Native Chinese responds to Chinese-American on Xinjiang controversy

NOTE: The Chinese-American’s remarks are on brackets followed by the response from a Chinese forum member

<<”I can tell you that the Uyghurs enjoy a very good livelihood in China.”>>

That’s why many Uighur men go to big cities in other provinces to work as street vendors selling lamb kebabs and bread, often living with 10 or more men in a small apartment away from their wives and children for months, just to make a little extra money than they could back home in Xinjiang. That’s why you never see them employed anywhere but Uighur restaurants outside of Xinjiang…

<<”Not only do they not have to abide by the one-child policy, but they can get away with a lot of shit (robbery, rape, murder) b/c of the government’s aversion to incidents like what’s going on in China right now.”>>

There are plenty of photos online of Uighurs being tortured and executed by police. They clearly did not get away with any crime. Even if they steal, there are far more videos on youtube taken by Chinese people of Uighurs being tortured by NORMAL Chinese people, not even police. For example, watch THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCv14v-1r1A&feature=related
The Chinese doing the torturing here are the REAL criminals. Also, many Uighurs outside of the provincial capital are forced to have abortions, the same how many Han Chinese are also forced against their will in some villages.
There are far more Han Chinese who commit robbery, rape, and murder than there are minorities. Look at this video from Guangzhou taken on a bridge not too far from the train station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM7Eq8kIyUE&feature=related

<<”Also, let’s not forget that ethnic minorities in China get affirmative action to China’s best universities.”>>

There is no affirmative action for Uighurs in China’s best universities. I spent a year back in China studying and saw only one Uighur student the entire time. The fact is most Uighurs do not have the same benefits or opportunities as other Chinese, and are often too poor to afford the tuition.
Affirmative action in any form does not exist in China. They are allowed to discriminate based on age, gender, whatever, and they even put signs in the windows of stores saying they’re looking for women or men, young or old, etc.

<<”The Uyghur salesmen were notorious for not pronouncing the prices of their food well on purpose, so that they say “10 yuan” when they’re actually charging 30, so that after they make the food, the buyers have to give 30 yuan.”>>

I have never been cheated by Uighurs, and I frequently buy from them on the streets in any big city I visit. The woman probably didn’t understand their Mandarin, since it can be poor at times, or she herself probably doesn’t speak Mandarin well since she is Cantonese. Anyhow, this actually is often done by Chinese people all over. You mention one incident, but I can personally recount many instances other Chinese have done this to me.

<<”Also, it’s funny that you mention racism from Chinese, when Koreans are much more racist.”>>

The thread is about Cantonese, not all Chinese. I have been all over China, north, south, west, and east, and can say without a doubt, the nastiest, most racist people I have encountered were in Guangdong province and Hainan.

<<”It’s hilarious how so many of you who have been to mainland China once at the most are buying into more white media brainwashing. If you go to China and talk to the locals, you’ll find out that the vast majority of Han and minority Chinese have nothing against one another. But it’s these Uyghur and Tibetan extremists that western media love to portray b/c it’ll stir the most unrest in China.”>>

White media brainwashing? You’re the one talking about the propaganda you see from Xinhua and CCTV. You are either very naive or very brainwashed if you actually believe what the state-operated media in mainland China tells you. I have talked to not only many Han Chinese on the streets, but many minorities including Kazakhs, Uighurs, Hui, Miao, and others. Most minorities do not have nearly as much money as the average Chinese, and almost every Han Chinese will say minorities smell bad, though minorities never have these kind of comments to make about the Han. They only complain about not having the same rights and being oppressed-never say anything about their ethnicity. I have been to Urumqi and Turpan before and have seen kindness frequently exhibited by Uighurs and other minorities in one week that is rarely seen with Han Chinese people. In fact, I visited in January, perhaps the coldest time of year to go. The temperature was -25C out one evening and I had been waiting for a while for a taxi near the Bazaar. An elderly Uighur woman holding two bags had given up the taxi that stopped in front of her and let me take it, even though she is elderly, a woman, holding bags, and was there first. I was stunned. I was also given things for free at stores and invited to sit down and talk with the owners. People on the street would smile and say hello. If you are kind to them, they are kind in return. Also, they may be Muslim, but they are not even that religious. It is a complete exaggeration to call them extremists.
By the way, do you consider Hong Kong news stations as “white media brainwashing” since they report about these things and don’t censor everything like in the mainland.

<<”If you have any experience in China, you’ll know that Han Chinese would rather hit themselves than hit minorities b/c the government cracks down big-time on “hate crimes.”>>

One night in Jianshi liu malu, a Uighur man I often talk to was harassed by several security guards (not even a police) and forced to pay him a bribe to continue to work there. I also saw a Tibetan woman selling earrings and bracelets on yellow rugs on the sidewalk being harassed by a security guard telling her she has to leave. I overheard her telling him it was only 9 o’clock, and she’s allowed to stay until 11, but he was forcing her away. In another instance, in Dongshan kou, 2 Uighur men and a woman were refused by a bus driver, even though they were trying to pay to get on.
Outside my apartment there are usually a few Uighur men who sell lamb and nan, who I used to talk to as I was leaving home. One day one of them was telling me about a Uighur guy who was beaten up by several young Cantonese guys while he was working on the street…he wasn’t even a thief.

