From: phantom@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (James Choi)
Subject: Re: A korean living in the U.S.
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 00:24:45 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.200800.7084@cs.wisc.edu> rchoi@thylacine.cs.wisc.edu (Ron Choi) writes:
>that's quite extraordinary.  but there will come a time when you are verbally
>or physically abused, and you'll come to understand how i and others feel.

Thank you for your heartwarming wish.  However, I prefer to remain this
way as long as I can.

As for you, I hope you get to experience an accepting, friendly environment
in the future.  Then, you will come to understand how I and others feel.

I was verbally and physically abused before.  I was beaten by classmates,
cornerd and beaten by thugs on the street, etc.  I know how it feels.  But
it did not happened to me ever since I left Korea.

My mother remembers the worst treatment she got in the U.S.  It was clear
that they were looking down on her.  They were totally rude, and impolite.
She was very annoyed and upset.  She would have walked out if it was a
store, but she endured all of it because she had to get her paperwork done
and there was no alternatives.  It was a Korean consulate.

>you seemed to think that language is the *only* barrier that's keeping the 
>asian-americans from reaching the highest goals.

Language is one of the barriers and in some positions it is a required
skill.  If one fails to be promoted because of his lack of communication
skill, he got what he deserved regardless of his race.  That's all I am
saying.  I am sure you agree this far.

>  are you implying that second
>and third generation asian-americans are not subjected to any racism at all?

No.  I never implied that.  But you see they have much less problems than
the first generation.

>i've listened to stories after stories about how asian-americans are 
>discriminated upon.

So did I.

>  have you ever heard of vincent chin?  are we living in the
>same country?  

Of course I do.

>do you know any other asian-americans, besides yourself?
>talk to them, please, and get it straightened out.

Straighten what out?  Of course I am aware of the racism.  Are you aware of
all the rapes that are going around?  Were you raped?  All I am saying was
I was never raped.  Now you want me to get straighted out?  How, get raped?

>who said racism is the only problem?  

Ok.  We both agree that the racism is a part of the problem.  Not all
discrimination we face today are not based on the race.  Some are based on
sex, some are based on height, some are based on looks, some are based on
intelligence, some are based on language proficiency, etc.

>i'm just disagreeing with what you said (or what you
>seemed to have said) about asians being at fault for inviting discrimination
>upon themselves by not learning english more diligently.  that is a 
>proposterous notion.

Agreed.  The whole discussion got started by a comment by Mr. Dae Shik Kim
"it is BS to say I was not promoted because I am a Korean" or something
similar.  I was basically agreeing with him stating a case where a cause
other than the race (language) prevented him from being promoted.

Personally, I think this racial problem is minor compared to cultural,
ideological problems I will face living (and working) in Korea.  Most
people seem to agree with me since most immigrants choose to stay here.

>ron choi

James Choi