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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 6:02:49 GMT -5
I may be a first-generation Asian living in the US.
I might be an American living in an Asian country.
That's not important.
My parents, though they are of the same race, are different as night and day. One regularly complains to me about the other.
Meanwhile, in school, I'm always identified by my race, first and foremost. No matter how much I share the thinking, interests, or sense of humor as the most populous race in this country, I can sense people look at me as a representative of my people first and foremost.
The distance between me and the predominant race is created on both ends, in a downward spiral. They look at me through their stereotypes and see what they want to see. And I see a people who doesn't understand that I'm not a race - I'm an individual.
"But no, you don't understand."
I do. I probably share more experience with a hapa than you would like to admit. But even the hapa would never see it that way.
And this only applies to cocky among you - no, you are not any hotter than the pure races.
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Post by halfbreed on Dec 17, 2007 6:09:19 GMT -5
How can you say you feel the same? You could never understand what it's like to be half.
BTW, "pure" races, eh? Don't you mean monoracials?
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 6:44:58 GMT -5
Belonging to halves of cultures is a part of your soul, not your genes.
I'm feel like and am treated as a foreigner in my parents' native country.
I'm feel like and am treated as a foreigner in my home country.
But no one can feel the way you do, right? You build these walls around yourself, sir.
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Post by long on Dec 17, 2007 6:49:14 GMT -5
It's true that we're all human. Did you join this site just to say that? Otherwise, welcome to EAN.
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Post by halfbreed on Dec 17, 2007 7:20:34 GMT -5
Belonging to halves of cultures is a part of your soul, not your genes. I'm feel like and am treated as a foreigner in my parents' native country. I'm feel like and am treated as a foreigner in my home country. But no one can feel the way you do, right? You build these walls around yourself, sir. First of all, that's ma'am to you. Secondly, all those things you're listing-- that's the way YOU feel. Don't make assumptions about the way WE feel. There's so much more to it than feeling foreign in a country-- and not all of us feel foreign in all the countries we have connections in. |
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 7:25:14 GMT -5
First of all, that's ma'am to you. Secondly, all those things you're listing-- that's the way YOU feel. Don't make assumptions about the way WE feel. There's so much more to it than feeling foreign in a country-- and not all of us feel foreign in all the countries we have connections in. Yeah, no kidding there's more to it than feeling foreign. I don't feel like pouring my life story. Do you? I agree to disagree, but you can continue if you want. |
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Post by halfbreed on Dec 17, 2007 7:32:14 GMT -5
Yeah, no kidding there's more to it than feeling foreign. I don't feel like pouring my life story. Do you? I agree to disagree, but you can continue if you want. Why come here to make this statement as if 'twere fact and not bother to expand on your reasons? Why no interest to hear why the EA disagrees? Oh, that's right. Because it's a fact! "Shut up! We feel the same!"  |
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 7:43:27 GMT -5
Why come here to make this statement as if 'twere fact and not bother to expand on your reasons? Why no interest to hear why the EA disagrees? Oh, that's right. Because it's a fact! "Shut up! We feel the same!" This is no longer about races. This is about you: you were disagreeing with me before you even understood what I meant. And therefore, there is no discussion. Ever hear the quote about not arguing ? And btw, you said "t'were," madam. |
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 7:48:30 GMT -5
An EA never fits it, is always the odd one out, by virtue of the way he/she looks. Behaviour doesn't even need to come into the equation, we are summarily lumped with the minority group on sight. This is not all that different from the way many black people feel in white nations, or white people are treated in Asian nations. I'd think the uniqueness to being EA does not come from the way outsiders treat you, but having parents from two vastly different backgrounds. This particular aspect is something with which I can relate to a certain degree, because my parents are extremely different and I don't even know why they're married, tbh. But with regards to the way that outsiders treat you, they treat ALL people of different races that way. Some will exclude you on that basis alone. |
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 7:55:17 GMT -5
Yes, you're quite correct. But most people have an ethnic group where they can blend into (visually at the very least). Having parents from different backgrounds is only one aspect of it. As a student of psychology, I can't deny the importance of visual similarity in the ease of forming friendships and relationships. Despite being monoracial, I share the misfortune of being part of a very small demographic where I live - quite worse off than EA's in Hawaii. And for those who do belong in my demographic, I am very different in terms of my personality and interests - there are actually so few, that I've met them all. (This one in particular might not be a common EA issue.) |
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Post by halfbreed on Dec 17, 2007 8:00:04 GMT -5
This is no longer about races. This is about you: you were disagreeing with me before you even understood what I meant. What I understood was that you assume biracials and some monoracials feel the same. I disagreed. You didn't ask why. You just further 'justified' yourself with more assumptions. The reason there's no discussion is because the discussion's already closed in your mind. |
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 8:02:14 GMT -5
Quite simply, my intuition tells me, EA's are not alone in their experience.
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Post by halfbreed on Dec 17, 2007 8:03:51 GMT -5
Indeed. I'm sure mulattos experience similar things.
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 8:09:47 GMT -5
Indeed. I'm sure mulattos experience similar things. You should take a look at Mr. Zoff's argumentation, since it has substance and makes perfect sense. Based on his reasoning, I'm sure you can imagine reasonable circumstances in which a monoracial person would experience much of what the average EA does. |
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Post by dynamicken on Dec 17, 2007 8:16:58 GMT -5
The semantics of "the same" versus "similar" is not a territory I want to enter.
But it seems you understand my point as well as I could hope.
Yes, there are places in the world I could go and blend in visually. When I have gone to these places in the past, my subconscious expectation of fitting in is met with the reality of deep-seeded differences, far more than skin-deep - even with my own cousins.
In terms of intimidate friendships, all my closest friends are of a different ethnicity than I, and honestly, they're not all that close. I feel the underlying factor is the color of my skin.
And so, rather than committing myself to one of these cultures, I've left many parts of my identity blank. Every day, I feel like I would have to choose between two cultures, and that when I do, I would be discarding the other.
So I simply haven't choosen.
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