<<”They don’t want to stir unrest like what’s happening now. What you don’t hear about are the countless Chinese military personnel and civilians murdered by Uyghur/Tibetan terrorists.”>>

Murdered with what weapons? It’s the soldiers and police that have guns and who are very quick to pull the trigger on people. Last month there was a large riot in Hubei province, with 40,000 people rioting on the streets. The police did not shoot the Han Chinese who threw bricks and bottles at them, nor the ones who beat them with wooden poles. They only shoot minorities who are fewer in number, who could not start a full-scale, nation-wide revolution.

<<”Tibetan guerrillas were funded by the CIA, just like Falun Gong cultists are supported by the US government today. I would not be surprised if there was more shady shit going on right now.”>>

Like China’s involvement in Darfur, for instance? Beijing sells weapons and builds roads and bridges in exchange for oil. Those same weapons are also used to massacre innocent civilians and rape the women.

<<”If Chinese censorship was so good, how would the Uyghurs hear of something happening in Guangzhou if not for western media?”>>

Because Chinese people took the videos themselves and posted them on youku and tudou themselves. You can hear them saying “Beat them, beat them, stop running.” You understand Chinese, go watch the videos I posted above.

You ask Dae where he gets his information from when it is evident that you yourself have never talked to any minorities, nor bothered to learn anything in their language (though they have to learn yours)

Rants, Raves, and Germs

It’s been a while since I last posted and this will be a nice break from writing sound bytes on twitter.  Well, it is safe to say the American economy is going to have a “Lost Decade” in the coming years.  The American-engineered Global Financial Crisis has already sent shockwaves through the rest of the world by first bringing down the once self-sufficient Iceland into the EU, gave impetus to ramming through the Treaty of Lisbon, and pressuring China to develop its domestic market to offset potential losses from the global economic slowdown.

Blame it on Rio or blame it on Obama.  President Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Michael Jordan have actually failed America for the first time in the world stage.  Not only did the Obamas’ speeches fail to persuade any of the IOC members to support Chicago for the 2016 Olympics, the committee decided to gave the rights to Rio de Janeiro, a city that is best known for its favelas, street children and crime.  The official IOC justification were complaints of the hostile American visa system and underlying anger at the global recession that originated in the United States.  Also, Brasil made a very persuasive argument that it was time for South America to finally have an event on their continent and highlighted its significance in her respective region.

In the end, Obama returned from Denmark with disappointing results and again shocked a country that felt it was entitled to host the Olympics in America.  First New York loses the bid to host the 2012 Olympics and now Chicago in for the 2016 Olympics.  This would have been unthinkable years before since the United States had hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.  The American-dominated New World Order that Bush alluded to was destroyed by his idiot son and his former advisers.

Today was another miserable in the NJTransit trains.  Jon Corzine slashed the budgets for the trains and there are more delays due to broken trains from lack of maintenance and endless delays from overcapacity.  Corzine also did a great job raising taxes and slashing state services based on his experiences as a Goldman Sachs CEO.  Usually when someone raises prices while cutting services is considered a ripoff and Corzine is no different in ripping NJ taxpayers off.  There was once a rumour that Corzine was considered as a nominee as Obama’s Treasury Secretary, which I am glad was just a lie.  America just doesn’t need another former Goldman Sachs CEO to fuck up the economy the way Hank Paulson did.

I only wished there were Ben Bernanke masks for sale for Halloween.  That way I could get a mask, dress up in a cheap suit and tape a sign with the words “Financial Terrorist” on my back to create the Ben Bernanke Halloween costume.

Taiwan is not country, but US Territory says Chen Shuibian

So there you have it: Chen Shuibian admits that Taiwan is not a country and implies that the entire Taiwan Independence movement is not directed at China, but the United States, which would make the entire movement anti-American and “pro-terrorist” as some right-wingers say.

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shuibian has been indicted on new embezzlement charges just weeks after being sentenced to life in prison, and has filed a lawsuit claiming that the U.S. legally controls Taiwan and should release him from detention, officials and a lawyer said Wednesday.

Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/09/24/2003454322

Chen asks US court to intervene to free him
PETITION: The Taiwan Civil Rights Litigation Organization said it was sponsoring the legal action on behalf of the former president, demanding his immediate release
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Sep 24, 2009, Page 3

“His intent is to clarify that native Taiwanese people are not Chinese and should not be subject to any legal prosecution by courts of a Chinese government in exile.”
— Roger Lin, Taiwan Civil Rights Litigation Organization

As part of his affidavit for a case at the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) petitioned for the US to intervene as the “principal occupying power of Taiwan” to seek his immediate release and restore his civil and human rights.

Roger Lin (林志昇), a member of the Taiwan Civil Rights Litigation Organization, yesterday said his organization was sponsoring the legal action for Chen and demanding full respect for his civil rights and his immediate release from incarceration.

But Lin focused on Chen’s argument in the affidavit concerning Taiwan’s international status and dismissed speculation that the suit was aimed at resolving Chen’s legal problems.

“This is what I call the ‘Viagra effect,’” he said. “The drug was originally used to treat heart diseases, but most people pay more attention to its other effect — just like the suit is aimed at clarifying Taiwan’s international status, but most people look at its fallout.”

