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From: hash@whuxl.UUCP (HASHIZUME)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Interracial/Racial perjorative
Message-ID: <278@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Oct-84 14:05:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.278
Posted: Mon Oct  8 14:05:36 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Oct-84 04:17:07 EDT
Distribution: na
Organization: Bell Labs
Lines: 48


As is commonly the case of computer communication, the point has
been missed (or not been made clear).

It seems that those (especially of Chinese descent) are particuarly
proud if not downright defiant in claiming the label of "Chinese"
rather than of "Asian American", "Chinese-American", "American of Chinese
descent", etc.  I speculate the reason for this is that those
who are American Born Chinese (ABCs as one of the commonly used labels),
have especially strong community ties, family ties, strong traditions,
strong geographic ties in living in exclusively Chinese communities,
and a continuous bonding of immigrant relatives constantly replenishing
the Chinese NATIONAL/CULTURAL identity (as opposed to the AMERICAN
cultural identity).

Reasons aside, my point is that an American Asian, i.e. one who is born in this
country with ancestors from China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, etc. should
not only be proud of one's heritage but of their own country of citizenship.
We are different from the white majority. We look different and stand out
from the crowd in most areas of the country.  We look foreign.  Those of
us who are 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. generation Americans of Asian descent are
thoroughly American.  We can speak English and with no "accent." 
The proclivity of those who are Asian to insist they are Chinese or whatever,
perpetuates the attitude of the majority white population that we are
foreign and (for some) "we should go back where we came from." 

There is something that Steve said referring to the "girl vs. woman" issue
that can be applied to the "Chinese vs. American of Chinese descent":
Just substitute "girl" with "Chinese" or whatever nationality and
substituting "American" instead of "woman" and the image and thought
processes conjure up a different image of those of us who "look different":

> The very act of using the word 'girl' (or thinking it) by
> itself imposes certain constraints -- stereotypes -- on your thought
> processes.  Using the word 'woman' would have a different, and presumably
> better, effect.
> There's a secondary reason to switch:  every time you consciously change
> your mode of speaking, you're made aware of the issue of sexual equality;
> that in itself is desirable.
> 		-- Steve Bellovin


Note: this will be my last comment on the subject since it does not really
warrant discussion under "net.singles."  The issue was originally brought
up here concerning interracial dating, but as you see this has wider
implications.

Mark Hashizume