From: mark@cs.UAlberta.CA (Mark Green)
Subject: Re: Caucasians don't understand
Organization: University of Alberta
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 21:14:34 GMT

In article <1992Aug16.103603.25047@u.washington.edu> silly123@milton.u.washington.edu (Celia Nilson) writes:
>
>>>	   [Robert's assertion that white people cannot fully understand
>>>	    the Asian-American experience deleted.]
>>>   >
>>>
>>>Even in foreign countries, white foreigners are often treated very well,
>>
>>How would you know??  Making claims about how whites are treated in
>>foreign countries is the same as whites making comments about how
>>asians are treated in the US, isn't it??? :-)
>>
>>>because they are automatically assumed to have some sort of power, whether
>>>it is economic, diplomatic, military, or just some magical power emanating
>>>from their skin that causes them to be some sort of super-human.
>>
>>Where did you ever get this idea?  Maybe in tourist areas it might be the
>>case, as long as you have lots of money, but outside of the tourist areas
>>you get no special treatment.  There are lots of times that I would like
>>to have that sort of power, maybe I'm just not white enough, or Canada
>>doesn't count!
>K
>	Hmmm....I guess what he is talking about some modern countries...
>like HongKong, Japan, Thailand.........
>I was born in hongkong and i have been traveling around asia...so i do
>think that "White" does have some special considerations if they are in
>most of the Asia Countries.  (Of Course...i wouldnt say all...)
>
>>
>>I spend about 15% of my time *working* in China.  Note this is not the
>              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>NOt offened....I have lived in Hong Kong for 17 years and also traveling
>around (well...just like you say...this is not same as travel viistiing..
>actually i was travelling b/c my job)  15%...????
>
Same with me, travelling for my job.  15% works out to about 1 or 2
months per year.

>
>>same as travelling, for two reasons.  First, there's no retreating to
>>the foreign hotel.  You have to be productive in the same environment as
>>the rest of the people.  Second, even though I come home to Canada, I
>>also know I will be going back to China.
>>
>>There is a major difference between racism in North America and China.
>>In North America the racism is more subtle, while in China its blatant.
>>In some parts of China, a white person walking on the streets alone
>>can count on some type of physical attack on a regular basis.  Several
>>times in a dining hall I've not been served while all the chinese sitting
>>around have been served.  As far as the waiters were concerned I didn't
>>belong in China so I wasn't going to be fed.  With this type of racism
>>you know exactly where its coming from, and where you stand. With the
>>subtle forms its much harder to tell who your friends really are.
>
>
>	Hmmmm....are u tell the group that you didnt get the service b.c
>you are white???  I havent have this kind of trouble before!!!  #1 method
>to aviod that kind of trouble is that always keep a Big Smile on your face!!

That's what I was told, so I assume that was his reason.  Yes I am white,
and I do know about keeping a big smile on my face, etc.  I also know
enough to bring snacks with me, just in case I don't get a meal.  I'm
not implying that this happens frequently, maybe once a month or so.

>	
>>
>>The main point that I'm trying to make is that many groups experience
>>racism, and each group tends to experience it in a different way.  You
>>can argue whether one form of racism is worse than another, but in the
>>end its still racism of some form or another.  So I don't experience
>>racism the same way that you do, but that doesn't mean I don't experience
>>it.  You have the same rights to comment on my experiences of racism as
>>I do to comment on yours.
>>
>
>	Well, I do agree truely about your point!
>
>However, you was telliing me that the story about SOME PART at CHINA (Should I 
>consider that as whole china or even whole Asia...:) 
>
>Come On, everyone know that there is racism in this world and i guess they are
>just trying to point out a specific topic of racism.

That's exactly what my point was.  That every groups experiences racism
of some form, and you can't assume that whites are treated in asia the
same way they are treated in north america.

>
>Please...I would like to hear more about (racism) on education, Job opportunity, Job promotion, greneral services......
>
>Celia