From: clare@nynexst.com (Clare Chu)
Subject: Re: Asian <> Asian-American
Organization: Nynex Science and Technology
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 92 13:19:42 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.004435.11125@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU> ajh@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Alan Hu) writes:
>In article <1992Jul27.164536.7505@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> maridai@ecs.comm.mot.com (Marida Ignacio) writes:
>>
>>4]  You make a big deal about the question "Where are you from?", all
>>    because you want to oblige America to stop being intimidating and
>>    *force the hope* that *that* question will just mean where did you
>>    live previously and *not* what is your ethnicity.  You are just wasting
>>    too much effort on very trivial issues and the problem with this
>>    effort is it in turn creates a storm that disturbs and destroys
>>    instead of actually being constructive.  In short, you cause bad
>>    commotion.  (Haven't you realized yet, Dear Abby is playing upon this
>>    kind of bad commotion - what for? for intrigues and publicities -
>>    to keep the column up.)
>
>
>OK, here's an opposite-side tirade, directed at those Asians and first
>generation Asian Americans who are tired for hearing Asian Americans "whining"
>about trivialities like getting dates, finding jobs, belonging, getting
>denied employment opportunities because of race, unequal pay for equal
>work, getting your brains bashed in by some redneck with a baseball bat,
>etc., you know, silly things like that.  Please try to understand that
>for many, many Asian Americans, this country, the USA, is our ONLY home.
>We may look Asian, we may eat at Chinese restaurants sometimes, we may
>even know a few words of some Asian language.  Some of us have studied
>Asian languages or culture and history in college, but that's IT.
>CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE IS NOT GENETIC.  In every sense of the
>word, we are red-blooded, full-bodied, real, live, honest-to-God
>AMERICANS, with ALL the rights and responsibilities thereunto appertaining.
>Yet, from the moment of our birth, we are told, thanks to our genes,
>that we are second-rate foreigners who don't belong here, that we're
>worthless, that we're not REAL Americans.  We bust our buns trying to
>carve out a piece of existence in the only country we know, trying to
>fit in, trying to establish our lives here, only to be constantly reminded 
>that with a quick change in political wind, we can get our jobs taken away,
>our homes burned, and ourselves beaten to death, just because of our genes.
>And then we turn around and a bunch of Asians kick us in the face for
>being banana-Twinkie-hollow-bamboo-worthless-sellout-scum-traitors-who-
>can't-even-speak-Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese/Tagalog/etc.
>
>It hurts.

  And another thing about the BIG DEAL is that when an Asian or 1st generation
  Asian American asks me "Where are you from?"  If I say, "I'm Chinese."
  They look at me with barely concealed disbelief and smugness, and say,
  "Oh you mean your ancestors are from China."  Like I'm not good
  enough to be Chinese.  Even my mom who was born and raised in China
  now feels that people do not treat her as Chinese when she goes back
  for a visit.  They call her "hua2 chiao2".  Do you know how disconcerting
  that is for her, who has always identified with Chinese culture?
  To be dismissed as a "hua2 chiao2"?  So Marida, stay long enough
  here in America and you'll find yourself in the same boat as us.
  The longer you experience America, the more you'll find in common
  with us, like it or not.  You might even have kids like us.  So
  get used to it, and join us instead of fighting us.  You may not
  be ready yet, but we'll be here for you when you are.
>
>Most of us who have thought through the problem realize that the root
>of most of the racism we face is that, no matter how many months, years,
>or even *generations* that our families have been in the US, we are still
>not counted as Real Americans (tm).  Thus, we are dedicated to trying to
>change this misperception.  Strategies differ:  some advocate ignoring
>racism and being economically successful, others advocate fighting
>racism directly through protests and politcal action.  Regardless, the
>unifying theme is that we must recognize the problem exists before we
>can do anything about it.  We are trying to help you; we are trying to help
>ourselves; we are trying to help everyone's children.  Please don't fight us.
>
>						--Alan Hu