From: janhsu@hardy.u.washington.edu (Mark Choi)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: Korean Views on Race (Re: LA Times. 7-13-92 [long])
Date: 28 Jul 92 03:59:52 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <1992Jul28.023440.1118@leland.Stanford.EDU> you write:
>In article <1528sjINN3r8@network.ucsd.edu> hirota@sluggo.sdsc.edu
>(Bryan Hirota) writes:
>>...
>>This comes straight from the LA times, July 13th 1992 front page.
>>...
>>Many Japanese-Americans, who had worked for decades to prove that Asian-
>>Americans were "just as American" as anyone else, and that citizenship was
>>independent of race, were aghast to see the Korean government marching over
>>immediately aftyer the riots to demand "reparations" from the U.S. government
>>not only for Korean nationals but for Korean-Americans.
>>...
>
>I thought that I might take the time to point out that my previous 
>post indicating that the Korean gov't is giving preferential treatment
>to Korean-AMERICANS has been verified by this LA times article.
>I might also point out that my opinion that this behavior is RACIST
>and BIGOTTED seems to be shared by other Americans.
>
>As I said before, if the Korean gov't wants to help Americans, then
>it's fine.  However, the Korean gov't should _not_ be giving preferential
>treatment to AMERICAN citizens of Korean ancestry.
>
>The Koreans are a hell of a long way from understanding that 
>"Asian-American [are] 'just as American' as anyone else."  But 
>they are probably far ahead of the Chinese-cu.
>
>Also, this Korean preference thing has been done else--in Japan.
>The Korean gov't and the Korean people don't give a hoot about
>other foreigners in Japan.  Further, the Koreans in Japan don't want to
>give up their Korean citizenship but want the benefits of Japanese
>citizenship.   Japan almost won't do it.  Even the USA wouldn't concede to such
>outrageous demands.  But the Korean gov't is insisting that the Japanese
>gov't give the Koreans in Japan special privileges not afforded to
>other foreigners.
>
>Note that the Japanese gov't, prejudiced as it is toward foreigners
>in general, has in no way treated the Koreans any differently from
>other foreigners.  If anything, the Japanese gov't has been helping
>the Koreans out--ahead of other foreigners--because of the bogus
>and racist attitudes and claims of the Korean gov't, which DOES favor some
>foreigners over others.  Specifically, the Korean gov't DOES favor
>foreigners who are ethnically Koreans over other foreigners.
>The immigration laws are an example.
>
>If that isn't bigotted and racist, what is?
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Seikatsu no imi wa nan desu ka.            \|  |`      | Don't buy from Toyota;
>Shitte itara oshiete kuremasen ka.          | -+-      | especially, don't buy
>                                           /| / \      | from Capitol Toyota in
>Copyright 1992.                                        | San Jose, California.
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I'm too tired to argue, but let's assume you're correct. WHO GIVES A SHI*T?
Let's assume you're correct and the Korean government is indeed racist 
and bigotted. Why would that be such a major issue concerning us Americans
as you say? Yes, you've made your point clear when saying the Korean gov't
shouldn't support korean-americans in america, but to go beyond that....
leave it on a different newsgroup.

By the way, there are many koreans in japan who HAVE accepted japanese 
nationality, FAR MORE THEN THOSE THAT HAVEN'T. However, you CANNOT deny
that "foreigners", even Koreans, ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. To say that 
korean-japanese WHO HAVE NATURALIZED are treated the same way EVERY 
japanese is would be a total LIE. This is the same for naturalized Chinese
and every other group. Are you on a crusade to destroy all NEGATIVE 
attitudes and stereotypes of the japanese people? You CANNOT deny that
the japanese government IS ALSO DISCRIMINATORY, just like every other
government. Do NOT GO AROUND labeling people based on your perceptions of
their ENTIRE RACE, whether it be Chinese or Korean. I do not see your 
point in posting an article critizing a government of being racist,
especially since the ONLY government that WE AS AMERICANS really care
about is the AMERICAN government, and to go off and criticize ASIAN 
GOVERNMENTS would contradict your statement saying WE ARE AMERICAN. 
Why should Americans care? Sure, it is an issue of relative importance,
but would you go to a European American newsgroup and start criticizing
France's government as being RACIST? No, I doubt it. CONCENTRATE ON 
YOUR POINTS BEFORE YOU BABBLE AND MAKE NO SENSE. You are only contradicting
yourself. To think we, AMERICANS, would be angry at the Korean government
for being racist would be RACIST ITSELF. I COULD GIVE A FLAP WHAT THE 
KOREAN GOVERNMENT DOES. But then again, this is not the arena to argue
such points, because AGAIN, WE ARE AMERICAN.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american