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Brittany Tom
A shopper at an Adidas outlet in Beijing prepares to buy a souvenir Jeremy Lin T-shirt.
BEIJING – Asian-Americans continue to be the fastest growing ethnic population in the U.S., according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released on Wednesday.
The data, which come weeks ahead of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, also demonstrates how integral a part of the American fabric Asians have been. As many as 1.5 million businesses in the U.S. are owned by Asians. More than a quarter million have served in the U.S. military. And nearly half of the Asian-American electorate voted in the 2008 presidential election.
And yet while generations of Asians have integrated into American society, a small but growing number of the 3.8 million Asian-Americans of Chinese descent are finding themselves in mainland China to study or to work.
Especially since the 2008 global economic crisis, many ethnic Chinese are seeking economic opportunities in China as emigrants. Almost all are also motivated by cultural heritage interests.
At the same time, Jeremy Lin's popularity has reignited discussions about identity among Chinese-Americans that are unlikely to wane as quickly as Linsanity.
A cupcake shop, a brewery and a barbecue restaurant are just three of a growing number of small businesses started by Americans in China. Rock Center travels to Beijing to see how some are pursuing their entrepreneur dreams in another country.
One writer for the sports website Grantland hit on the issue during the height of Lin hype last month: "These have been a revealing two weeks, not only for the Asian-American community or the Ivy League basketball community or the talent evaluator committee, but also for the watchdogs, handwringers, and pulpit-thumpers. Not since Barack Obama's presidential campaign has there been so much national discussion about the appropriateness of discussing race."
And in China, where many American-born Chinese have gravitated over the past few years, race and nationality intersect in interesting, sometimes confusing, ways.
Brittney Wong feels "even less Chinese" in China than she expected.
"I realized how American I am," said the 23-year old Seattle native, who recently arrived in Beijing for a year-long intensive Chinese language course. "Which is strange, because I just assumed I would just blend in perfectly here."
Cultural disconnect
But in trying to befriend local Chinese, Wong came to see that "learning about their experiences in high school and their lives, how they lived so far, [are] so different from my experiences. Even their personalities."
The cultural disconnect is compelling enough to have provided some inspiration for a new feature-length film.
Daniel Hsia is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who has just wrapped up production for "Shanghai Calling," a movie about American expats in Shanghai. "The world is turning on its head. Expectations are being reversed all the time," said Hsia.
In the movie, the main protagonist is a Chinese-American executive whose employer sends him to Shanghai. "I thought it would be more interesting to have the character [be] of Chinese descent but completely ignorant of Chinese culture. It just creates more conflict. It's more interesting to watch a character who looks like he fits in but doesn't."
Sometimes the cross-culture experience makes people feel even more American.
"In many ways, being in China has caused me to have a strong appreciation for just how American I am," said Jason Chu, a 25-year old Delaware native. "It has helped me come to terms or embrace the positive aspects of being distinctly Asian-American."
Chu is wrapping up two years in Beijing, where he has been dividing his time between serving as a pastor and writing music. The child of ethnic Chinese parents from Malaysia and Thailand, he grew up speaking English and began learning Chinese in college in the U.S.
Novelist Gish Jen discusses the sometimes complicated relationship between native Chinese and Chinese Americans with NBC's Adrienne Mong.
Speaking fluent Chinese, Chu has found, is perhaps the most critical determinant of authenticity. "There is this sort of disappointment that many Chinese-Americans are familiar with, where if you look Chinese or people know you're Chinese and your Chinese language isn't good, you're less of a person," he said.
Writer Gish Jen, on a recent trip to Beijing, recalled similar reactions when she first visited the mainland in the 1980s.
"In the early days, I used to feel they were quite critical," said Jen, one of a handful of hyphenated American novelists who led the multicultural wave of fiction in the U.S. in the early 1990s. "They saw me as a sort of fallen Chinese… You don't even speak Chinese, what's the matter with you."
Asian body with a Western mind
Although Jen believes mainstream Chinese attitudes toward overseas Chinese such as herself have improved, she thinks many still fail to understand what it means to be American.
"I don't think they understand what it means to be in between [China and the U.S.]," she explained.
The Chinese "don't distinguish between nationality and ethnicity," said Chu. "They don't understand that it's possible to have an Asian body but a Western mind."
That seemed to be the case when U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke arrived on the mainland last year. Some Chinese media commentators and bloggers voiced expectations that Locke, an ethnic Chinese born in the U.S., would be more sympathetic to Beijing's point of view. When it became clear that he was here to represent America, some of those same voices accused him of betrayal. One critic called him a "fake foreign devil who cannot even speak Chinese."
For Chinese-Americans like Chu, being in China means more about being American and behaving more overtly like an American. "I dress more differently [than the Chinese here]," he said. "I over-emphasize my foreignness."
Sense of apartness
Similarly, Toronto native Lili Gao thinks living in China has brought out a sense of apartness that she said she never experienced growing up in Canada.
"I never had any cultural identity issues in Canada. I speak Chinese, but I'm Canadian," said Gao, who was born in Shanxi before moving to Canada when she was 6 years old. "But then, coming back here, I realized I really was not Chinese. That was an interesting experience to have a clearer idea of identity."
As with many other Westernized Chinese, Gao found the issue of identity to be rooted in communication. Although she speaks fluent Mandarin, the young marketing executive said that social culture was a large hurdle.
"I couldn't possibly get used to it…the way people interact [here,]" she said. "The Chinese have a different way of communicating" that is not simply about language.
Now, having lived in Beijing for five years and working at Chinese companies, Gao finds herself "over-interpreting all the time, even when I'm communicating with foreigners!"
For someone like Jonny Chin, an 18-year-old senior at an international school in Beijing, it's simply that his American identity is much stronger. Even though he was only 6 years old when his parents, originally from Hong Kong, moved the family to China from San Francisco – meaning he has spent two-thirds of his life in Beijing.
"I still refer to America as home," he said. "Like when I say I'm 'going home' for Christmas. And when people ask, 'Where are you from?' I say I'm from the U.S."
With additional research from Brittany Tom and Isabella Zhong
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Leave a Comment:
Face it, to mainland Chinese, your a ABC, American born chinese.
Interesting read, but not surprising. It's culture, as much as ethnicity, that defines who we are. Understanding others - and relating to them - requires looking beyond their ethnicity and physical appearance. I don't think this is divisive at all, as some have commented. Just the opposite - understand the difference between culture and ethnicity facilitates understanding, tolerance and appreciation.
Thanks hit girl. Most people could not blab out a cliche' with as many words as you just did.
horse->fish->fox
Heh... +1. That made me laugh.
I wasn't going to post on this subject, as many posts are written very good. I have one or two comments. First, I agree with Nappercrapper's post. I am so sick and tired of listening to people who were born in this country or sneaked in when they were a baby, talk about their heritage or their culture. Talking to some of them, they haven't a clue about either and could care even less. The only time heritage and culture come into play is when they want to get a foot in the door to obtain something such as a job or property, etc. I'm not saying that is true for everyone so don't start calling me names. You will recognize most of the offenders by what they like to be refered to...... Mexican American, African American, Asian American and on and on. What happened to just AMERICAN?
1. Most people can't resist the simpleton urge to ignore content and make their own shallow, ignorant comments. Good thing I enjoy watching it unfold...
2. Nothing attracts idiots like another idiot. So not surprised that Foxdrake finds amusement here.
Talk about turtle laughing at tortoise's short tail.
@ HitGirl
Don't take it personally. Just because I have a different opinion and know you are wrong is my entitlement here.
