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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
The White Stuff: Whiting Wongs & Wonging Whites
hey're our neighbors, buddies, allies, enemies, clients, bosses, employees, lovers and spouses. Many of us have more daily contact with Whites than with other Asians. Consequently, we often feel we know them better than they can ever know us. Maybe that's at the heart of our frustration as Asian Americans. They are as ubiquitous and pervasive as the air we breath while to them it seems we are eternal curiosities, outsiders, exotics.
Bridging the gap?
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And so we sometimes find ourselves lashing out with nasty generalizations about the people we blame for all that seems wrong with American society and, more specifically, our place in it. They are ignorant, shallow, boorish, smelly, sneaky, treacherous, malicious, dumb, weird -- in short, all the labels we feel have been so unfairly slapped on us.
But even as we hurl such epithets we cannot forget the countless acts of kindness, warmth, generosity, friendship, passion and love that we have enjoyed from these very same people. As our anger and frustration subside, we recognize that our fates are inextricably intertwined, not merely in sharing a world, a nation, a society, an economy, a culture -- but often in sharing even our most intimate lives. One in five of today's Asian American marriages are to Whites. And contrary to the imbalance of the past, the ratio of new AM/WF marriages to new AF/WM marriages is steadily approaching unity.
So we naturally have a strong interest in decoding the other side of the equation. Understanding is a two-way street. Fortunately, there are Whites who have enough interest in us as individuals to share their perspectives on us and on their interactions with us. This page is for those who -- as corny as it may sound -- have chosen to serve as bridges.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:55 AM)
question (aka Lisa),
I was just browsing at Barnes&Noble yesterday and spotted a paperback in the new release section. I thought you might like it. It's called "Watching the Tree" by Adeline Yen Mah. It talks about a broad range of Chinese cultural aspects including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, food, language, etc. It also frequently relates to the American culture so the American general public can understand some of the Chinese concepts. It's very easy to read despite the big topics, and it's a small book so you will be done before you know it. You mentioned that you'd like to get to know your bf's cultural background, so I think this book is very relevant. You can probably relate to the section about vegetarian food. :)
Enjoy!
Red Red Seashell
Friday, June 21, 2002 at 10:56:40 (PDT)
AC Dropout,
Thanks for your suggestion. The only problem is that my bf is Caucasian and he can't speak Chinese. He's learning Chinese right now in case he will be the only one out of the family loop :). He is making great progress. I'm very impressed!
Have you heard of a Taiwan pop singer named "Fay Xiang" (He must have an English name, too. But I don't know it). He is actually from the US, but went to Taiwan for his career development. He's fathered by an Euro-American and mothered by a Chinese-American. And his Chinese (Mandarin) is so perfect! It's just so amazing to see a person with a Caucasian face to speak like a native Chinese. So I believe that bilingualism is very possible. I wish I could ask his parents for some tips :).
Red Red Seashell
Friday, June 21, 2002 at 10:42:22 (PDT)
AC Dropout,
my toungue was firmly in my cheek when i said that
yeah Australia didn't ratify....siding with the US in doing so....sometimes i wonder if Australia will ever step out of the US's shadow when it comes to international affairs
yes a lot of our exports are dug straight out of the ground but Australia is one of the most highly urbanised countries on earth with all the associated development (eg i had a digital mobile 10 years ago)
Sing guy in US,
US growth the last qtr was actually 5.6%...i have been trying to find the numbers for Singapore & Oz but to no avail.....my statement was probably more speculation than fact!...which is liable to happen when i'm taking the piss.
as for gangs and societal "decadence" ...one of the problems law enforcers face is a reluctance of the communities affected to come forward out of fear
maxdacat
Friday, June 21, 2002 at 00:53:57 (PDT)
Red Red Seashell:
"Also, I'd like to say that not all AA people resent interracial relationships. Take my parents for example. They never say anything against my dating white guys. In fact, they think white guys tend to have better manners than Chinese guys in China."
Your parents sound like the legion of white-washed Asians who put white people above Asians. Then again, since you seem to have only dated white guys, given your statement of multiple white guys, so are you probably.
Annapolis-Harvard Law Grad
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 19:52:27 (PDT)
what has this site morphed into now? who is gonna post next? Nelson Mandela?
??
Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 13:14:06 (PDT)
maxdacat,
Only in your own minds. That why you won't ratitify the Kyoto agreements about environmental protection, because a large part of the economy is based on exports of coal, wood, and other natural materials.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 at 12:21:05 (PDT)
Red Red Seashell,
I think you should both just speak Chinese at home if you want the kid to be bi-lingual in an area with not that many Chinese people. The kids will learn English in school. They will be brain washed with English once they enroll in kindergarden.
Canada has bilingual education in French and English. Quebec has whole communities that cannot speak proper English. It's there civilized "Civil War."
I have never met a inter-racial kid that grew up outside a chinese community that spoke Chinese. I've only met 1 ABC girl who could speak junior highschool level chinese and grew up in the suburbs.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 at 12:18:53 (PDT)
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