing athletes (like Yao Ming) to compete at the expense of his body
Question: Without naming names, could steroid abuse also be classified as competing at the expense of one’s body?
“China has never won the most Olympic medals. But no host country has ever prepared its athletes as well.” (USA Today)
Question: I have to assume every country prepares its athletes as best it can. It’s simply a matter of spending resources and I’d like to know which countries have the most resources.
UNFAIR PLAYING FIELD
“home field advantage”
If I may make a humble observation: Competing at home can be either an advantage or disadvantage depending on the athlete. Some draw energy from the crowd and push themselves farther than they normally would. Others, however feel a considerable amount of additional pressure competing in front of a home crowd and either expend nervous energy, lose concentration, or both.
“Biased judging”
Question: Who are these judges, are they all from China favoring Chinese athletes over foreign athletes or are these judges from other countries?
SAVING FACE
“Saving face is paramount” (USA Today)
Observation: From a viewer’s perspective I prefer saving face to “in your face”. Take the US gymnastics team for example who, while other teams showed the class to remain humble in front of the camera, were clamoring “That’s how we do it!”, “Yeah USA Baby”, and other frat-like bravado into the cameras.
… Fake fireworks and lip sync’ing
Observation: OK I’m not going to disagree here. I hate lip syncing and think it should result in jail time 
But this isn’t just a Chinese thing (Ashlee Simpson, 50 Cent, and Whitney Houston come to mind along with the fallen-from-grace Milli Vanilla).
“national pride”
Observation: Given the the bombardment of American flags and slogans on bumper stickers, windows, flagpoles, etc. I think the USA is holding it’s own when it comes to Nationalism.
USA BEATS CHINA IN BASKETBALL
Question: The USA routinely points out and ridicules Asian males, Chinese in particular, for their lack of height, OK.So with basketball being a game in which height is of crucial importance, how is it that beating China in basketball is an accomplishment worthy of such extensive news coverage?
DARFUR
Observation: I find it curious how China is being thrown under the bus for a civil conflict in Darfur while the West is never asked to take responsibility for holding a monetary inventive resulting in gangs chopping off children’s limbs for wandering into diamond mines.
Contrary to what the jewelers advertise, the consumer has no way of knowing the source of a diamond and diamonds themselves are not as rare as they’d have you believe. They are only rare because they are controlled.
HUMAN RIGHTS
… Comparisons to Nazi Germany (the 1936 Olympics)
Question: Is there a group that I don’t know of that is being forced out of their homes into gas chambers based on their race or could this possibly be a case of sensationalism?
“Homes in path of construction for the Olympics were torn down” (USA Today)
Observation: It’s called “eminent domain”. In the US it’s just a couple of retirees sobbing on “60 Minutes” about the new shopping mall that was built on their plot. When it happens in China, it’s front page news.
“Some Chinese people feel they cannot win justice, because the judges in the People’s Court are appointed by the Communist Party.” (USA Today)
Observation: I guess I must have missed the deadline to enroll my name on the election ballot to win a spot as a judge in my local county.
“China executes more people each year that the rest of the world combined.” (USA Today)
Because as the West keeps reminding everybody, China has 1.3 billion people. Of course there are going to be more executions. Maybe if China wasn’t a third world country and had the money to house criminals for life, they would. Besides (most) Westerners hate Chinese people anyway (as evidenced by the frequent beatings of Chinese people and the daily verbal abuse) so shouldn’t they be glad there are less of us?
“Systematic oppression of 1.3 billion people” (USA Today)
Question: What about the systematic oppression of Asian males in America? Of course this isn’t written as law but try getting a decision-making position or even a date for that matter.
“Even so, a Pew poll shows that the Chinese overwhelmingly approve of the direction their country is headed.” (USA Today)
Question: Whoa, now I’m really confused. If 1.3 billion people hate their government and are clamoring for freedom (according to the West) why did they vote as such?
GOOD OLD FASHIONED MOCKERY
You thought the days of people making their eyes slanted, holding their fingers two inches apart, bowing, and speaking with an accent were over after you graduated but it looks like the games which are supposed to bring the world together is doing so, as usual, at our cost.
The brightest example is a team photo of Spain’s Olympic basketball team where all the members are shown using their fingers to make their eyes slanted.
People are inevitably going to defend this as playful humor. Don’t fall for this “can’t take a joke” bullspit. Mocking peoples’ genetics is unacceptable. Other races don’t stand for it and neither should we.
LESSON LEARNED
I for one, was never in favor of the Olympics because it wouldn’t take Nostradamus to predict this fussilade.
The 2008 Olympics were originally thought to be China’s “coming out party”, where a grandiose spectacle would be seen by all the world.
Somebody should have told the sponsors of this project that a homecoming (or “coming out party”) is like a plane crash. If you come out alive, you’re doing good.