This is so sad. American citizenship was something that we valued and used to be proud of-regardless of where our ancestors came from. Going back to the home of our forefathers was always on the basis of being an American visiting a heritage.....The fact that we are mourning acceptance in a society that we may be many generations removed from at the expense of being proud to be Americans....Wow, it is just so sad. I value my heritage...in fact, I am an American Mutt with family members from all over the globe. Why in heavens name, when I was born here, would I worry about whether I would be accepted as a native overseas? It would be nice to visit, to maybe connect with long lost relatives.....
I have an online friend that is German, living in Shanghai. Her family has been in China for two generations, they have never assimilated, they are basically German citizens living in China even after all this time. They send their children back to Germany for high school and university. They are all fluent in Mandarin, German and English. They have many Chinese friends, but basically live in a "little Germany" in China. I find it really unusual. but I guess it happens all over the place.
This article highlights an aspect of chinese culture that many people do not understand, one which is intentionally downplayed by media and the chinese themselves. The fact is that chinese culture is incredibly racist, ethnocentric, and chauvanistic. It is a common assumption among chinese that anyone who does not speak chinese is stupid because they can't even learn to speak. They have a semi-religious devotion to the idea that china and the chinese people are one indivisible entity. That is why the issue of taiwan is so explosive to them. The idea that there could be "more than one china" is absolutely blasphemous to them. It is therefore entirely expected that they would be shocked and confused why any person of chinese descent would choose to identify with an "inferior" culture, meaning anything not chinese. In addition to being seen as stupid, they are considered race traitors and traitors to their nation (which is the same thing to them) in the eyes of most chinese. The "first emperor" is a deity in china, revered for the sole reason that he unified the chinese people into one nation (supposedly, but probably not historically). There are many fairy tales in which it is the explicit lesson of the story that good or evil, right or wrong, are trivial concerns compared to the all-important goal of unifying the chinese people into one monolithic nation. Unfortunately, the fairy tales of youth shape the politics of adulthood, so many chinese still believe this. That is the main reason the communist chinese government is able to remain in power. No matter how corrupt and evil the government is, most chinese cannot even contemplate defying "china", regardless of who is in charge at the moment.
Chinese arrogance is easy to understand; they are an old country with continuous ties to an ancient culture, and who has never fallen to any foreigners. Their country has not only maintained itself at the forefront of world affairs through the centuries, but is now a burgeoning superpower (Historians, feel free to correct me).
But they are only human, and no wiser than any other humans. It is natural that they would assume an air of superiority versus the young upstarts that surround them. I'm not saying it's right (or wrong, for that matter), just trying to develop an explanation.
I live in Hawaii where being white means I'm a 18% minority. There's harmony between the races and you are what you are. When someone is a mixed race it's viewed as a positive. A mixed race baby is cherished and called a "Happa." Happa dis, Happa dat. Our mixture on The Big Island is of the Asian culture, Native Hawaiians, whites--you name it. We don't have race crimes and, statistically, we're very low in violent crimes. Religion is a mixture, but never a conflict.
So, what do we get that most of the world doesn't?
China has indeed fallen to foreign powers many times, the mongolian dynasties established by the mongolians, and before the rise of nationalist China at the turn of the century China was ruled by the ethnicly manchu dynasty. The end of that dynasty coinciding with China being considered the 'sick man in asia' because of recent trade and territorial acquisitions by European and Japanese powers, Tawain (then Formosa), Macau, and Hong Kong being examples. Now as for culture China is indeed old, ancient, and has influneced other cultures, the Viet, Japanese for example, for thousands of years. As for them becoming a super power I wouldn't hold my breath. Their economic policy is fundenmentally unsustainable, Japanese export method on steriods, coupled with a property bubble far larger than the US ever had, exremely poor population, and increasingly autocratic goverment there is a good chance China might withdraw from the world. China has a history of doing this, when it opens up to the world its coastal regions become weathly but instability within the nation grows. Ultimately there is unrest and possibly rebellion in some of the provinces. China then closes itself off and become stable, but it becomes poorer because of it. The last time this cycle occured eventually resulted in the communists taking control of the nation. Moreover, even if China can avoid internal discord, and I am not sure they can, the sad fact is that their one child policy effectively shot themselves in the gut. Assuming that their goverment can find a way to avoid the usually eventual economic problems a goverment directed export and infrastructure policey brings then they have the problem with their burgening elderly population. Too put it succinctly, they will get old before they get rich.
Sandrich: No race crimes? How about the increased rate of rape of white tourists? The rape rate in Hawaii in general is higher than America as a whole, though the stats are suppressed to avoid hurting the tourist trade.
I live on The Big Island and it's not the same as Oahu. Our tourist trade is booming again and there is we just don't do harm to other people. What you have posted is grossly untrue. Try Florida if you want to look at violence. It's a place where a woman can go out anything, day or night, without fear. Hawaii County is famous for locking up anyone that commits an act of domestic violence or any crime against people that are defenseless.
@Sad but not surprised
Wow... good post.
Cub T.,
You forgot to mention whites who want to be Irish on St. Patrick's day.
Cub T., your post reeks of racism. I noticed you didn't mention British-Americans, Irish-Americans, Swedish-Americans or any white -American ethnic group. This is probably because you yourself are a member of one of these groups and see no problem with you celebrating your heritage, i.e., if you are of Irish descent, you probably celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But you have a problem with others in non-white ethnic minority groups celebrating their heritage during Black History Month, Asian-American history month, etc. because you believe that ethnic minorities should stop trying to embrace their culture and instead, just be "American". That is hypocritical and shows that you believe that everyone - that is, everyone who is NOT part of the majority culture - should just throw their culture out the window and assimilate into the majority.
sandtrich "So, what do we get that most of the world doesn't?"
Along.
k2000k " they have the problem with their burgening elderly population. Too put it succinctly, they will get old before they get rich."
Interesting hypothesis, but when you think about it, perhaps quite true. Their GDP per capita is about 10% of ours, so they have a LONG way to go, and as Japan found out, eventually their economy will stagnate since it's largely based on exports.
@Cub T., your post reeks of racism. I noticed you didn't mention British-Americans, Irish-Americans, Swedish-Americans or any white -American ethnic group. This is probably because you yourself are a member of one of these groups and see no problem with you celebrating your heritage, i.e., if you are of Irish descent, you probably celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But you have a problem with others in non-white ethnic minority groups celebrating their heritage during Black History Month, Asian-American history month, etc. because you believe that ethnic minorities should stop trying to embrace their culture and instead, just be "American". That is hypocritical and shows that you believe that everyone - that is, everyone who is NOT part of the majority culture - should just throw their culture out the window and assimilate into the majority.
American, proud & true - you come to realized the rest of the world is just crazy, no matter how much you thought you were.
Just another way to divide people.
Carrying on the great leader Solomon.
Oh, it's hard to live in a different culture. Cry me a river while ... I look for my tiny violin.
Most things Chinese sucks. Backwards hillbillies call you foreign devils? The fact they call you "foreign devils" should tell you how dwarfed they are.
Culturally, they're still in the middle-ages. They think they're so superior, living in caves and eating rat, hating the dirty white-man and calling Africans darkies. I kid you not.
You clearly haven't been to China if you think they're still in the middle ages. But don't let a lack of actual experience ruin the fun of propagating ridiculous stereotypes.
Just cause they have "super highways" and bullet trains doesn't mean they have evolved culturally, emotionally or spiritually.
If you don't know about their hyper nationalism, backwards thinking and arrogance ... you CLEARLY haven't been to China!
Just got back from there last night. Go there frequently. Have studied the culture. Speak Mandarin. But thanks for playing.
Hyper-nationalism, arrogance and backwards thinking... you just described half of America...
"Just got back from there last night. Go there frequently. Have studied the culture. Speak Mandarin. But thanks for playing."
All that ... and you still know nothing.
"Hyper-nationalism, arrogance and backwards thinking... you just described half of America..."