Chen has been in custody since December last year. He and his wife were handed life sentences for a string of charges last week. Chen has asked his lawyers to file an appeal.

Despite his repeated calls for the court to release him, the Taipei District Court overruled his most recent request.

Chen has decided to use international law and US constitutional law to resolve the legal problems concerning Taiwan’s status, while at the same time tackling his own legal problems, Lin said.

“His intent is to clarify that native Taiwanese people are not Chinese and should not be subject to any legal prosecution by courts of a Chinese government in exile,” Lin said.

In an English declaration provided by Lin, Chen said that during his eight-year presidency, the US executive branch often made decisions for the people of Taiwan without consulting them. These affected the lives, liberty and property of Taiwanese and the nation’s territory.

“I concluded that the machinery operating in the background was not the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act or any Executive Orders issued by the US Commander in Chief, but rather the 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty,” he said in the declaration.

Under the peace treaty, Chen said it is clear that Taiwan was not awarded to the Republic of China and thus remains under the US Military Government until that government is legally supplanted.

His assertion is based on the argument that the US commander in chief did not make any announcement recognizing any civil government in Taiwan as supplanting the US Military Government after the 1952 treaty, he said.

Chen said the US is “the occupying power” under the customary laws of warfare because all military attacks against Taiwan in the World War II period were conducted by US military forces.

While some have called Chen “crazy” for putting forth this argument, Lin said, Chen’s accusers are the ones who are crazy.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei branch director Huang Ching-lin (黃慶林) said he supported the theory that Taiwan’s status was undetermined but that only the 23 million people of Taiwan should have a final say in resolving it.

Calling the corruption trial against Chen invalid and unfair, Huang said he hoped that once Taiwan’s status had been determined by a US military court, a new constitution could be written and Taiwanese who break the law could be tried under Taiwanese law.

Richard Hartzell of the Formosa Nation Legal-Strategy Association said Chen’s case was a very good approach, adding that many people had confused territorial control with sovereignty.

“[If] I have lived in this hotel for 60 years — it does not mean the hotel belongs to me,” he said. “Occupying territory is a foreign territory. Taiwan is not the 51st state, not a part of the US. It’s a foreign territory under the dominion of the United States.”

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) yesterday accused Chen of committing treason by referring to himself in his appeal as the former president of the “exiled ROC government.”

KMT Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) said Chen must be mentally ill after spending so much time in detention.

Meanwhile, DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said the party was surprised by Chen’s remarks and did not know when Chen had made them.

“The fact that Taiwan is independent and that the sovereignty rests in the hands of its people is not only the basis of a resolution on Taiwan’s future adopted by the DPP in 1999, but a fact that is recognized and accepted by all the people [of Taiwan],” Cheng told a news conference.

“What former President Chen stated is different from the DPP’s stance,” he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG AND LOA IOK-SIN

“Chen claimed he is immune from the Taipei court’s ruling because as president he was acting as civil administrator for the U.S. military government, according to the petition, which demands that Washington release him.” – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hA1Z8MlHPhdXAe2_2z7zBBZhV99QD9AT1DS00

So there you have it: the Taiwan Independence is all about seceding from the United States and Chen Shuibian was never a President in anything but name because he was just an elected bureaucrat doing America’s bidding.  We should all be grateful that Chen Shuibian finally clarified what Taiwan Independence is all about because it was never a Chinese issue as many Taiwanese Secessionists claim, but rather it is an American issue with a corrupt American official now behind bars in a Taiwanese prison who admits that Taiwan is not a country or independent.

He is so honest with his claims that even his colleagues at the Democratic Progressive Party are confused because Chen’s views seriously contradict their party platform.  The Democratic Progressive Party started as a grouping of dissidents and democratic reformers who fought against corruption and authoritarian rule.  Once the KMT’s grip relaxed they started talking about Taiwanese Independence and this actually prompted some core democracy activists to leave the party since Taiwan Independence was never a major issue for them.  Now we learn the DPP was never fighting for independence from China or Chinese under Chen’s leadership but rather for secession from the United States and from being Americanised.

Why does Chen have to do this legal roundabout rants when he could have just worked for gradual autonomy with the United States like what Puerto Rico did?  In any event, the fact Chen admitted that Taiwan is not a country and the Taidu movement is anti-American does not change the fact he got busted for being incapable of money laundering.  Maybe Chen Shuibian should follow his American counterparts and learn from masters of scams like Bernie Madeoff and ACORN.

Comedienne Esther Ku Reponds to Asian Critics

An e-mail from an Asian Zatch
by Esther Ku (notes) Today at 06:37
from Zatch Pouchprom
to ku@funnyku.com
date Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 10:41 PM
subject You should be ashamed of yourself.

Ms Ku,
Let me start out by saying that I’m a American man of Asian descent in my 20’s. You and I are from the same generation so I’m sure that we grew up with the same media and the same cultural environment.

After seeing your act on Youtube and having had to tolerate the same garbagr from Bobby Lee on tv for the last 8 years, I feel it is important to write you this email.

You are continuing in the long tradition of Asian “step-n-fetch its” acts that started with Charlie Chan and then went from Charlie Chan to Hop Sing to Long Duk Dong to Wiliam Hung to Bobby Lee and now you.