08.02.08
Olympic Fallout
As the 2008 Olympic games draw near, you can bet the self-righteous will unite with the jackass in a China bashing frenzy. So if you’re of Chinese descent and are tired of being the proverbial “catcher” of insults, read on for some pointers that may make it easier for you to address these unpleasant situations.
First let’s go over a few general concepts.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADDRESS ANYONE IN A CIVILIZED MANNER, REGARDLESS OF POSITION
When it comes to the office environment, being a minority in a racial discussion puts you in the driver’s seat.
This is true even if the offenders are other minorities as no institution wants the label of being a racially unfriendly environment.
If this is a superior, there is probably someone above him or her that uncomfortable remarks can be reported to. Human Resources (HR) is an option as is an attorney, provided you’ve documented the incident(s) (names, quotes, witnesses, and preferably a voice recording).
Feel free to correct friends as well, you should not be uncomfortable making the correction, they should be uncomfortable having made the statement(s).
ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO RESPOND
No situation is off limits. The self-righteous may take a trivial reference of China (e.g. a few people going out for Chinese food) in order to chime in with their holier-than-thou opinions of backward, oppressive, and uncivilized people.
The jackass may initially establish a cameraderie with you and others in order to get you to let your guard down and then, sahh … he slips in a zinger.
Respond no matter who the onlookers are. Arguably these people aren’t your friends anyway but inarguably they will respect you more if you stand up for yourself than if you take it.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU SAY AS LONG AS YOU SAY SOMETHING
Standing up for yourself may feel uncomfortable since youv’e been conditioned not to.
You may also not have the perfect response for a remark, that’s ok, you don’t have to “win”, you only have to try. Even simple responses such as:
- Loudly clearing your throat,
- Opening your mouth in “he didn’t say what I think he just said” astonishment,
- Surprisingly asking “Huhh?”,
- Repeating the offending statement,
- Asking the offender to “Elaborate further please”,
- Simply asking “Excuse me?” in eyebrow-raising fashion.
Can yield surprisingly effective results.
Don’t think about whether to react, just react. It is better to overreact than to under react. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss the opportunity. Rest assured there’ll be more opportunities.
CLEARLY MAINTAIN A SIMPLE POSITION
You are right and should not have to quietly accept others degrading your heritage.
Avoid “softeners” such as “kind of”, “sort of”, etc.
Don’t explain yourself (”I’m not going to explain myself to you”)
Don’t get into a debate (”I’m, not interested in getting into a debate with you”)
Don’t expect other Asians or even other Chinese to support you. In fact they may take the opposite side in order to assimilate (”Speak for yourself …”)
You are making a simple request not to have your heritage degraded.
NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY “PULL THE LEVER”, DON’T GIVE THEM A “PIECE OF CANDY”
While it’s natural to be upset that the same verbal unpleasantries aren’t hurled at other ethnicities, maintain a “3rd grade teacher” persona using an educational tone of voice as you politely provide the miscreant(s) a lesson in cultural sensitivity.
The snide remarks and insults can most often be bucketed into one of the following categories:
- Genetics (eyes, height, penis size),
- Culture (language, food, names),
- Behavior (human rights, freedom, pollution),
- and of course the term “Chinaman”.
GENETICS
“Well nobody’s perfect like you.”
“You think you’re better than Asian people?”
“You must be very impressed with yourself (string of unanswered comments).”
“What’s wrong with being Chinese?”
“You got something against Asians?”
“That sage knowledge is bound to get you laid at a party.”
CULTURE
“Not that I mean to correct you but …”
“Hey that’s my cousin (you’re talking about).”
“Should I be insulted?”
“All you had to say was … (and appropriately rephrase the miscreants’ remark(s))”
“If you don’t like it, eat somewhere else.”
“Unfortunately not everyone has an easy Anglo name.”
BEHAVIOR (THIS IS THE EASIEST TO DEFEND)
“I’m not even going to point out the irony here.”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to judge anyone.”
“Poor country (can’t afford to provide …)”
“I’m confused, Americans act concerned about the oppression of Chinese people and then kick the shit out of the Chinese people in the US
(reference restaurant delivery beatings/stabbings/shootings).”
“Which country contributes the most pollutants to the environment? Not only does China have more people on bikes and less in cars then the US
but the US can’t even sell most their cars in China because the US made cars don’t meet China’s minimum mileage requirements.”
“Is Gene Simmons the only rock star entitled to wear makeup?”
“CHINAMAN”
“Chinese man. You use an adjective to describe a person, not a noun”
“The gentleman, let’s call him the gentleman.”
“By the way that term isn’t used anymore … “Chinaman”, it’s considered a racial slur.”
A few generic responses:
- “Oh boy i cant wait to hear this.” (a preventative measure)
- “Your conversational skills are what I like best about you.” (Upon initial insult by a repeat offender)
- “So what are you trying to say?”