Yea, that's a problem here. USA, USA, USA, (it turns the stomach - acting like we're better than everyone else) - and now the Chinese are learning how to be "Ugly American" - they are learning all the wrong lessons or they were always that way and just are enjoying a period of economic growth that makes those attitudes...dangerous.
Desperately trying to feel superior? Good luck. At least you're entertaining..
@Hit Girl
*sigh*
I'll let you have the last word, OK sweetheart.
I'll steal the last word then.
Word.
@madTown......too funny!
Another unregulated flood of baby dropping foreigners.
Coming into the USA in time for the birth of the new baby boy/girl.
Paying $30-$40 thousand for the trip.
The majority of those born here are baby girls and the reason (in part) is due to China's 'one child' policy and the cultural belief that girls are worthless. If they give birth in China to a girl and they already have one, they are fined. Taxes are higher if you have a girl than if you have a boy, and if you do choose to have more than one and the sonogram shows you're expecting a girl, the male head of household can order the pregnant woman to have an abortion/late term abortion or partial birth abortion (break the baby's neck as she's being delivered.)
For some Chinese women, the only way to save their baby girl's life is to give birth off mainland China (Hong Kong is struggling with the same 'birth tourism' issues we are) or to give birth in another country altogether, in a country with jus soli citizenship laws (born on that country's soil, automatically a citizen.) The US is not the only county with jus soli laws, if your child is born in these counties, they are automatically a citizen of that country as well as the country to which the parents belong:
Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Barbados and Antigua & Barbuda are in the process of abolishing their jus soli laws.
Countries with jus sanguinis ('by blood') laws--citizenship only to those with at least one parent a citizen/resident:
Australia, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, and United Kingdom.
All others only allow a child citizenship if at least one parent is a citizen (permanent residency not permitted, must be a citizen ONLY.
In the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (stateless=having no documented nationality) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 15 states that:
1) everyone has the right to a nationality and
2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their nationality nor denied the right to change their nationality.
The US is currently in violation of this, which has attracted the attention of Amnesty International and similar human rights watch groups. Stories like mine are becoming more and more common as the US's crackdown on illegal immigration sweeps up the undocumented as well and those who are stateless are being 'arbitrarily deprived of their nationality' (declared 'illegal' without a judge, trial, or even a hearing) and indefinitely detained without charge, trial or any means of gaining freedom from confinement in facilities and conditions that violate international human rights laws. State sanctioned physical and sexual abuse, rape of male and female detainees, physical separation between mother and dependent child detainees, psychological abuse and death threats, food and sleep deprivation, lack of adequate food and water and shelter, inadequate clothing and medical care, and improper disposal of the bodies of those who die while in custody are all concerns the international human rights committee has with the US.
I was abandoned at an international orphanage as an infant, with no documentation saying who I was, where I was born, or how old I was. My parents (a Vietnam vet and his wife) adopted me, but never told me before they passed away in a car accident. When USCIS found they'd misfiled/lost my adoption paper 18 years later ICE came to me asking 'Papers, please' and when I said 'What papers?' they sent me to a deportation camp. Since there was nowhere they could deport me due to having been stateless before the adoption, they told me I could spend the rest of my life in deportation or give them the adoption paper. I spent three years writing letters to every courthouse in the three states I'd lived in trying to find the adoption paper and was freed when I eventually (luckily) found it.
(FYI--In the US it's regular practice for a court to issue a birth certificate for a child with the adoptive parents names on it once a legal adoption decree has been filed. Since I do have a legal BC, that is supposed to be considered proof that the adoption happened and so my BC and SS are legal. However, ICE refused to recognize this and placed me in indefinite detention anyway.)
Ad yes, the horror stories about conditions in deportation are true--the camp I was in, located in Raymondville, TX--was called 'Ritmo' by human rights groups because they said it looked and felt exactly like Gitmo--Guantanamo Bay. However, for those like me who were lucky enough to get out, we can't sue because of the Patriot Act, which indemnifies Homeland Security and its divisions from lawsuits because they are acting in the interests of national security.
Amanda very sorry to hear your unbelievable story. This is why we need to vote for Ron Paul. Freedom comes first!
Sammy:
I'm actually an Obama supporter. I don't agree with everything he's done as president and all the things he's signed into law (i.e. NDAA FY2012) but at the moment the other candidates are sending so many mixed messages that I'd rather stick with what we have (the one you know versus the one you don't.)
Since this sweep is pretty much the fault of the TRUE illegals--the ones who hopped the border and shot a cop on the way in order to deal drugs) I accept that us undocumenteds are just innocents getting caught in the crossfire--collateral damage, my Dad (Army Sergeant) would have called it. I appreciated President Obama sending an edict down earlier this year that said ICE and Homeland Security should concentrate on getting the true illegals--the undocumented who HAVE committed a crime--and give the undocumented more time to try and get the needed paperwork. Under his administration, Ritmo was closed and oversight of the private for-profit immigration detention system has improved.
The other candidates, so far as I can see, make the distinction between undocumenteds and illegals Neither, for the most part, does the American people. The majority of you don't understand that even in this day and age there are people walking around without paperwork, and you don't understand what happens to people without paperwork. The American immigration system is looking a bit more like Germany: no papers=life in deportation.
Google 'Ritmo' and see what comes up if you don't believe me. Once you see what actually happens in American deportation camps you'll agree that the immigration system needs reform.
Immigration is indeed in need for serious reform. My money would be on Mr. Paul to do the best job in fixing it, but the reality is that presidential powers, by design, are rather weak when it comes to domestic affairs. What really needs to happen is a complete overhaul and detailing of our immigration laws. It is far too hard for individuals to get into this country legally to work or study, unless you are extremely wealthy or connected, and can apply for special investor visas. Moreover our Federal goverment is completely unwilling to enforce what immigration laws we do have, part of the reason for the Arizona flap. I'd much rather make it easier for people to get into this country legally because then we can know where they came from, why they are here, and if they choose to remain in America, help them assimilate. Perhapes the biggest problem with illegal immigration isn't losing our jobs, or cultural strife, but the fact that it helps bolster organized crime. Not because illegals seek to commit crimes. But because when people are lost in the cracks and cannot legitimately seek help, they are often compelled to seek 'unofficial' help from others. The Irish Mob, Italian Mafia, and now the Hispanic Narcos, all benefited from this, and in regards to the previous two, lost significant support once those ethnic groups became established(i.e acceptable) ethnic groups within America.
k200k said:
Moreover our Federal goverment is completely unwilling to enforce what immigration laws we do have, part of the reason for the Arizona flap.
Tell that to me, who was looking at spending the rest of my life in deportation camp because I didn't have a paper that was not necessary to prove I was a citizen--I had a legal BC, DL, and SS Card, had never been arrested, never done anything wrong.
Tell that to my coworker's mother, who was deported to Germany two days before Christmas because Immigration never told her adoptive parents in 1945 that citizenship was not automatic with the adoption. 60+ years later she's suddenly told she's not a citizen, is given no opportunity to file paperwork to fix the problem (no amnesty no matter how long ago it occurred or why) her house car, belongings and bank account were seized, and she was deported without a hearing trial or judge/lawer leaving her son homeless out on the street (he was living with her while she was undergoing breast cancer treatment.
Tell that to the parents of the 15 year old black girl in TX who ran away from home, gave a fake name when caught, and the name turned out to belong to a 22 year old illegal Colombian--and she was deported to Columbia without anyone having done a facial recognition scan through the FBI (would have turned up the missing child report)and without anyone questioning why she didn't speak Spanish.
Tell that to the young lady from Nepal who was here studying medicine, was fingerprinted for a nursing license to serve her internship, and the person fingerprinting her did such a poor job that she was incorrectly identified in the system as an illegal and ICE picked her up. She showed them her passport, student visa, all her paperwork but they told her after they examined the papers that the documents were forgeries. It was only as they were taking her prints prior to placing her in detention did they find out that she had a deep permanent scar on one finger that eliminated the possibility that she was the one they were looking for but they ignored her paperwork, continued to insist they were forgeries until the administrator of her school showed up with more documents that proved she was indeed legal.
