From: lulu@troi.ucr.edu (david lu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: Surviving in a White Man's world
Date: 15 Aug 92 22:09:15 GMT
Organization: University of California, Riverside

Okay, let's see if we can hold a discussion without any name-callings
and foul language.  It seems like a lot of people don't realize that
using foul language only makes that person look incapable of a
critical argument.  Maybe more "cool," among those who consider such
things cool.  But certainly not more intelligent.

In article <1992Aug12.150550.10596@inmet.camb.inmet.com> lrq@fanny (Robert Quan) writes:
>
>    Point 1:  Why is it that the media always associate an asian as a
>              foreigner and not an American.  There are Orientals in this
>              country that can trace their roots back to the 1800's.  Yet,
>              when an oriental meets a non oriental, the non oriental always
>              ask "what country he/she is from" and "compliments him/her on
>              excellent English"

My usual reply to this is, "Thank you.  Why, you've got pretty good
English yourself."  Accompany this with a smile, so they won't get
offended. :)  I always try my best not to offend anyone.  It's always
hard to tell when and if you might need a favor that person.

>
>    Point 2:  Why do American Society stereotype Asian males as nothing more
>              than wimpy and nerdy book worms.  We asian males are certainly
>              not wimpy.

American culture has the idea that being "cool" means being "dumb."
Well, let me phrase this another way.  American "coolness" does not
require good grades.  American children are usually brought up to be
"street smart", whereas Asian children are usually brought up to be
"book smart."  In the US, the popular kids in school are the ones on
the football team.  In Taiwan (where I'm from), the popular kids in
school are the ones with the good grades (well, at least it used to
be that way).  So yes, *most* Asian children, especially those
immigrated and not born in the States, tend to be more "nerdy".  It's
just unfortunate that most people (Asians included) tend to apply this
"nerdy" tendency to *all* Asians, instead of looking at each Asian on
an individual basis. :(

>
>    Point 3:  Why do white men think that they are superior in looks and 
>              physique to oriental males.  It is all media developed 
>              stereotypes.

I think very few people will disagree that *on average*, white men are
superior to Asian men physically.  Perhaps this is biological, perhaps
this is cultural.  I don't know.  But as for superiority in *looks*,
that's totally cultural.  In the US, most men are white, therefore they
are more attractive.  My female friends in Taiwan, on the other hand,
think that Chinese men are more attractive.  Yes, it's racist.  But
Chinese children are brought up "We are the Best" the same way that
American children are brought up "We are the Best."  Asian men like me
just happen to live in the wrong part of the world. :)

>
>    Point 4:  Why do the media make a big hype about all the Japanese owned
>              buildings and businesses.  It is well documented that the
>              British own twice as much as the Japanese in the U.S.  Yet,
>              we never hear about a British firm buying up a business or
>              building.

Japan-bashing goes way back to WWII.  Britain, on the other hand,
are our allies in WWII.  This, unfortunately, won't change until all
the people who lived through that era are dead.  Also, America is a
country that is used to being "Number One."  I really doubt that all
this Japan-bashing is anything against the Japanese people personally.
Japan is just unfortunately in having an economy that is better than
the one US is having.  For example, Korean-bashing is also getting
quite popular as well.

>    Last point, what steps should be taken to correct all these falsified and
>negative stereotypes.

Cultural education.  This is does not mean education in the schools,
but education by the media.  Everybody knows in the US, the media has
a much stronger influence than the schools.  This is especially true
among the more impressionable young people.  Still, it will take at
least another generation to die off before people will start accepting
each other as individuals, rather than as races.

>          Robert Quan (lrq@fanny.wash.inmet.com)

-- 
---==lulu@ucrengr==---  just another bewildered college undergraduate.
David T Lu, Amateur Thinker: lulu@ucrengr.ucr.edu, {ucsd, uci}!ucrengr!lulu
"I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle."
					- Arthur Dent, Hitchhiker's
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american