From: fchen@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Franklin M. Chen)
Subject: Re: Oriental bias against Indians ? How true ?
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:11:42 GMT

In article <s1o44INN11b@agate.berkeley.edu> chrchan@ocf.berkeley.edu (Christopher S. Chan) writes:
>
>Is anyone here familiar with the concept of multiculturalism?
>I want to point out that it is no longer racist to believe in
>racial/cultural purity.  It seems to me (based on many of the

"Racism" has become a meaningless word these days, so don't worry about
whether anyone will call you a "racist" for candidly expressing your
concerns.

>feelings expressed here concerning interracial dating/marriage)
>that most of the people here believe in the melting pot thesis,
>which emphasizes assimilation, the creation of a uniform "American"
>identity, culture, and race.  However, I think the idea that "love  
>knows no color" trivializes the issues concerning race, culture,
>and ethnicity.

Actually, I think that many of the people here do _not_ believe in a
melting pot thesis.  Outwardly, at least, they demand the construction
of an Asian-American culture.  They wouldn't consider their "liberal"
attitudes about interracial relationships a surrender to assimilation.
It's just that they lust after white babes (or whatever).  Those who
aren't just lusting, but are involved in serious interracial
relationships, probably expect their partners to learn something about
their culture.  They wish to share, not assimilate.  (The radicals
probably wish to infiltrate.)

As for love:  the concept of romantic love is a social construction
invented only a few centuries ago in France (or something like that;
please correct me if I'm way off).  I would say that "love" is much
overrated.  Love is a powerful force which can break through barriers of
race, culture, religion, class, intelligence, etc.  As such it can be
liberating or destructive--or both at the same time.  When a Jew marries
a Gentile, what happens to the propagation of Jewish culture?  What
about a Roman Catholic and a Protestant?  A Christian and an atheist?  A
Buddhist and a Christian?  Etc?  Traditions that are not in the majority
can get swallowed up.  Is this good or bad?  Do we want the rich and the
poor intermarrying?  White and blacks?  Chinese and Japanese?  The
physically strong and physically weak?  The mentally strong and the
mentally weak?

Do we want to encourage the development of one particular trait or
tradition?  Do we want to become eugenicists?  Do we want to risk
becoming Adolf Hitler or do we want to risk becoming WASPs (or whatever
would end up winning out without restrictions on intermarriage)?  Who
makes the decision?  When a Christian and an atheist marry, what happens
to the children?  Who decides?  Does one of the parents win out, or are
the children left to decide for themselves?  Is this too much pressure?

Are there simple answers to these questions that some elite gang of
intellectuals will force on everyone else? :-)

>Someone pointed out that she was "fortunate" to have been brought
>up by liberal parents who didn't mind interracial dating.  I
>consider myself to be unfortunate to have been brought up this
>way, as I have almost no knowledge of my own culture.  Certainly,

In what way did tolerance of interracial dating prevent you from knowing
about your own culture?  Would _intolerance_ have been better from you?
I'm not attacking you or anything; I'm just wondering how a virtue like
tolerance could lead to a bad result.

>I identify with my Chinese heritage, but I know nothing about
>Chinese culture.  Additionally, I don't want my kids to grow up
>confused about their identities.  I think it's hard enough being 
>both an Asian and an American.  Imagine how hard it would be to
>grow up being half Asian, half something else, and American.  I'd
>have to agree with Spike Lee here, that, "mixed kids grow up to
>be mixed nuts." 

I think kids get confused no matter what, anyway :-).

As for being hard to grow up "mixed," I would think that it is precisely
_because_ of separatist attitudes anchored in society.  There are two
solutions to the problem, of course.  One is to encourage "mixing" so
that being "mixed" is no longer unusual.  The other is to reinforce the
separatist attitudes by refraining from "mixing."  Is there a middle
ground?

>This is in no way meant to be a flame.  I just wanted to balance
>out the picture, since it seems that most of the respondants
>don't seem to mind this whole business of interracial relationships.

I think most people _do_ mind.  They just don't speak out, for fear of
being branded a "racist."

	Franklin Chen