Tell that to George Ibarra, a 46 year old Marine who took the oath of Citizenship while serving, was picked up after his discharge and identified as an illegal. He proved at his hearing that he WAS a citizen with his military records, the judge ordered him released, yet ICE continued to hold him for another 5 months until a civil rights group got involved and he never received any sort of apology.
Tell that to Hans Keil of America Samoa, who was deported for being an illegal even though at the time he was detained he had his diplomatic passport in his possession and had also served in our military before returning home to become his people' representative. ICE disregarded his diplomatic immunity, accused him of forging the diplomatic paperwork even when he insisted they call the State Dept to verify his identity, and deported him to American Samoa.
Tell that to 30 Haitian refugees who were evacuated from a US military FOB in Haiti after the earthquake. There were aftershocks at the hospital and the Marines evacuated it, sending 30 wounded Haitians stateside--they had already been vetted, none of them had criminal records, and all of them had relatives here in the States who had already said they would take them in, they were just waiting on the paperwork to be delivered. As soon as they landed they were taken into ICE custody s illegals, and held them for over a year while the State department sent the paperwork to Haiti, was returned and took more months to process while the refugees were scattered throughout Florida, Texas and California. Because ICE doesn't have a realtime tracking system to figure out which person went where, it was difficult for relatives to find them all. ICE also has he authority to load detainees on a plane in the middle of the night and ship them to a different camp without notifying local authorities, lawyers, or relatives.
So far as I have been able to tell, the government's problem with the AL/AZ laws is that there is not enough protection for those who are here legally. I had a legal BC, DL, and SS card; that was enough to prove my citizenship at school, passed eVerify at my first job--but those were not sufficient to prove I was legal. Think about the average American citizen--all you have is a BC, DL, and SS card. Since ICE has proved time and time again that your DL, BC and SS card isn't proof of citizenship, and they ignore passports, diplomatic papers issued by the State department, and visas, those AL/AZ laws are going to get a lot of legal US citizens and foreign visitors detained without due process in direct violation of the constitution.
The Constitution says no one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process--it doesn't say 'no citizen' or 'no legal immigrant' it says 'no person.' and THAT is what is wrong with AL/AZ laws. That's whats wrong with the whole immigration system. If you want to argue that sine we're not legal citizens we don't fall under the jurisdiction of US laws, then what about 'inalienable human rights' our founding fathers talked about? Those are HUMAN rights, for ALL humans.
We decry what the Nazis did in Germany to the Jews and other minorities in German deportation camps. How then can we not also decry the same things happening in American deportation camps?
FYI Amanda
The one baby policy changed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy
This is just stupid. I'm of Polish descent, I would not go to Poland assuming i'm polish and I will be accepted if I go there, why do these people think they will be? Why does it seem every person with a hyphenated race has the need to feel like they belong somewhere else. You were brought up in America, you are American through and through.
@Nappercrapper
Polish American? Me too.
I think we have no illusions. Going back to Poland today would be like going back in time 40 years. Moreover, they're not worse than any other European group but there's no sense of superiority.
First, I think the Chinese believe they are superior to everyone else. Second, the have a collective chip in their shoulder going back to the Rape of Nanking through the Cultural Revolution up to the hyper nationalism of today. Third, Tiger Mother - that's what they have to offer - at the cost of harmony and peace in both their lives and towards balance in the society - again, that must be because of an inferiority complex.
And while I hate to say it - the physical "look" of being Asian might prevent complete cultural conversion in American society whereas Martha Stewart is Polish and no one would ever know it as she passes for WASP - an Oriental could never pass for English. That must affect those returning "foreign devils" greatly.
I have been in almost every country in the world....Most of the people are very proud to be who they are....In England-they call themselves English....We in the U>S> refer to ourselves as Italian Americans, or Irish Americans, or especially African Americans.....No idea why, since they were born in the USA....
We live in a fantastic country, but sometimes our so called "freedoms" are our weaknesses.....If you don't want to call yourself an American, perhaps you should go to a country where you feel that you are "one of them".
I am American I was born here so was my dad and his father was well. But originally in the 1880's my great grandfather immigrated from Poland.
I'm American (full stop).
However, I know my ancestry and am proud of it but I if go to Poland (even if I spoke fluent polish) I wouldn't expect to be excepted as a native.
Why do the Americans of Chinese descent expect that?
I'll tell you why ... Hubris.
Perhaps they need more time here.
Lord and Napper, as the (white) mother of Asian kids (the hubby is Asian), I can tell you, it is different for Asian Americans. If other Americans see you, they don't expect you to NOT be American. But for Americans of East Asian descent (and probably of Indian/Pakistani descent as well), even if they are born here, so often people say, "Where are you from?" (and they don't mean "Are you from Florida or Missouri?")
Asian Americans are seen by the main population (white and black and latino) as being different and even foreign. So they identify with their heritage country because other Americans identify them with it. So of course it is a shock when they go to that country for the first time and feel such difference and/or little personal connection with it and the people there.
It is amazing how much people think they know but sound so stupid saying it.
@homesick yank
Well I can understand your point. Bias here is still strong with the uneducated. But we as a society have come along way. The bias Asians might feel today is a far cry as to what they felt 100, 50, 25 years ago.
My doctor is Asian (american). One of my former GF was Asian American. They do everything from play professional basketball to baseball to hold positions in high office to be respected members of the community/society ... whatever.
I think assimilation at this point is near 100%.
I don't know anyone that goes around decrying the Irish Americans or Italian Americans or for that matter, even the Chinese ones.
We need to end the "victim" mentality and see the good here.
@Nappercrapper, What outstanding features set you apart from any other person of European dessent, before you open your mouth? You are just plain white with a trail of jokes following you. There are other American that have outstanding features which clearly shows they are other than European dissent. These are the people that face the identity question. It is shameful that they go to countries of their origin and find that they are more out of place than in the country they were born and raised in.
Thanks to political correctness, we have created further separation amongst our people.
Lord Foxdrake: Have you been to Poland recently? I was there last week... it is thoroughly modern, and the people there are very friendly, even though my spoken Polish leaves much to be desired. My good friend has Polish parents who taught her Polish. When she goes to visit, nobody asks her where she is from. Please don't make assumptions.
Homesick Yank,
I had the same reaction when my father brought me to Ireland. Even thouh my grandparents were born there and my father lived there until he was 11, I really felt like I was just a tourist.
I disagree. For over a hundred years Chinese-Americans had lived in China-towns living in an isolated Chinese culture that was eventually greatly altered by communism in Mainland China. A person who was raised in the old outdated culture, mixed with American culture, may believe their Chinese, because culturally, their a lot different from Americans. But if they were to go to China they would realize that Chinese culture has changed. quite a bit since when their Grandparents or Great-Grandparents moved here. I'll offer an easier example. The original french-Canadian settlers spoke the same language as the people in France. But as time passed the French language in France changed, while the French language in Quebec stayed the same. Today a person in Quebec might find it difficult to converse with a person in France. Yet even today many people in Quebec still call themselves French. It's kind of like that.
Blacks in America, those born, raised and 5-6 generations (some even longer) of American ancestry, have never insisted on being called anything other than Americans. The requirement to emphasize their "otherness" rose with the unification of the the colonies.
It was then perpetuated "by Law". You are sorely mistaken to assume that people removed from Africa so long ago are African. Evey re-settlement, supported by the US governement, has failed to take that into account. Just as Chinese, Polish, English, Irish, Japanese, German, Dutch, Indians, Pakisatis, Iranian - have found out. They are more American than they thought.
