From: lashlepi@newton.ccs.tuns.ca (Phillip Lashley)
Subject: Re: Japanese American Generalizations
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 19:11:36 GMT
Organization: Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S.

In article <1993Jan12.054329.14700@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> webihara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Wataru Ebihara) writes:
...
>I really do think there needs to be more inter-group
>communication.  I don't know how many Asian Americans reading
>this newsgroup have ever bother to learn about African, Hispanic,
>Native American history and issues, but I do think we have a lot
>of common themes.  For me, my first deep thoughts on racial
>issues came after taking a couple courses in African American
>history during my undergrad days at CSU -- made me realize that
>Asian Americans were really talking about the same thing --
>racism is racism.
and *more* importantly
>Maybe we need to talk more...
..**..
How often have i heard this? Perhaps its only when people are seperated by many miles of net that theyy have the courage to actually do this. In my experience at TUNS, where the grad. students composeabout30% of the school, and foreign/"minorities" 80% of that, the International Student Society seldom sees the asian student population, and the Asian Student Association seldom sees the rest of the "minority" student body. (we shall not digress and discuss the fact that there is not ONE local black student i


n the school) .
As a result, the students who through therir research activity contribute to the existance and continued good name of this school, have obtained little political leverage. e.g grad students, who can graduate at any time of year, thesis permitting, were only elidgable for convocation with the single undergrad ceremony. Clearly many have left without their piece of paper. (this may be esthetic, but still), it had to wait until white students voiced their discomfort for action to occur (yes i was pushing for 


this, as soon as i realised what my schedule would look like). The undergrad paper published this joke last sem.: "how do you know a grad student? A: He cant speak english". Yeah. Right. 
The response to this and other tasteless  jokes in the issue was miniml
In my first 3 months here, i met a guy from my undergrad, and we have been working together since then. The initial reaction of asian student in our class, in this order:
1.) Intense competition, with no communication. 
2.) Unponrealising u are better than me in some things, a willing ness to say hello on mornings
3.) On discovering that i am better than you in some things, absoloute surprise.
4.) The development of a relationship, which i believe was based on mutual respect for academic ability, and is now i hope, based on a genuine liking of the other individual.
Just my experiences.
Phil.
P.S Why is it that the white students/profs stick together, and when the black students/profs stick together, or the white students prefer the black profs, its considered so unusual? Is this a usual experience? 
P.S**2 while i was still unattached, i told my friend Jun that, hey I had never been out with a Chinese girl (he is from Bejing), and could he hook me up with a blind date. He pointed out that it would be difficult, since he found that chinese girls didnt like black guys, but, come to the next ASA function and he would introduce me to a few of his friends. I never took the invitation (probably my loss)? What if...??

I'm really gone now.

>Wataru
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>*  Asian American Graduate and Professional Student Organization  *
>*    340 Ohio Union * 1739 N. High Street * Columbus, OH 43210    *
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