I grew up in the South, from elementary school up into high school I was the only Asian face in the class. Everyday it was me having to punch another kid for slanting their eyes at me or doing the “Ching Chong Ching Chong” thing (I know you know what I’m talking about) then in high school it progressed to cracks about eating dogs and having a small dick.

I’ve been 6′1 220lbs since I was a freshmen, so I was able to kick the crap out of most of the asshats, most other Asians are small and I’m sure didn’t have the recourse of kicking their bullies’ asses and just had to live with it.

But you know as well as I do that this has happened to every Asian kid who has ever gone to school in this country.

Why?

Because of the type of stereotypical trash that Hollywood has shoved in our face about Asians (Especially Asian men) for the last 100 years.

But thats not the worst part the worst part is that they are helped in creating this image because people like you and Bobby Lee are willing to sell out not only your racial heritage but you’re own brothers and fathers by embarassing yourselfs and re-enforcing these stereotypes with your pathetic attempts to get a few laughs from a predominately non-Asian audience.

Are you that desperate for fame? You do realize they are not laughing with you they are laughing at you.

You know what Ms. Ku one day you may have a son, and he will have to go to school and endure this type of racism because people like his mother helped create it.

You know how bad it is in hollywood for Asian Males? Jet Li once starred in a movie with a beautiful black pop Singer (Romeo must Die) who is suppose to be his “love interest”, In the movie Jet goes through hell to rescue his “love interest” going so far as to have skin ripped from his hands in a fight scene. And in the end, you know what our hero gets? A freaking half-Hug!! Its so anathema for Hollywood to portray an Asian male as anything but a Sexless, weakling, computer nerd or screaming kung fu fool that even in his OWN MOVIE the Asian hero doesn’t get a Kiss or anything.

People like James Shigeta, Bruce Lee, John Loan and Daniel Henney worked hard to force Hollywood to treat Asian Males with respect and as MEN.

People like you and Bobby Lee are doing everything you can to set the clock back even further on Asians.

You are a Disgrace.

You think that by throwing off on Asian Males that you are ingratiating yourself with non-Asian audiences but really your are just perpetuating stereotypes for yourself such as the iconic “Me Suckee suckee” or theever popular “Happy ending” bullshit.

Hollywood tells us:

Asian Men are Unattractive and “Sexless” (Even Asian Women are not attracted to them)
Asian Men have no physicality (other than kung fuing)
Asian Men are scared of all non-Asian men
Asian Men are meek and cowardly
Asian Men are silly excitable fools
Asian Men can be mocked with impunity.

Stop it Ms Ku

I know its hard to make it in show biz, but not at the expense of you degrading yourself and your heritage.

And don’t give me this crap about you trying to subtley poking fun at stereotypes, you are doing nothing of the sort. You are reenforcing them.

I know your going to say

“But Chris Rock makes jokes a about black people and Carlos Mecia makes jokes about Mexican people.” This is true, but the difference is there is always an element of pride in their humor, you can tell Chris Rock is proud to be a black man and Carlos is proud of his Hispanic Heritage. There is no pride in what you say about Asians, and the undertone of self-hate is loud and clear.

I hate to tell you but you will never be white, no matter how many white guys you date or how many times you degrade other asians.

Help empower your people not emasculate them. Asian Males have so few role models in the media to be proud of. They don’t need sell-outs like you and Bobby Lee coming along and piling on with the ridicule.

One day your Son may want to get into show biz, but because of the stuff you are doing the only roles he’ll be able to get are the William Hung type crap that Hollywood is still pushing. Is that really what you want? Because like it or not your son is going to look like the Asian guys you degrade in your act and not like those stud blond haired blue-eyed white guys you love to date.

I would suggest to you watching a documentary on Youtube called “The Slanted Screen” and how you are being part of the problem and not part of the solution.

I hope you read this Ms. Ku and I hope you think about how many people you are hurting with your “Comedy”.

————————————————– ————————————————– —–
my response … but feel free to email your own response to Mr. Pouchprom.
————————————————– ————————————————– —–

Hi Zach. What kind of Asian is Pouchprom? hahahahahahahahah. Is this a real email or are you pranking me? I can’t tell.

We may be from the same generation however, I come from a family that knows how to laugh. Laugh at people like you. Guys who feel it is important to write me this email that place me in the same category as Bobby Lee. Thanks! I’ve been trying to let him open for him at Caroline’s for years. Would you mind if I used your email as a letter of reference?

Stop trying to blame me for having grown up in the south! Your parents were the retarded ones who moved to the south. Mine went straight to Chicago with several other families so that their children could form a gang and stick with each other from kindergarten. I don’t know what you’re talking about. In our school, the Asians were the ones doing the punching. Every time my brother punched a hole in the wall, we covered it up with a painting that translated to “harmony” or “love”. Everybody was scared of the Asians in my school. You didn’t mess with the Yang’s, the Yoon’s, and definitely not the Ku’s. What I feel you maybe doing is projecting your regrets of not being able to stand up to your bullies onto me. And I refuse to stand for it.