You can maintain your culture, put up artifactse and symbols collected from the Father Land/ Mother country - even keep your rituals, But if or when you go "home again" you stand out like a sore thumb. even at a casual glance most Europeans (heck most cultures all over the world) can spot an American, just by the way we walk, even the cadence of our speech (even if you speak "perfect" French,Chinese, German - your choice of words is a glowing neon sign that you are "Not" a native. The habit of saying "I" instead of "we" is a big sign. The choice of neutral greetings to everyone...when in other cultures, honorifics which assume a familial relationship: if someone appears to be about the age your of parents; you call them Uncle or Aunt, If they are your age; you call them Brother, Sister - if they are freind or cousin if they are strangers who have not use to you. Language is everything - it establishes heiracy, possible overtures of relationship or slam the door to it and establish that yu have no intention of being anything other that Boss, worker or acquaintence. One chosen word can mean so much.
Most American have the disconcerting habit of looking people in the eye, initiating conversations - filling a room with their presence instead of adding to the ambiance - we want to be noticed and acknowledged just for showing up. That is just not done in most cultures.
I have a friend, born in Croatia (when it was Yugoslavia), brought to the US when she was six. After starting school, she asked her Mom if she could speak English all the time, her Mom of course, said yes. So she grew up understanding Serbocroatian, but not speaking it at all. Very Americanized girl. when she was 26, she went back to Croatia as a tourist. Attempted to speak the language, and realized she had 5 year old's vocabulary. Saying "Potty" instead of "bathroom", etc. but she could still speak the language, but everybody assumed she was a tourist.
I agree, but I have lived in Asia for several years, and despite what you may think-there is much
discrimation between Asian peoples, so when an Asian-American returns to Asia-especially China
he/she is not considered Chinese enough. Why? Because their ancestors left China. It's just that
simple-they left their mother country.
homesick yank,
I see where you're coming from, but I don't know if I agree completely. I've known and seen Americans of Chinese, Korean, Indian, or Pakistani descent (who tend to associate with others of the same lineage), but have never come across the assumption that because they are Asian, they are foreign. Maybe second or third generation immigrants, but that's to be expected. I actually consider it impolite to ask, as friend of mine who suffers from verbal diarrhea did once, "What kind of Asian are you?"
On the other hand, every time I see a brown Hispanic with an accent, I get uncomfortable with myself because I secretly wonder if they are in this country illegally. That is a stigma that I doubt many Asians or white Hispanics have to deal with.
But it'll all be different in 50 years when the country is majority Hispanic...
I never understood why people say that they are 'proud of their heritage'! Anybody ever say they weren't proud of their heritage? Isn't that a lot like saying I'm proud I'm a human? What's the point of saying it? Isn't that hubris subtely trying to say that my heritage is a little better than somebody elses? Or my family is better than your family. Or my tribe is better than your tribe? Or maybe, my genes are better than your genes? Or, my past is better than your past? Or my God is better than your God? Is that why we want to be 'proud'? Is pride really any different than prejudice? Pride goeth before the ...
ThaPyngwyn said:
I've known and seen Americans of Chinese, Korean, Indian, or Pakistani descent (who tend to associate with others of the same lineage), but have never come across the assumption that because they are Asian, they are foreign.
As an American who looks Asian, I get that question ALL THE TIME. And I HATE it so much I kind of get a bit of an attitude about it.
Person: "So where are you from?"
Me: Upstate New York. It's where I grew up.
Person: No, I mean what's your nationality?
Me: American.
At that point I usually get an answer like 'you're getting an attitude with me' or something like that, and at point I try to explain to people that I don't HAVE a legal nationality, I was a stateless abandoned infant before my adoption. Then I have to explain what 'stateless' is and people just look at me in disbelief and say 'you can' be alive in this world and not have documentation' and a great many people tell me I'm lying.
Yeah, I'm lying, then why do I have a three year prison record with immigration for being undocumented? (not illegal, I never did anything wrong, Immigration lost my adoption paper and Dad and Mom never told me I was adopted before they died so I didn't know until after I was detained that I was adopted.)
Dad was Irish, and Mom was Korean (Dad met her in Korea as a GI during the Korean War and brought her back to marry her after the war.) Since my skin color falls right there in the middle and I have a lot of the same qualities my Dad did, I never once questioned that they were my parents. And for all I know, they might have been planning on telling me once I turned eighteen (they died two months before I turned eighteen, ICE came for me six months after I turned eighteen.)
I marched around in Dad's Army clothes when I was young. I wanted to go into the Army just like he did. I learned Irish step dance and Haedong Gumdo (some call it Kummooyeh)--Korean swordsmanship-as well as American jazz and tap and contemporary ballet. I have never NOT considered myself American, even during the three years in deportation camp when I was punished for calling myself American.
Morgan Freeman was asked, once, how he would eliminate racism. His answer was 'Stop talking about it.' Good advice--stop looking at me and seeing 'other' and just see me as a person!
Amanda.
Spot on. That's the one thing that annoyed the crap out of me. As an American with Asian heritage, I have made it as part of my mission in life to correct people when they ask me question about race. They always assumed that you are not one of them. I did what you did. When they asked me what my nationality is, I always said I'm American. Never Asian American.. Just American. Then they all gave me this puzzled look like I'm an idiot and they kept asking me the same thing again what my nationality is(with louder voice of course) because they think I couldn't understand a word they said and by speaking louder to me, I could understand them better. :-). Finally after I started to see their frustration, I tried to correct them by saying, "So you meant, what my heritage is?" Of course they gave me another puzzled look and some of them even dare to say, "what's the difference?" Then I asked them a very simple question. "When you see someone who is caucasian, did you ever ask them what their nationality is with the expectation that they will tell you that they are Irish, or French or German, or Polish, etc, etc?" Of course not.
Nationality means that the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization. This type of misunderstanding is not exclusively reserved just for caucasian American. Even the asian community asked the same question because they think that it's a norm in this country. However, it's not and should not be the norm. Whether we like or not, I believe this type of attitude among all of us American is what caused the non-caucasian American especially the Asian to always be treated as a "forever foreigner" in this country even though they were all born and grew up here in this country for many generations just like their caucasian brothers and sisters. This gotta change. So a simple reminder for all of you. We're not Asian American, African American, Mexican American, etc, etc.. We are all American with Asian heritage, African heritage, Mexican heritage, etc, etc.. Just give it a shot. It's not that hard. :-)
I asked a white guy what his heritage was once. He answered, but I felt awkward as soon as I asked the question. I decided that I wouldn't ask anyone else again, whatever they might look like, unless they brought it up first.
This whole question of heritage seems a little odd, and almost artificial, to me. As my African ancestors were imports, not immigrants, to America, there is such a disconnect between me an their original culture that I don't even think about it (and what is "African culture" by the way?). I grew up in America, within a subset of American culture, and I identify with this country, regardless of what I put on the EEO forms. I figured it was the same with others.
But this article seems to say otherwise. It talks about Americans of Chinese descent who think that because they grew up in a Chinese-flavored American culture, that makes them both Chinese and American. While it might be different for one born-and-raised in China, an American in China is an American in China, whatever their appearance.
@Elpea
My grandmother went back in 2005 (then died the next year) ... my reports are based upon her tales. She couldn't wait to get home (to america) but she was 75 and set in her ways.
I'm sure it's modern and didn't mean to imply otherwise ... it's just that well, American culture is so different ... still you're right I shouldn't judge harshly.
My point was that I wouldn't expect to be except as a native pole after have been here for more than 3 generations.
I am American and my ancestors merely came from there...that's all.