- “Oh, no offense taken.”
- “I’m not so sure I’m enjoying this conversation.”
- “That’s not nice.” / “That wasn’t necessary”
- “That was low dude.”
- “I don’t know what that means (please explain further).”
- “Got us a comedian here.”
- “I didn’t think that was very funny.”
- “Should I have found that funny?” (when they look at you expecting you to laugh)
- “Take a step back bro.”
- “I don’t appreciate …”
- “Uh, not something I’d expect to hear in the workplace.”
- “I’ll attribute that to youth.” (young person blurting out something offensive)
LET’S WALK THROUGH A SCENARIO
You enter the coffee room in your office to get your morning cup and you run into a few of the boys.
One guy blurts out: “Hey did you hear the Chinese are putting underage kids on their gymnastics team, them Chinese are always trying to get away with something.”
Your response could be: “You know I read about that on Yahoo and just couldn’t help but thinking “Why is something like this on the front page?”. Does anyone even care about these silly sports like gymnastics? Let’s face it, if this were a country like Spain, for example, this “news” would be a couple sentences on the back page.”
The offender argues back: “Yeah but they’re trying to cheat, you gotta be sixteen to compete, that’s the rule.”
You could respond with: “Has it been proven that these gymnasts are under the age limit or just alleged? We all know that the U.S. has ample resources to prove wrongdoing, so what’s the latest?”
The offender reaches: “Man it’s communism, you don’t know what’s going on over there.”
You could conclude with: “China is technically a socialist republic. But to change gears for a second, I seem to remember when the U.S. lost it’s first Olympic basketball game, everybody said (of the winning team): “They act as if they beat our best”. And the American professionals started playing in the years thereafter. So does that mean that if the U.S. celebrates a gold medal in gymnastics that China could also say: “They (the Americans) act as if they beat out best.”?
Other ideas, please share them with the community
06.12.08
Minority women and the issue of getting along
A lot of the times when I see another Asian girl that is a stranger on the street, for some reason I automatically act hostile towards them. We exchange unapproachable glances, and in my mind I am judging them by the way they look, the way the dress, who they are with, and sizing them up to see if they are any threat to me. Why do I do this? Every Asian girl I have talked to admits to doing this.. Actually, scratch that, every minority girl I know acts this way towards someone of their own race. Why?
It seems Asian and minority men don’t face this same hostility with each other. When I asked my brother if he felt the way that I do towards Asian girls he asked quite shocked, “You actually feel threatened?” I got similar astounded responses from my Asian guy friends as well. Why do they not judge each other as much as Asian women do?
Perplexed by this issue, I turned to my friend Soumya (pronounced like Sonya with an “m”–Somya), a beautiful girl from California who happens to be Indian as well. I asked if she felt threatened at times, and she said yes. We were both surprised by our own responses. It seems that while many girls feel threatened or hostile, rarely do we acknowledge it. Even when we acknowledge it, we don’t even know exactly why we feel and act this way. For me, the actual reason may be a little frightening. It reveals an intense insecurity about our identity as minority and Asian women.
Soumya and I came up with a possible reason for our reaction. Since we share similar backgrounds, I am not claiming this reasoning as a universal answer, but perhaps it will help you in figuring out why you react the way you do. Soumya and I both come from upper middle class wealthy families with parents who immigrated from their respective countries on student visas and scholarships. After the rags to riches transformation of our parents, we were raised in the suburbs surrounded by American pop culture and led two lives: our cultural one with family and family friends, and our school one in a white American society. Eventually we became masters at excelling in the “white” social scene through personality and looks. However, we both recognize that at many points and times in the friends we have made, we each have been the minority novelty: “This is my Asian friend. Isn’t she hot and funny? She’s the hottest Asian I have ever seen. No other Asians are like her.” I am sure many of us have heard similar lines when we were introduced as parties and to other friends of friends.
Soumya and I, it seems, had become exceptionally vain and proud of our differences. Since we recognized that our novelty as a minority allowed us to achieve a level of popularity, it led us to prize our uniqueness. Our fear is that our value and uniqueness is by race only. If my friends decided to talk to another Asian girl, I feel that they will quickly discover that she can be just as good looking and funny and engaging as I can be — if not more. Thus, this fear leads me to automatically become threatened by the appearance of another Asian girl. It seems that I have little faith in my position within my friend group. Furthermore, that I have very little confidence in myself that I would automatically fear somebody better. This is both startling and depressing to me. Do I not trust my friends enough to believe that they see me more than just an exotic Asian girl? The thing is, I know that they do–that they love me. However, I feel objectified when they refer to me as their Asian friend. Is that seriously my only selling point worth sharing to new strangers? Why can’t they refer to me as their funny friend or charming friend? It seems that by acknowledging me as my race, they are saying: You are not equal.