So you’re complaining that Hollywood has been oppressing Asian men for a mere 100 years? Compared to the thousands of years that Asian women have been oppressed by their male counterparts? Then sign me up Hollywood! It’s reparations time! You guys have bound our feet, demanded hot food, clean clothes, polished nails, cute babies and happy endings for centuries. Get the fuck out of here. You’re lucky we’re not doing more damage. Oooh did we hurt your feelings? Wait. Let’s work this out the old fashioned way. Why don’t you give me your mom’s phone number and I’ll have my mom call your mom and yell at her for raising a six foot two hundred pound slanted pussy.

Is it also my fault that the audiences are predominately non-Asian? Man that’s a good point. We should market to more Asians. Can you help out? There’s a position for barker open at Stand-Up NY. I can totally get you a job so we can get that quota for Asians to match the current demographics of the US population.

Am I that desperate for fame? You think I’m famous? Yay! If you come to a show, I promise to take a picture with you afterward. Then you can tell people you met me and they will be impressed for moment if I am indeed as famous as you say I am.

So when I have my son, are you saying I should be a PTA mom? Because don’t worry I would never join the PTA. When I have kids, I will be at home with my snugly bong and be wondering if little Jimmy from Occidental College ever graduated with a degree in Bio after I helped him with his anatomy assignment.

You keep referencing me and Bobby Lee in the same sentence. Do you think we should go on tour together? Cuz that’d be so much fun! Who do you think should drive? Me or Bobby?

Hollywood tells us that Asian men are silly excitable fools? I don’t think anybody thinks that. Ever. hahahahah. Which is why Bobby Lee has a career. Don’t you get it man? He’s fighting the stereotype that you help perpetuate: the awfully boring, dorky nerd who takes himself way too seriously and whose parents thought it’d be a good idea to move in with a bunch of hillbillies.

You stop it Mr. Pouchprom. Seriously are you even Asian or are you half or something? Is your dad a pervert who only gets off on Asian porn? ew.

It is hard to make it in show biz and that’s why I want to thank you for writing this letter because I think you’ve helped me seal the deal to become the next Kim of Comedy.

Sincerely,
Esther Ku

Asian Female on Asian Female Bashing

Reprinted without permission – original post here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=15063&post=139082&uid=2214375888#/topic.php?uid=2214375888&topic=15063

“Asian Female

I don’t understand this group anymore. It’s beyond ridiculous with the amount of AAF bashing. It almost seems as if all the major issues of AA Media went out the door when IR became a topic. Sure, there is discussions about other issues but it’s so focused on the IR and issues surround AAF sexuality. Just calling out one issue about AA in the media is not going to help anything. The issue needs to be address as a WHOLE. There is rarely holistic views on the portrayal of AA in the media in relation to race, culture, history, minority, majority powers where is the discussions about those things and how it affects AA in THE MEDIA?? I’m sorry if people feel that I am attacking this group but I am not. I merely pointing out and voicing how I feel that this group is faltering away from the main issues at hand.

I don’t get why everyone just resorts to calling AAF whores and etc. And who are you to be talking NKAO like that? Just because she may or may not be Hmong her cousin gang bangs? You’re no better than the ignorant people of the world that believe all Asians are good at math and have tiny pee pees. Yeah, I said it. It’s just crap on a lot of these boards. I used to see so many good posts about so many different issues that affect AAF but lately I’m just heart broken at how sad this became.

It’s not even a extreme militant stance like the educated Black Panthers, it’s almost as if it is a bunch of 5 year olds that resort to name calling and random self analyzed statistic that they use as backing to call AAF whores. (this doesn’t apply to everyone, you know who you are)

On top of it why would your Asian sisters want to be a part of this board? You don’t even invite the ones that you said “turn their backs” on being AA to address these issues you just lurk around and call them names behind their backs. It’s so productive, I clearly see it working. *sarcasm* Well, it’s not.. in fact it’s counterproductive. If someone was to come here and try to find some people to speak on a board about AA issues in the media, they would turn away in an instant at how appalling this group has become.

And then when you meet your Asian American sisters that have fallen from the path just remember your hands are not unclean in the way you treat them back. And so what if your Asian sister do choose to date a white guy. If she so happens to date a white guy that can’t respect her for who is she as a person while fantasizing about her little geisha ways, maybe you should try to help her see her worth. (educate her, lecture her, FOR PETE SAKE DRAW CIRCLES IN CRAYON IF IT GETS THE MESSAGE THROUGH BUT DON’T CALL HER A WHORE) And if she finds a white guy that loves her down to her core, isn’t ignorant in the issues of AAs, and respects what she has to offer beyond an Asian fantasy of “Me Love You Long Time” and see her as A HUMAN BEING WITH A SOUL (which also seems to be a hard feat in this forum), is that so wrong? Love is Love.

Gosh, Dammit. If you’re going to talk down on someone for their dating ethics PLEASE sound some what educated. Maybe, I’m just a little frustrated or just ignorant to assume that everyone here has the skills to analyze and critically think about social/racial/etc. issues in various facets and dynamic ways.

This isn’t addressed to everyone. You’ll know who you are and where you stand. But consider this group one less supporter. I’m going else where to find people that are truly inclusive and holistic about the issues on being an AA. It’s difficult enough being AA with the media reflecting us in a certain light, but it’s even worst when the people that you expect to understand you seems to punish you even more.

mind you that I’ve been in this group for about 2-3 years. I’ve just never posted anything since I thought most of the discussions were really educating to read as is. It just makes me sad that for the tons of people that bring up good points and issues, a handful is just messing this up for everyone else. There is a reason why all the girls are disappearing. And it’s going to be hard when the girls that care about these issues turn their backs because of the way you guys treat them.