Yeah - I share that experience. It's so annoying to have to answer "So , where do you come from?" I feel like responding like a true American and saying "b**** can't you tell?" I figured my accent if not my attitude would give away my nationality. I guess it's a lot easier of those who are ethnically white to not get the concept of a racial identity. After all, I can't really tell if someone has Irish ancestry as opposed to polish ancestry. Don't be offended by this. If you want to prove this, you go and try and predict the national heritage of people of European descent. However, if someone is from a non-European background, you always come across this dichotomy - you are perceived as a foreigner even in your native land.
For people who are members of groups that have large homogeneous groups, such as the ethnic Chinese in China or the South East Asians in India and Pakistan, there is also the issue that the "natives" of those countries have always assumed that everyone who looks like them is native and everyone who doesn't is foreign. Then they see someone who looks like them but they don't act like them or think like them and they finally come across the concept that ethnicity does not define nationality.
I'm just surprised that the participants in this article didn't already realize that they would notice and feel the differences. I've been suffering this disconnect for years and the US is way more multicultural.
Its hard to fully comprehend that you can't go home again (until you go back) ... especially if your ancestral home was last visited 2 or 3 generations removed.
If your family is from Ireland, and you go there expecting to be embraced, be prepared for a rude awakening. Many American soldiers who found themselves going through the country where the family emigrated. Thought they would re-establish family ties. What they found out, was they were Americans - no closer to their relatives as they would be any other tourist. The fact that they were coming to occupy the homeland was a bigger issue than being the son or nephew of someone whos parents left Italy, Germany, France, Britainor Japan, Russia. Fact is nothing PO's estranged relatives more than finding out that the Black sheep of the family - found success when they left the nest and moved to another country... then came back and proved it.
Unless you were able to give them something you were just another Yank. As the Brits said of American troops; over paid, over sexed, over dressed - even worse, they were over here!
A friend of mine took his family back to Vietnam to see a grand father. The thing which was most remarkable to his extended family - was he was the runt of the family, before he left, but when he came back, his kids towered over everyone, 1 to 2 feet taller, stronger, healthier than the kids of his other relatives.
So, it wasn't just the language or the customs ... its the obvious differences of being an American which brings on so much envy.
Yet another TrollSNBC article to get the ignorant and racist general public full on their morning dose of irrelevant hate fodder. It's a shame that I can almost guarantee that if I come back and check this again at the end of the day it will have hundreds of general "Chinese suck" posts. And furthermore i've noticed it doesn't even seem like anyone reads the articles either way, if it says Chinese, you just gotta take a moment to spit out a quick "F the chinese" before moving on to some 2012 electoral junk. Seriously our citizens are far too racist against Chinese for MSN to even attempt writing articles like this; unfortunately all it does is fuel the hatred.
I disagree. I don't think we are the racists. I could careless if the Chinese come here, learn English, culturally convert, start business and pay taxes. I'd even marry a Chinese girl and love her completely as long as her mental orientation is "western."
I think it the Chinese in China are the racist. They think they're better than everyone even the Chinese that had the common sense and courage to leave that S-hole of a country, come to America, put up with crap here and eventually become part of our national fabric .. like the Irish, Polish, Italians, etc, etc.
The only groups excluded are the English as they got here first and have been on top ever since and the Africans we were brought over a slaves and have (for the most part) stayed there.
Lord Foxdrake, I disagree. I think Americans are the ones with a superiority complex. What you described Chinese people, or any foreigner, should do when they come to the U.S. is fair enough. The equivalent should apply when Americans, or any foreigner, go to China: learn Chinese, culturally convert, start business, and pay taxes. I'm sure a Chinese man would gladly marry an American woman and love her completely as long as her mental orientation is "oriental".
Americans like you are full of it just because they lucked out being born into the cushy life of a country that was founded by an easy invasion of a huge prime piece of real estate.
Learning the local language is matter of state of mind. If you intend to stay - learn the language. I f you don't intend to stay, do whatever you want - but don't try to claim you were treat badly for no reason.
If you speak the language of the dominate culture, then you have already done you job of asimulation. If you learned it by being immursed in it or take classes to learn it doesn't really matter does it. by going to school and living in the USA you spend 10 - 15 years learning the language one day at a time. Complaining that you have to go to a school to learn the language at an accelerated rate as being to high a burden is BS. You chose to join the party, shouldn't you respect your host enough to understand him, in his language?
Every country I've lived in, I've taken time to learn at least the courtesies and the most common phrases - mostly for my own comfort (ie. wheres the nearest resurant, where the nearest bathroom, hello, is there a KFC or McDonal's in town" - the the salutations, like good bye, thank you "where da white wimen at" and of course the mildest curse word which indicate - leave me the truck alone!). that's all you need for a week to a month in a new country. Any longer then you need to devote some serious study ... show that you at least are trying.
Not all Africans came to the USA as slaves. Yes, some were indentured - which is very different from being enslaved. They earned their freedom, ste up businesses or crafts shops, became tradesmen, Whalers, fishermen and lived quite well.
It was the advent of large scale agriculture, plantations which began the Slavery in perpetuity disgusting period in this country as well as South America. As a consequence - the previous period of equality and self determination was interrupted for many of those of Pure African descent.
Children were stolen and sold, or uneducated worker were tricked into signing away there freedom by recriters who promised one thing then put different contracts on the papers. Educated Africans were never wanted in The USA, they were too dangerous. to business as usual. The Brits did the same In china.
@blamster
I respect your opinion. I don't agree but I respect it.
Anthropologically speaking, humans have tribal mentalities and are naturally inclined to protect their own for survival. We, generally speaking, do not kill for territory or food (although that point can be argued..think "oil" or "religion") we still have the evolutionary proclivity of being suspicious of people who are not like us, who don't look or act like us. That's nature. What's nurture? Probably education or the ability to reason and rationalize.
No different then the trash on Jersey Shore saying they are Italian yet cant speak a word. They are a disgrace to our ancestors ...or the throngs of "irish" in Boston who have no idea of their heritage, do not know the county or village their ancestors hail from nor can they speak a word of gaelic Im glad to see people of all colors and nationalities finally saying they are American...
United we stand...divided..... you all know the rest
No different from the trash on Jersey Shore who say they are Italian.... yet cant speak a word. They are a disgrace to those of us with mediterranean ancestry. No different this st. patricks day..with half of boston drunk saying they are IRISH yet have never been there, dont know the county nor village their relatives orig.from...and dont even know what gaelic is.
I am glad to see the newer generations with different nationalities finally saying they are American ( or Canadian) We all know the saying..United We stand, Divided.....we fall
The divide becomes even more poignant when there is conflict. Most of my relatives are descendents of German immigrants. They had to fight their relations in World War I and II. It produced some very strong mixed emotions, but ideology prevailed and made the fight a little less difficult. Eisenhour was a prime example of this ethnic dissonance. You can't be more German than 'Eisenhour'.
America has many problems, some of them impossible to solve, but ideologically I rate it as a shining example of human institution at its best. The foundation was brilliantly laid and a fine example of success from the age of enlightenment.
And let us remember those brave boys of the 442nd during WWII, fighting for the government which put their parents and grandparents and younger brothers and sisters behind barbed wire and armed guards.
yes, lets also remember the Americans who came home from the war, and were attacked - in the deep south for being "uppity" because the chose to wear their uniform, medals and stripes, bars and clusters. in a culture which denied them any chance of proving their worth. There were incidents of War heros being Lyched for having been in the war and came home heroes (the implication was they were shaming the draft dodgers who found ways to avoid the war).
No discredit on the Japanese, Jews, Germans - but feeling the sting of lingering discrimination disn't stop after the war was over for just a few chosen groups who we fought against or for - it wasn't just them who had a hard time during the war - or after it.
Regardless of their valor, coming home - sometimes caused some returning soldiers to leave the USA forever, prefering to cast their lot in rebuilding the countries they had just spent many yreas of their life - destroying. At least in the chaos of destruction, they had a chance to be allowed to do what they learned to during the war. Organize, build and excel.
