Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site whuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!twitch!hocad!houxm!whuxl!hash 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