Therein lies the ultimate paradox that Soumya and I discovered. The racial differences that limit us, make us feel insecure, and makes us feel worthless are the same differences that we have benefited from. Our racial novelty has given us a degree of social success, but we hate its implications. Thus, Soumya and I agree we judge and size up other minority women to see how big of a threat they are to the status quo of our social standing. We fear that we will be outshone.
In regards to gender differences–why males don’t feel the degree of hostility–Soumya says it best, “Guys have sports to bond over, but what do we have? Make up? Clothes? If these are our similarities then no wonder girls compete. These are tools to make us look better than the next girl; what we share are the tools we use to compete with one another. A dual with stated weapons of preferences.”
I size up others out of my own insecurity, but I have felt the glare as well. I wonder why other girls do it too? Is it really going to be a case-by-case reason, or are we all responding to our insecurity in our place in a white society?
06.05.08
1 Pack = 1 Vaccine commercial
I tend to pride myself in not being overly sensitive, so perhaps this reaction could be considered a moment of weakness. However, while watching Law & Order (guilty pleasure) this afternoon, I happened to see the new Pampers 1 Pack = 1 Vaccine commercial.
In this commercial, a white mother and child receive the thanks of other mothers and children who appear in ethnic clothing representing the various countries that the Pampers cause is aiding. The idea that for every pack of diapers purchased one vaccine is made available is indeed truly commendable. However, I am more disturbed with the second message that this commercial conveys.
To me this commercial implies that all non White races are not modern, are extremely ethnic, and need the help of a white America to guide the way. Whoever created the commercial was at least somewhat aware of the discrepancy in race and knew how to manipulate race imagery. The main mother is walking on an affluent street pushing a baby carriage and all the other people on that street are white as well. However, all nonwhite actors are wearing ridiculously stereotypical clothing. A small Mexican child runs up in a woven poncho at one point, and an Asian woman turns to reveal that she is wearing a rice farmer’s hat. All of the women and children are breathtakingly beautiful, yet none of them are wearing modern clothing. I don’t see how the commercial could have been weakened if it was a modern Asian, black, or Hispanic woman walking down that same street. If nothing else, it would have actually strengthened the commercial by eliminating the overtly condescending tone.
In about 3 minutes the entire commercial has shaken my comfort as an Asian woman, and it also has awakened a deep fear within me. My anger and frustration with this commercial stems from my worries about respect and the way I am viewed as an Asian American. I identify with the modern culture–I see myself as living affluently, elegantly, and privileged. However, I also identify with my race. I watch this commercial, and it dawns on me that maybe when white people view me, they see me as the peasant rice farmer walking on their rich white affluent street. They must think then that I don’t belong and am attempting to assimilate by adopting “their” ways of dress and lifestyles.
Why should I be made to feel this way when watching their commercial when I was in fact born into my privileged lifestyle? My parents worked hard both financially and socially to provide me with equal opportunities. Because of past encounters with verifiable assholes and racial stereotypes, I have become acutely aware of my Asian “difference;” thus, when commercials such as these grace my time with Law & Order, they only serve to weaken my confidence in my place in society as an Asian American.
However, my insecurities with my identity are my concern exclusively. There is no way that a diaper commercial could create this sensitivity within me. Furthermore, I don’t expect anybody but myself to own up to causing these insecurities because they are a product of the way I internalized certain altercations. BUT, the subtle message that this commercial conveys encourages the belief that other races are powerless and poor. That it is the grace of modern white America who can provide the necessary help. It is undoubtedly viewed through Western eyes, and I worry that for those that already see whites as the only modern race, that this commercial will serve to instill the backwards uselessness of other races.
To some, my observations will come off as sensitive, but I think my concerns are extremely valid. Please take time to view the commercial and perhaps buy a pack of diapers because it is only fair to admit that at least their mission is extremely admirable.
06.04.08
Planet B-Boy: Gripping yarn builds to spectacular battle
Benson Lees’ plan to make the continuing story of break dancers a success was made possible. The recording of Planet B-boy is now on its three years.
The possibility of making it more interesting than any other news or current events will be true, because f its ratings and audience impact.
Next Step for Liu?
John Liu is ready to leave the City Council in 2009, but nobody knows what his plans are. They think that he is aiming for the mayoral position, but he is refusing it he doesn’t want to attempt to improve the city Council.
The soon-to-be-candidate is knocking into the office of the so called “voice of the people.” He encourages the people not to disregard the contribution of the immigrants into the city.
This Chinese Deliveryman Works at Google
A new film entitled “Take Out” will be shown in New York. This is about a Chinese delivery man who struggles to pay his debt to immigrant smugglers.
The actor is a Korean-American who is working in the marketing division of Google in New York and is getting a part time M.B.A. The movie trace to the delivery man’s everyday life as he makes more effort in paying his debt. The movie is in Mandarin language as well.