From: nguyen@enbp.cs.fsu.edu (Lucy Nguyen)
Subject: Re: American != Vietnamese (was Re: [SOC] Group beating death ...)
Keywords: American race Vietnamese
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 92 15:54:14 GMT

In article <3753@copper.Denver.Colorado.EDU> l1ngo@copper.denver.colorado.edu (Linh Ngo) writes:
>In article <79246@ut-emx.uucp> onlit@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Drew) writes:
>>In article <1992Sep4.163456.14276@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> nguyen@enbp.fsu.edu (Lucy Nguyen) writes:
>>>...  
>>>to happen, but you guys wouldn't have cared much had it been an american
>                                                                  ^^^^^^^^
>>>beaten to death.
>>
>>I care because it involves racial tensions.  Racial problems in the US is a 
>>common place.  Many of them are merely based on ungrounded hatred.  It is very
>>sad for this so-called "melting pot."  By the same token, I care about the 
>>Rodney King incident.  I don't deny it has something to do with me as an Asian
>>-- a minority. 
>>
>>If the one who was beaten to death were an American, I would look at this 
>                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>incident from a different angle.  I care about those were beaten up for no
>>reason during the LA riot regardless of their skin color.  
>
>I think there is some subtle racism here.  What is your definition of
>American? My definition includes African-Americans, Asian-Americans,
>etc.  Therefore, Vietnamese (who have become citizens) are ALSO
>American.  I believe that in both these instances, American is taken to
>mean whites exclusively.  If so, that is a great injustice to everyone
>in the "Melting Pot" of America.  Americans are not defined by the
>color of their skin.
>
>I've noticed this from other oriental races too, sadly enough.  However,
>I see nothing wrong with being Vietnamese and American at the same time.
>
>Linh Ngo

That was the point. There is a lot of subtle racism on both sides. Where is
the line between promoting your own culture, being exclusive and being
racist? I don't agree with some people who claim that only the majority
can be racist. All humans have a preferance for associating with what
they're confortable with, but the things I've heard here and within the SFla
community are scary sometimes.

For instance, back to the beating, a major sticking point in many peoples
mind was that no one helped him during the fight. Anyone whose gone to
school here and seen a fight at school sort of knows that there's a rule not
to interfere. Usually it's just one on one, so no one really gets
hurt(assuming no weapons), but what would you do with 10 on one? Now it
would also be dangerous for you to get involved. So you call the police, and
hope they get there in time. Another thing is that not everyone at a party
knows that there is something happening outside. The college ones I've been
to have all mostly been well lubricated with alcohol. Plus there's the
boy-girl thing. 

I'll get back to the point: people have told me that if I go to any
"American" (it's really more non-Vietnamese) parties, always go with 
Vietnamese friends. Reason: Luyen went with "American" friends and they did 
not help him when he needed it. This has some unpleasant assumptions and 
misinformation and a lack of knowledge of American youth culture. This, to
me, is the very definition of racism. (I guess there's also a generation gap
thrown in there for good measure). For now, I'm taking all such comments as
a slight overreaction to a bad situation.

I've been fortunate that I've never been the subject of overt racism(
although the stupid geisha/submissive Oriental woman business comes close,
but just implying that I could flip them into the ground cures that
nonsense, some stereotypes are advantageous :) ), 
and if I have been the subject of subtle racism, I don't know about it.