From: maridai@ecs.comm.mot.com (Marida Ignacio)
Subject: Accentuating the Positive +++(was RE: Asian <> Asian-American)
Organization: Motorola Land Mobile Products Sector
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 19:36:53 GMT


Whoaw!  

Even after my *second article* about Asian <> Asian-American
where I emphasized about positiveness, there were STILL a lot of followup
to my *first article* where I was negative towards prejudiced
AAs.     *Talk about promoting negativeness around ... whew (head
shaking).*  Was my second article simple going to be dumped or are
there still followups coming?  I'll see which article (1st or 2nd)
will have more *emphasis* and followups (or maybe none, whatsoever)
- I'd say those were good examples of accentuations (the negativeness
was more followed-up).  Thanks a lot, fellas.

By the way, about this:

Article 9263 (1st article) Marida writes:
>2]  For those Asian-Americans who do not want to associate themselves with
>    Asians for reasons that include forcing America to *see* the difference
>    between As and AAs and to consistently live and adopt this attitude:
>    "Ah, there's an American, all right (referring to AA)" and "Ah, he/she
>    is Asian..." - I am very much in favor and would even be proud of my
>    ancestry than be associated with an AA who is *ungrateful* and
>    *prejudiced*.                                        
                                         
|Article 9307, Clare followups:
|Those who don't want to associate with Asians usually find that Asians such
|as yourself REJECT them for not being Asian (or insert ETHNIC since Asian Asians
|don't think in terms of Asian, but rather Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese)
|at the same time "Americans (nonAsian)" keep trying to force AAs into the
|same category as yourself.  Can you explain why an European immigrant, say
|Katarina Witt is "welcomed to America" and immediately claimed by Americans
|whereas a 4-5th generation American who happens to have Japanese ancestors
|is still said to be "Our Japanese"?  Is it logical to expect Koreans and
|Japanese to want to associate with each other just because they look the same?
|So why expect 5th generation JapaneseAm to associate with Japanese immigrants
|just because they look the same.  The reason America has to be forced to
|see the difference is that to most people, yourself included, genetics==culture,
|and when two people look alike, they must think alike, and act alike, and
|feel alike.

That was a sarcasm on my part towards prejudiced AAs (prejudiced of Asians).  
Personally, I do not despise them or am prejudiced about AAs in general. 
About this *forcing* of associations between immigrants and American-borns, 
I NEVER even taught about it until I read about this here from this newsgroup.  
Somewhere along the reading, my mind got corrupted.  Was it my fault?  Partly, 
yes because I let it get into me and I EVEN POSTED a prejudicial article
about it.  Oooops.  ;^)

| Clare writes <role reversal: If Philippines had racism... etc. deleted>

Oh-oh.  I do hope nobody starts racism out there.  I hope nobody gives
them THAT negative idea...(What they do not know about racism will NOT hurt
them.)
                                                      
There are a lot of different nationalities there too.
We do have divisions but more likely political (government, communists,
leftists, rightists, etc.) in the big picture AND you know, the usual
things: rich-poor, killers, robbers, gangsters, drunkards, making 
fun of Visayans with strong accent of Tagalog, some may laugh at people who
tripped while walking on the sidewalk, there are bullies against whimps, etc.
Filipinos love to tease and make fun of things but that's all it is...not REAL 
RACIAL HATE and DISCRIMINATION.  It is in a different form but the DIFFICULTIES
are definitely there, all right.  There is different implementation (I am
even using different terminology here) and thus there is a different result.  
What I am saying about emphasizing the positive is also applicable to the
Philippines even though racism is mild or non-existant there; it is applicable
to our own type of problems.

I guess, being in a rich country, the difficulties are more different and
sophisticated. ;^)  More complex, more stronger and more divided such as
the Real Americans (tm).


...


I have two examples of very positive *accentuating* individuals I admire
(I'm sure there's a lot more):

Michael Jordan and Kristie Yamaguchi

Michael : he knows racism exists towards himself and others but still he focuses
          (accentuates on his skills) on his goals to achieve something for 
          America (and Chicago, for that matter) and he has this different 
          *outlook* towards the world and so the world waves back that very 
          positive *outlook* towards him too.  He is greatly admired in a lot
          of places including the Philippines (basketball fanatics) and of
          course, here in America.  Tell me a racist remark waved towards
          Michael and I'll eat my words and hide in shame. ;^).  I would
          think he went through *that* phase too when he was younger - maybe in
          school, etc., but he overrode these negativeness and has focused
          on his positiveness and look at result...need I say more?  He
          was on top of it all so he conquered.


Kristie :  She too achieved her goal by winning something for herself and 
           America.
           She always has *positive* replies whenever anyone asks her (where 
           are you from:), she answers with that cheesee smile, 
           "I am an American <period>" 
           and not a defensive, whiny, grouchy mode, like:
           "Why am I not getting too many endorsements? I AM AN AMERICAN!
            I should be treated equally...racist! racist!"
           Maybe, yes, she can be *hurting* sometimes and maybe, has had tears
           too on her pillow, but that is just "between her and her bedposts".
           Out in the world, she promotes positiveness.  (It is the people
           *around* her that *pollutes* her mind and how she should be
           thinking, that may add to problems...)  She is a very strong,
           determined person, to me.  She may be above reality but if everyone 
           could have this kind of attitude, this world would be a nicer place 
           to live in.

These two above are real pluses to America.



Example of negativeness (I bet this would have more followups than the above):

Ice Tea rapper (sp?) with his song _(I don't know the exact title):

He does not want people to forget the Rodney King incident.  He emphasizes 
trouble and chaos (and prejudice) existing between civilians and policemen.  
Hayayay...  Haven't we heard enough already.  I understand his motives.  He 
emphasizes awareness and at the same time defensiveness too.  This is ok but 
there is such a thing as *statute of limitation*.

I suggest, think of a good bill and go to Congress to make it a real law that 
police cannot *touch* civilians <period>.  Not that easy, huh.  Well, there
are a lot of ways other than emphasizing the negativeness.  Let it be done
with diplomacy and NOT accentuate prejudice.  Let it done with a common good
cause to solve the problem and NOT pin-pointing each other's mistakes over AND
OVER *again*.  Go with the positive cause *directly* to the point.  Approach
the proper authorities, government agency, etc.  

*Accentuating* prejudice thru *rap* can lead to a lot of misinterpretations, 
especially to *unwise* kids.  Kids will take this prejudice and some will misinterpret 
it.  Music and TV, when used to promote *violence and prejudice*, can be VERY STRONG
influences to young minds AND *immature minds*.
                                             
Phoooweee!  This type of negative moves scares me, specifically when I look at the
future beyond now.  His motives are noble but let's look-out for the OTHER future
consequences - the effect of this to the unwise.
                  
...