Such a waste of talent.
My Father was a first generation German American. They refused to send him to Europe. They sent him to Hawaii, then kept him in the Japanese part of the war. He fought through Iwo Jima and was in the very first landing party in Japan after they dropped the bomb. He never thought of himself as a German (although my Mom teased him for years). I am so much a Heinz 57 that if they had to send me back to where I came from, I'd have a foot in Germany, a mocassin in the American continent, my rear end in England, my hair in Portugal, etc.
In America, too often we focus on our ethnic difference. But it is when we go out of the country that we realize that we are truly American, and we realize our cultural ties and similarities to our compatriots, no matter what part of the country they live in, no matter what their socio-economic level, no matter where there parents or ancestors came from.
Let's start focusing on the things that tie us together.
When in Vietnam in 1970, my ex was commenting that he was from Colorado. A guy came into the room and said, "Wow, that's close to where I lived." He was from Delaware! LOL
btw, anybody remember the film The Great Wall? A good story about American Chinese going back to China, even though it was made in the 1980's, it is still an interesting look at cross-cultural roots.
Add to that Farewell My Concubine. Good look from the 20's to the 70's. Probably top 5 movie on Chinese culture.
Yes... that was exactly the idea. Its not corruption, graft, or a bribe - its expected and a cost of doing business. Americans find it insulting to be approached or required to put out or be forced to pay for services 2, 3 or 4 times. We hate being taken advantage of -even if the pay off is much, much great than the "small bite" up front.
If we continue to call or insist on being called Chinese - American, African – American, Polish – American, we will continue to be different races.
My background is German, Dutch and Irish, but I am an American, and only an American and it’s this way for two reasons, I have never been to those countries and I have no attachment to them what so ever, just as these people found they have no attachment to China, and my second reason, I don’t need that many hyphens in my race, every so often someone throws a “Honky”, “Cracker” or a “White Boy” at me, but I don’t want to use them either, just plain old American works just fine for me.
Drop the hyphen – and decide who you want to be, your welcome to join me here in America.
well said!
Things like the Asian / Pacific American Heritage month mentioned in the article (or black history month) only cause division. Those things reinforce to people that we are different when we are not and should not be.
Don't draw your identity by some group you were born into.
Living in NW Iowa, where the majority is Dutch-American. They make a big major deal about of the fact that their ancestors (years ago) were from Holland. They are Dutch, they all still speak Dutch (the old timers anyway), plant tulips everywhere, have little holland windmills on their lawns, etc. They may be fourth Generations Americans but they are Dutch. A friend of my daughter's came to visit her and he and his wife were actually from Amsterdam. They were Dutch. talking to some people at Church, he said, "Oh you are Dutch? From what town?" They then have to admit they are not from Holland, that their grandparents were from Holland. It really upsets them when this happens. They assume that the Real Dutch are just like them. And they aren't.
When my daughter was pregnant with her third child, by her husband that is a Dutch American and absolutely hates it, her Mother in law said, "Well, its a shame you aren't Dutch like we are." My daughter said, "Oh I don't know. I get injected with a little bit of Dutch every night." her Mother in law turned green and never said another word about it. LOL
It as easy as stopping the tacit agreement that "those People" have it easy, are leeeches, think they are special, etc. We become "those people" - The idea of us being Americans is tossed out the door.
The captialist idea - buy low, sell high. is too often based on predatory advantages - rather than Value added. you by a doll for $2, have someone make dresses for the doll, package it - them sell it for $20 is way different is haveing factory in India make the doll, clothe, package it and ship it to the USA. You still pay them a total price of $2 - adding no value, but still sell the Doll for $20. Thats a great business model, great markup. However, someone is getting severly screwed.
Racism is what keeps us apart in America, not the fact that minorities hyphenate their identity. In fact, hyphenation is an outcome of the racist experiences that minorities go through. Unlike white people, we cannot forget our ancestors' ethnic past, because our differences are always being highlighted through racism.
For example, in the past there was a lot of discrimination against German immigrants, but after a generation or two they were embraced by America as Americans, simply because they don't "look foreign" like Asians or some even changed the spelling of their last names to appear more Anglo. It is a privilege to just "blend". White people have the privilege to discard their ancestors' ethnic past because they represent what a "true" American looks like.
I'm fifth generation Japanese-American and I'm still viewed as a foreigner and not a "true" American. Until the day comes when some asks me "what are you?" and they're satisfied with the answer "American", I will continue to say Japanese-American.
Ever think that maybe Saint Patrick day parades, Columbus Day parades, Oktoberfest, Chinese New years, Tet ... etc. are pretty much the same thing? If you want people to "drop" all the divisions and hyphens, take a look in the Mirror before trying to claim its divisive.
If you are not Han, speak fluent Mandarin, have white skin, and have direct ancestral ties. You are not considered to be Chinese and will never have a position of trust or responsibility...
Most Chinese owned companies will not place a non-Chinese in a public position...
Come live in Asia for several years, you will know what I'm describing...
BTY - A white skin is the cultural goal, because it signifies you are rich and do not have to work. Most Asians would NEVER intensely expose themselves to the sun. In fact most bleach their skin to look whiter, to be more socially acceptable... IMO - They end-up looking like they are sick and very unatractive...
I know everybody thinks they're better than everyone else. It sucks.
Well the funny thing is, most asians would rather have light skin complexity, while most white would rather have tan skin, what an extra-ordinary thing.
Must be why they wear the pointy hats. My grandma (a little native American feisty granny) was working in her garden. And the neighbor boy was watching. He finally said, "My Mom said that she's glad you got a hat to match your head." LOL
"In fact most bleach their skin to look whiter" ? What BS ! East Asians who are not laborers cannot get whiter than they already are. Southeast Asians can't be bothered with it, they have bigger fish to fry. I can assure you that MOST do not do anything with their skin, living in Asia for many years. The rich do try to stay out of the sun, for fear of being mistaken for a laborer.
In the end it is just words describing emotions. I think being a True American is if you can Grasp all cultures and languages.
What a bunch of "tree hugger" baloney. Things like what you posted, and "can't we all just get along", and "world peace" are idiotic fantasyland ideas. No, we cannot all just get along because people are evil, and no you are not an American just because you grasp all cultures and languages because you could live in Russia, or China, or anywhere else and be that way.
Noble ideas are easy to come up with. Things like "every kitten should be rescued from trees" or "no one should go hungry" or "everyone should have health care" are easy to say and make you feel good and impresses others with "how wonderful you are", but in actuality it takes WORK and EFFORT and someone getting off their butt to do something other than supply wishful thinking.
Why is it okay to proud of your "heritage", "culture", "ethnicity", "race" or "lineage" if you are anything but Caucasian that is to say "white"?
I simplty fed up with it. The minority of the world are Caucasian, but any time you mention that fact it is ignored. It takes a two Caucasians to birth a Caucasian. A Caucasian and any other type race is the other type race. I am fed up with white apologists as well. If I say I am white and proud of that fact is almost always construed as arrogance, or "not the same" as say a black or hispanic saying the same thing.
Chinese, Japanese, or whatever I do not care. I wish we would stop all immigration period, until we get the borders secured and make sure people that want to come here stop trying to bring their failed cultures here. If their culture is so good then why are they leaving it? Come and join our culture or just stay away. I am fed up with people coming here for a free ride on others backs, and that is what they do. I know a Chinese family that had to pay no taxes for five years, and then when the five years is up they bring in another family member and get another five years of paying no taxes. Why is it that those that live here have to pay taxes and those that only come here to take advantage of the free stuff pay little or nothing?
I'm what was known in the past as an Octoroon. If I had been born in the South, my BC would have said Negro. I am 1/8 black, 1/8 Native American and the rest German. I am tall, used to be blond, and definitely do not look anything but German. But every part of my heritage is just fine with me. I am pleased with myself as I am.