You can’t expect respect when you don’t give it. For the ones that want to lead and to educate, you need to be an even better example THAN EVERYONE ELSE on ALL accounts or else your credibility is gone. No one will ever listen to you. Look at the all the greats in civil and humanitarian efforts, they knew what they had to do. You want people to listen, you should listen back too.

It’s late, my head hurts, and I can go on and on..but it’s pointless… I hope at least one person understands what I am trying to convey in a fit of disappointment.”

“My main point as my head is clearing from being up at 5 am.
You can’t be a proponent of gay marriages, if you don’t believe in interracial marriages.
You can’t be a feminist, if you don’t believe that men should have rights either.
You can’t be a advocating civil rights while you are at home telling your grandmother to shut up because she’s old isn’t entitled to her opinions anymore.
And that means you can’t be bashing your Asian sisters, if you want to change the world for AA.”

I’ve been waiting for someone to post something like this for a long time now. Thanks.

Anything *I* say is taken as trolling or ignorance, so fuck those douches.

The Mind of a Racist/Misogynist

My Friend wrote the following on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14739&post=136976&uid=2214375888#post136976

Chairman (<– my addition) XXX replied to XXX post:

“[Therefore we are asking whites and blacks and hispanics to introduce Asian-American literature into class. Naturally the bestseller will be chosen. I'd like to know, because I don't, what other Asian-American authors are there that would make a better substitute?]

Eugene, there are actually tons of quality AA authors out there. The ones who make the mainstream are the ones who pander the most to White audiences, since the AA consumer base isn’t large or ethnocentric enough to create its own small market.

This is the same reason why despite the fact there are actually several talented AA comedians out there, the only ones who make it to mainstream TV or film are people like Esther Ku.”

Dude needs to get laid. And yes, I’ve already told him that before but his only defense is to call me a naive, ignorant, whitewashed, sellout, Asian Uncle Tom.

Usually all in the same sentence.

What I like is that he’ll always claim there are tons of quality AA authors, actors, actresses, etc. yet when you ask him to name them, he’ll name like one or two that already ARE established “names”.

And, of course, any Asian female who’s made a name for themselves is automatically a sellout. Any Asian who isn’t IN YOUR FACE THAT HE’S ASIAN is a sellout.

Frankly, I suspect that the biggest self-haters are people like Chairman Lin, because nobody can ever reach their standards of “Asianness”. Another interesting thing is that guys like him (and yes, people like him tend to be 99% male) will bitch and moan about how racist Western media is yet when you bring up instances–with proof–of racist Eastern media, it’s immediately dismissed as–you guessed it–Western bias. Oh, and then you’ll get called a whitewashed sellout too.

Can’t forget about that one.

Now, I don’t know.. I volunteer my time to help out with various AA/APA groups here in NYC. You ask these folks what they do in their free time away from their keyboards to help out with their local AA/APA groups and they never reply.

But damn, if you mention interracial relationships on the internet it’s like you just smacked a beehive with a stick. Now I’ve never dated anyone that wasn’t Asian.. and I grew up in a Jewish town, being one of only maybe 5 or 6 Asians until my junior year of high school. These days, I hear the schools in my town are something close to about 25-30% Asian, with my high school touching the 40% mark. So nobody–especially some chump online–can EVER tell me I don’t know what it feels like to get hated on because of the color of my skin.. and by JEWS no less! Oh, the irony.

But what do I know? I guess easier to be an Armchair Activist than it is to actually go out and support local AA/APA groups, go see something produced by a AA repertory theatre, volunteer to tutor kids from low-income immigrant familes, etc. etc. etc.

Yeah. Bitching on the internet. Real activism there.

Japanophiles Ruin Wikipedia

Has anyone else noticed that many Japan related sites on wikipedia are littered with anime references when such references aren’t at all appropriate?

I remember when I used to edit wikipedia a lot, i stumbled on this page called Kawaii. The subject of the article was about all the cutesy things there are in Japan, from sanrio stuff, to cute depictions of smiling dogshit on signs telling people not to leave the dogshit when walking their dog.

The article was called Kawaii. There were references to things being Kawaii, and that they had varying degrees of kawaii-ness. The word kawaii was littered throughout the article, and after a huge edit war, the page was placed with a new title called cuteness in Japanese culture. All references to the word Kawaii were then placed in a seperate article, and every time they had used kawaii to describe something in the article, I had it changed to cute.

The edit war was about how the word was becoming popular in American culture now and almost everyone knew its meaning. The otakus ruin everything. The status of the page now is that kawaii redirects there and the word kawaii is still defined and explained on a page that is supposed to be about cutesy things in Japan, not the word kawaii.

Another article that I found the Otakus overrrunning was the one on Ramen. After all the important information about what ramen is and how to make it and different types, there was a list of over 100 items in which ramen appeared in various manga, video-games, and anime.

