From: janew@woobaby.EBay.Sun.COM (Jane Woo)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: Keeping in mind that this is AmeriKKKa
Date: 21 Jul 1992 18:16:29 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: janew@woobaby.EBay.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: woobaby.ebay.sun.com

In article 14fq65INNj0p@agate.berkeley.edu, judyy@ocf.berkeley.edu (Judy Y. Tseng) writes:

> Gary, I'd like to reiterate my reasoning in claiming that marriages between
> two people of ethnic minority groups are better politically than marriages
> between a non-white and a white person.

I didn't realize that people married for "political" reasons.  I do know
that people marry for status, money, and possibly even love.  In any case,
to each his/her own for reasons to marry.  However, I'm inclinded to disagree
with Judy on discrimminating based on ethnicity... particulary "whites".

What is it that one would get "politically" when marrying a non-white?  What
"power" do you seek?  What are the benefits?
 
> 1. Asian Americans are not White.

Agreed.  But, Asian Americans are AMERICANS.  WE do have the power to
excercise our RIGHTS in this country.

> 2. The mainstream political, legal, and academic systems, as well as the
>     media, in the USA is heavily controlled by Whites.

Agreed.  Can we change this?  Can we as Asian Americans become more involved
in politics, the legal system, academics, and the media?  

> 3. Most of the dominant society are oblivious to issues that concern 
>    non-Whites.
>    Even if they ARE aware of the racism that goes on, the majority of them
>    hold no personal ties to the struggle for racial equality.

What are the issues that you are talking about?  Are you talking about
educations, economics, jobs, etc??  What about the concerns of the
"poor whites"?  Do they not have the same concerns as most minorities?
I don't think that it is necessarily a "white vs non-white" problem.  
Some problems could be the outcome of "elite vs non-elites".

> 4. There exists prejudice in the mainstream political, legal, academic systems
>     and the media, a prejudice often only White people can escape.

Agreed.  There is prejuices everywhere!  When there's a will there's a way
for anyone to escape/do anything.  Oh, better throw in some luck too. 

> 5. There is power in numbers. With sheer numbers, we can turn the tide. For
>     example, the presidential candidates are much more sensitive to African
>     Americans because they, as a united group, can sway the election. In our
>     corner, Asian Americans make up 10% of California's population, but only
>     2% of the state's registered voters.

What kind of power do you seek?  Okay, so we make up 2%.  We can turn the
tide if we get "our" people to vote.  So, shouldn't we start to advocate
to those who qualify to vote vote?  Should we not engage in protests that
we believe in?  Should we not excerise our rights?

> 6. Asian Americans, as well as non-Whites in general, do not have the
>     influence that comes with size and unity.

Agreed.  So, let's do something about it.  Why blame people for things
that you can do for yourself.  Get politically active!  If you feel that
nothing is coming out of it, there is.  It paves the way for the future.
With role models of Asians in the political arena, may be, just may be
young Asians will opt to be more political.  This would also work for
any field... media, academics.... etc.

> 7. Chances are that the children of Asian-White couples do not wholly identify
>      as being Asian American. Many can easily melt into the pot of White
>      America. Is this good? Yes, say the out-marrying Asian Americans. But it
>      means another step backwards for non-Whites, specifically Asian
>      Americans.

How is this a step back?  You want to mainstream, but you don't.  I think
that the more exsposure the "others" have the more that the "others" will
think.  I'll have to talk to some of my Asian-White friends to see how they
feel.  It's up the the Asian-half of the couple to teach his/her children
about their partial culture by birth.  I don't see that as a problem.  Or,
is there?

> 8. Spouse aside, you don't have kids with your friends and co-workers.

What does this mean?

> 9. Therefore, outmarrying spells political doom for non-White Americans, as if 
>     we aren't powerless enough already. 

Political doom has nothing to do with whether you marry a white or a non-white.
It has everything to do with being politically active.
   
>       I'm all for having friends and co-workers of different backgrounds/
> ethnicities/genders/etc. But until this society becomes truly equal, I think
> it is better to stay away from the rice-meets-bread fever. By doing these
> things, we are gradually gaining our rights as a group. 

Each person has a right to his/her own opinions.  I find that the arugement
that Judy presented has nothing to do with inter-racial marriages.  I could
be wrong.  IMHO, no one should blame another group for any shortcomings.
Sure, we'll have set backs, but that won't stop us from moving forward.  We
can do ANYTHING.  If because we are a miniority of some flavor, we may some-
times have to take a longer road.

-jane
  




Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american