You say "come and join our culture", but which culture? America is made of of many different cultures. Are you talking traditions? If that is closer to what you mean, then which tradition? Southerns have different traditions than Northerns. And even in the South what is done in one area isn't done in another. So you would have to establish a "culture".
Okay I am made up of German, Irish, Scot, Welsh, English.....and parts of my family still carry on traditions from the "old country". Now which traditions, which culture should I carry on? I think my "culture" is not the same as yours...I don't believe we should stop ALL immigration, so right there our views of "culture" are different. We are most likely different religions, so your "culture" has influences from your religon and my "culture" has from mine.
There is no one American "culture", we are from so many different places, different view points, different religions that you can't say one "thing" will make up our" culture" over another "thing".
What you want, but call it "culture", is for people to believe the way YOU do. You have determined American "culture" from YOUR view point and belief system. Your "culture" is not my "culture" but I am an American.
Oh and just fyi my children who are biracial (not an "other type" of race) are classified as caucasian. So biracial children are actually part of a preexisting race (white, black, asian, etc). My husband is clasified but the US government as white even though he is from Pakistan.. Afghan, Pakistani, Arabs, Iranian...all considered caucasian.
As someone who has travelled extensively, there indeed is an American culture throughout the country, if there was not then this nation would not long hold together and that is simple fact. I do not like the word multicultural because I do not think it accurately reflects the way America truly is. There are many sub-cultures that exists within an overarching dominant culture that spands from Hawaii to Maine down to Texas and up to Alaska. Part of the reason we debate this so feverently is that we are often not aware of cultural concepts until we are exposed to cultures very different from ours. IT isn't often that Americans get to go to other culturally different nations because we are so large, however, the same is not true for many other parts of the world. That is why Germans, or French, or Japanese, or Trukish have very well defined sense of their culture since they are in close proximity to differing ones. The same is not true in America. There is far less diferrence in morals and ways of doing things between a Texan and a Washingtonian than there is between a Frencman and a German. What is happening to ethnically chinse Americans is that they are being exposed to this for the first time. For the longest time they viewed their sub-culture as chinese, now they are realizing that while their personal sub-culture has chinese elements the overriding cultural norm that they possess is an American one.
Saffron 77 mentions understanding jokes for different cultures, and that is true. Humor is often one of the most telling differences between cultures.
It's the same thing with people of all foreign born parents not just an asian thing. I'm a first generation American who many look on as "weird" or "foreign" because I do lots of things that fit the culture that I learned from my German parents. I also went to K-BA in the U.S. so I ingrained a lot of American culture. I speak German almost as well as a native, I read German at about the equivalent of a 9-10th grade level but I only write German at about the equivalent of a 2nd grade level. There are many things that I understand the words but not the context. When I visit Germany, I feel more out of place and "weird" or "foreign" there than I do here in the U.S. I don't understand many of the jokes on TV, etc. Not because I don't understand the language but rather because I don't understand the context behind it. I don't understand that it's supposed to be funny because someone famous there did something once that I don't know about. I don't know the slang that kids speak that their parents barely understand because I didn't grow up learning it as my peers developed it. I feel much like a fish out of water. Even though much of my appearance and culture blends in with the "typical" American appearance and culture, there is a huge culture shock even for Westerners going back to their native cultures... so I can imagine Western vs. Eastern has to have even more of an alien feel to it.
MSNBC-mind mush makers
That's because msnbc isn't part of the GOP. We know they are going to win. Fox news were accurate back in 2000 and they still are.
Because when you go over to the China, you have to use the chop sticks when you eat something. You should not use a fork because that makes the Chinese angry. If you use a fork when you eat something in the China, they might not give you a fortune cookie when you're done. If you want to get the fortune cookie, you need to use the chop sticks.
actually, there's no fortune cookies in China. That's just completely made up by America...you'll never see a thing as the 'fortune cookie' in China.
too bad that we all can't just be members of the human race without identity issues. "My country is the world and my religion is to do good". When will we learn to help each other rather than to dominate. Only a world united in a socialist idea will create harmony or will we all destroy one another.
In a world with limited resources, such a socialist ideal is not sustainable. Until we reach post-scarcity, we'll have to get along with tribalism and fights to the death.
Or, you know, market capitalism. Despite all the complaints about it, I far prefer it to tribalism and fighting.
This is not shocking news, but it is the truth that has not been very prominent since it has no bearing to the constant barge of Chinese greatness and how everything about China is to be studied and emulated. The communist party may just have succeeded in indoctrinating the entire world thanks to western journalism, who would've thunk? Anyway, the fact is that the Chinese has remained a very homogenous society because partly the culture encourages the exercise of social excommunication to members of the society who are willing to embrace other cultures. Keep in mind in the thousands of years of this country their existence has survived because of loyalty to their society more than anything else so it makes sense how they feel to "owe" an allegiance to such values. Contrast this to other nations when a more powerful foe subdue them, they simply adapt the invaders culture and be assimilated, not the Chinese.
There is a strong advantage in a largely homogenous society. In fact the one-party system is one of its manifestation taking advantage of this culture, and it allows this seamless dictatorship / fake capitalism to thrive in China today. This is also why it would be foolish to try the Chinese economic boom model anywhere else without the kind of political and social structure that made it possible in the first place. Those people who seek the so-called "American dream" in China can keep dreaming since they'll end up in a limbo at best. The Chinese society will never embrace them even as you give up all your American values and become hard core Chinese. It will become obvious to them in the coming years they cannot simply live they way they want to in China.
There is a reason why a lot of Chinese descendants are all over the planet too, at the individual level they don't particularly like being tied to the culture, and believe it or not the "American" culture model is still why they want to immigrate to the US where they have the freedom to pick and choose which part of which culture they choose as applying best to their lives, without being prejudiced by the society. Sadly, a lot of American people are choosing to disregard the freedom that make them who they are today and try to embrace a closed culture model that will be their downfall real quick.
Yus, you are so wrong at so many levels about China, the Chinese peoples and their cultures. China is a classical empire and not homogenous. They have a one-party system largely because they've never had anything else unless you want to call the period of the Kuomintang, warlords and chaos something else. The Chinese sought wealth in places other than home just as we Americans have. In fact, in terms of acquisitiveness, greed, seeking personal wealth, we may have much in common with the Chinese. We don't make much effort to learn other languages and cultures either.
Just don't try to tell a Tibetan that China is a homogenous society.
Too much playing the race card and multicultural "ethnic identity" politics in the mainstream media in my opinion. Reading this stuff, and this recent Trayvon Martin case in Florida, one would sometimes think we're still just a nation of bigots run for the benefit of white people.
confusing-can O' worm article, divisive, blurry ethnic identities. Blurry American identity. We are all steak. So who's going to eat us?
Articles like this one reinforce the fact that we ARE Americans and we ARE a people. We have our own identity, no matter what our racial or ethnic background is. This is healthy; it makes us a country. One shouldn't negate one's roots; it's important to know where one came from...but we can't BE a people if we have nothing to bind us together. That is why it is SO important that we assimilate immigrants into our culture...and that starts with their learning English and making sure their children learn English. That is the first common denominator for citizens of the USA...and yes, one of the reasons we should cut Puerto Rico loose to go their own way.
What about American Samoa,and the US Virgin Islands? I work with a Puerto Rican--and her English is better than mine! Some of the American Eskimo/Inuit don't speak very good English either--living in semi-isolation in the Alaskan wilderness. We should cut Alaska off too?
And I live in an inner city neighborhood and ride public transportation to work. Many of the blacks, including schoolchildren, on the bus don't speak a word I can understand. The rhythm and cadence of the tone is English but the words make no sense.