Literally this meant stuff like:
“#22: In Ranma 1/2 episode 37, Shampoo and Genma went around the corner for a bowl of ramen. The hot soup forced Genma to revert to human form but this was spoiled when he inadvertently spilled cold water on himself during an earthquake” (that was entirely made up… but it is the gist of items on the article.)

The last and most heinous of Wapanese intrusions on wikipedia was the article for the Korean city of Busan in which they felt it necessary to state that in Japanese the name of the city was Fusan and can alternatively be called kamayama. Furthermore, calling it Busan would confuse Japanese speakers because they wouldn’t be able to diferentiate the name of the city, and the local name for Winnie the Pooh (known as Pooh-san to the Japanese).

They are everywhere on wikipedia, they haunt the article for Asian Fetish claiming that it doesn’t exist. They demand that all characters of Japanese origin have katakana pronunciations listed. They want to list every time anything shows up in manga or anime.

I’m so tired of these people!

Musings on why I hate Hipsters and what they can do about it if they care

Musings on why I hate Hipsters and what they can do about it if they care

A friend wrote the following based on the recent New York Times article and related blogs dealing with the impact of the Great Recession on hipsters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC:

I was going to make this a response to [my friend's] excellent update on the financial happenings of hipsters. But instead, I’ve decided to vent my spleen here. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to respond.

Hipsters……oh Hipsters…..how I hate thee! Let me list the ways:
A. Conformity. Every hipster seems to look the same. Crappy clothes (that aren’t actually crappy they just are styled that way), chuck taylor shoes, clove cigarettes, etc. etc. I believe they called it Derelicte in Zoolander—homeless chic.
B. Cheapening anything of value. They search for the authentic and then when they think they’ve found the authentic they cheapen it by making it into a style that they desire to globalize. This is not unlike their wealthy Daddies with their Italian fashions and imported cars. Or their unemployed mommies trying to save some piece of the rainforest, doing yoga, and having the Dali Lama on their shelf.
C. An insult to the working class. Their drink is Pabst Blue Ribbon, yet so many of their parents and admitted futures are with management or “designer wall paper”—whatever the fuck that is. You ask them to work an 8 hour day and they leave in a huff. “I am too good for the 8 hour day.” Good enough to drink the working man’s beer but not good enough to do the workings man job. Scuttle off “puss-cakes,” as Clint Eastwood would say.
D. Handlebar moustaches. Shave that shit off. This isn’t the 1890s.
E. “Avant garde” bullshit sessions at the local coffee house don’t make you an intellectual. I am not saying you need to go to college to be smart, though it does help. Reading and *thinking* about what you just read is far more enlightening than sitting around a hookah talking about what you’ve read without actually understanding its meaning. Reading widely and making intelligent, thoughtful conversation beats any new fix you can make on Noam Chomsky. All the fixes have been made kid.
F. Arrogance. Just because you’re from NYC or Brooklyn doesn’t make you special. I’ve been around both for quite a time. And, considering the experiences of my own travel, they aren’t special. You think NYC is the world? Dip yourself into Hong Kong. You’ll feel like the bumpkins you make fun of except you’ll lack their tact, grace, or taste.
G. G stands for Get a fucking job! Deliver pizzas, wait tables, work as a mechanic, do something with your life other than live off of mommy and daddy’s wallet. Part of the reason you have no self-respect and must act arrogant and fake is because you’ve never worked a day in your life. Work! Even if it doesn’t cover the bills entirely. You might actually learn something about people beyond your tight little cohort.

How to Stop Being a Hipster and Get Real:
1. Shave and start taking care of yourself. Look the part of a decent, normal human being. Stop trying to be an artist if you’re not one. The Bohemian life is for people of true talent. If you’re a hipster you probably don’t have any.
2. Stop trying to make statements. Be your own person. Don’t be derelicte unless you think there is some value to it, which I think if you asked a real homeless person they’d say, “Shiiiit If I had the money you had I’d buy myself a nice coat and some nice clothes. I wouldn’t dress like this.”
3. If you feel guilty about your money, stop. You want to help laboring folk out? Ask your Daddy if there is another way that he could save those 20 jobs he has to cut. Don’t drink PBR and think, “I am so pro-Union.”
4. Contribute something to society.
5. Spend time with books and old people. Both will fill you with more wisdom than all the late night jam sessions at Hal’s coffee shop you can have in one lifetime.
6. Learn to enjoy the simple things in life. But don’t overdo it.
7. Have an interior life. That’s where those simple joys should go.

Finally, get the fuck off my lawn.

N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton

You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge

Verse One: Ice Cube

Straight outta Compton crazy motherfucker named Ice Cube
From the gang called Niggaz With Attitudes
When I’m called off I got a sawed off
Squeeze the trigger and bodies are hauled off
You too boy if ya fuck with me
The police are gonna hafta come and get me
Off yo ass that’s how I’m goin out
For the punk motherfuckers that’s showin out
Niggaz start to mumble, they wanna rumble
Mix em and cook em in a pot like gumbo
Goin off on a motherfucker like that
with a gat that’s pointed at yo ass
So give it up smooth
Ain’t no tellin when I’m down for a jack move
Here’s a murder rap to keep yo dancin
with a crime record like Charles Manson
AK-47 is the tool
Don’t make me act the motherfuckin fool
Me you can go toe to toe, no maybe
I’m knockin niggaz out tha box, daily
yo weekly, monthly and yearly
until them dumb motherfuckers see clearly
that I’m down with the capital C-P-T
Boy you can’t fuck with me
So when I’m in your neighborhood, you better duck
Coz Ice Cube is crazy as fuck
As I leave, believe I’m stompin
but when I come back, boy, I’m comin straight outta Compton

Chorus:

[City of Compton, City of Compton]

[Eazy E] Yo Ren
[MC Ren] Whassup?
[Eazy E] Tell em where you from!

