From: pkk36438@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Polygon)
Subject: Re: HK "roots"?? << was: "I love Hong Kong, too! But why? >>
Keywords: Culture and People
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:19:41 GMT

gean@donner.uucp (25158-gean) writes:

>>[...] To [Steven Leung], being an ABC and not HKese does not
>>preclude one from claiming/discovering/cultivating his/her root in HK.
>>
>>Steven

>I must side with Steven's viewpoint.  Being an ABC myself and not HKese,
>I "cultivated my roots" in HK by going to school in HK for three years.
>I have been influenced by the HK sense of humor and way of thought.
>Likewise, I also have been influenced by the Chinese and American way
>of thought.  (Having traveled in HK and Canton, I believe that there
>are differences between a HKer and a mainlander... but that's beside
>the point.)

>...  For Chinese families who have only recently moved to the US,
>their "roots" have been growing in China for many generations.  For
>Chinese families who have left China for HK, Japan, Taiwan, Africa,
>South America, Mexico, Canada, etc..., their "roots" can be traced
                                                             ^^^^^^
>back to China.

	I did not want to compare one's parent's root with one's own root.
	To me, my parents' root is not the same as my root.  However, our
	heritage is the same.

>I know a family that moved from China to Japan, Taiwan, South America,
>and is now in the US.  As you could imagin, the members of is family are
>multi-lingual.  I would not say that this family's roots is ONLY
                         ^^^                                 ^^^^
>in Taiwan or any other place that they have lived.  The correct definition
>of this family's roots must include all the places at which this family
                                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>has lived in.  

	Good point.

	I think they have no root in any one specific place. Their roots is
	in the world.  Remember: they did live in those places. They have
	enough background to share with other people living in those places.
	My definition can be applied to your example.


>The question of "roots" exist for all Americans.  Alex Haley (a black
>person) traced his roots in the US back through the years when his 
>family was enslaved during the civil war and all the way back
>to Africa.  I am sure many (not all) HKers think that Alex Haley's
>roots are in Africa (stereotyping) - if so, they should also think
>ABC's roots are in China.  Alex Haley is the author of the
>TV mini-series ROOTS for those who care.

>The more a person travels and understands the world,
>the more the person will understand the true meaning of the term "roots".

	You understand the world because you "experience" the world.  That
	kind of experience is real.  Similarly, you have root in one place
	because you epxerience the "root".  That root is real rather than
	just a sense of attachment.

>Ted

	Please don't feel that I am against any specific group of people.
	I am an imigrant myself from hK to US.  I am welcome to be in US
	and I want the same thing happens to other people in other places,
	too.  I just dont' want to confuse one's identity with one's
	expectation.  Wanting to have something and having soemthing are two
	business.

Polygon