Verse Two: MC Ren

Straight outta Compton, another crazy ass nigga
More punks I smoke, yo, my rep gets bigger
I’m a bad motherfucker and you know this
But the pussy ass niggaz don’t show this
But I don’t give a fuck, I’ma make my snaps
If not from the records, from jackin the crops
Just like burglary, the definition is ‘jackin’
And when illegally armed it’s called ‘packin’
Shoot a motherfucker in a minute
I find a good piece o’ pussy, I go up in it
So if you’re at a show in the front row
I’m a call you a bitch or dirty-ass ho
You’ll probably get mad like a bitch is supposed to
But that shows me, slut, you’re composed to
a crazy muthafucker from tha street
Attitude legit cause I’m tearin up shit
MC Ren controls the automatic
For any dumb muthafucker that starts static
Not the right hand cause I’m the hand itself
every time I pull a AK off the shelf
The security is maximum and that’s a law
R-E-N spells Ren but I’m raw
See, coz I’m the motherfuckin villain
The definition is clear, you’re the witness of a killin
that’s takin place without a clue
And once you’re on the scope, your ass is through
Look, you might take it as a trip
but a nigga like Ren is on a gangsta tip
Straight outta Compton…

Chorus:

[City of Compton, City of Compton]

[Dr. Dre] Eazy is his name and the boy is comin…

Verse Three: Eazy-E

…straight outta Compton
is a brotha that’ll smother yo’ mother
and make ya sister think I love her
Dangerous motherfucker raises hell
And if I ever get caught I make bail
See, I don’t give a fuck, that’s the problem
I see a motherfuckin cop I don’t dodge him
But I’m smart, lay low, creep a while
And when I see a punk pass, I smile
To me it’s kinda funny, the attitude showin a nigga drivin
but don’t know where the fuck he’s going, just rollin
lookin for the one they call Eazy
But here’s a flash, they never seize me
Ruthless! Never seen like a shadow in the dark
except when I unload, see I’ll get over the hesitation
and hear the scream of the one who got the last penetration
Give a little gust of wind and I’m jettin
But leave a memory no one’ll be forgettin
So what about the bitch who got shot? Fuck her!
You think I give a damn about a bitch? I ain’t a sucker!
This is the autobiography of the E, and if you ever fuck with me
You’ll get taken by a stupid dope brotha who will smother
word to the motherfucker, straight outta Compton

Chorus:

[City of Compton, City of Compton]

[Damn that shit was dope!]

China Watch : SAIC Motors’ lessons in own-brand building

Yang Jian, Automotive News China, 6th May, 2009

At this year’s Shanghai auto show a multitude of young carmakers – from the largest own-brand automaker Chery Automobile Co to the small player Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. - displayed their own-brand vehicles.

Many were copycats of international brands. This is a shame because, for the most part, the Chinese carmakers efforts to build brands will be in vain. For valuable lessons on how to build a respected brand, they would do well to look to their older brother in the domestic industry, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.

Lesson 1: For brand building, copying international brands is no good.

The first model SAIC built under the Roewe brand, the Roewe 750 mid-sized sedan, was developed on the platform of the Rover 75 it acquired from MG Rover in 2005.  Chinese consumers quickly realized SAIC’s car was, to a great extent, a copy of the original.

Recognized as such, the Roewe 750 has never truly won the heart of Chinese motorists. In the first quarter of this year, only 2,732 Roewe 750s were sold in China, according to Automotive Resources Asia, a unit of J.D. Power & Associates.

By contrast, SAIC’s second own-brand offering, the Roewe 550 compact car, was a completely new model. It was developed by the company’s R&D teams in Shanghai and England. With fine materials and a graceful styling, the car was launched at last year’s Beijing auto show to wide acclaim. Sales of the new model, which starts at 127,000 yuan ($18,621), are picking up. In the first quarter it shifted 11,774 units.

Lesson 2: Brand building is costly and therefore requires a focused approach.

Running two joint ventures with Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co., SAIC Motor is by far the most cash-rich automaker in China. Even so, it has long taken a cautious approach towards building the Roewe brand and to date the brand has only had two models: the Roewe 750 and the Roewe 550.

While domestic carmakers Chery and Geely used this year’s Shanghai auto show to display a total of more than 50 models under four sub-brands each, SAIC’s President, Hu Maoyuan, was talking about “integrating existing marketing and sales resources to boost brand recognition and sales volume.”

“From both a technology and financing point of view, SAIC stands the best chance of developing a premium brand,” says Duan Chengwu, Global Insight’s Asia Technical Research Analyst.

What chance do the other domestic Chinese automakers have of developing respected brands for themselves? Unless they adjust their existing product and branding strategy, I am truly pessimistic.