ADVANTAGES OF BEING ASIAN AMERICAN

or some the only downer to being Asian American is being lumped with all the whiners.
     The problems that afflict us? No different from those faced by all Americans, they argue. Vincent Chin? Won a barroom fight and was ambushed in the parking lot by a pair of drunken sore losers with a baseball bat. Happens to white guys too. Media stereotypes? Would you rather be cast as a beer-guzzling milquetoast with a spare tire and a perpetual sunburn? Not to mention being unable to jump, dance or multiply.
     Weigh the trivial irritations against the big advantages, exhort the upsiders. Like being raised in two-parent families that provide emotional stability, a solid educational foundation, a multi-cultural perspective and healthy eating habits. Like being seen as innately more intelligent, diligent and honest. Like having a full head of hair past 30 and never having to shave your back. Sure, the new immigrants have a rough time, they concede, but compare apples to apples. The Census Bureau stats show that U.S.-born Asians do as well as any group and better than most.
     So what's your take? Are we getting a raw deal or are we just too busy complaining to appreciate our many advantages?

(Updated )

I too agree with Another Proud Asian Who Gets On With Life.
Although I have only been to Australia once and the US twice, I generally feel the Aussies are less racist and more friendly. This is even despite the Inter-Tasman rivalry in sports ;)
Even in good 'ol New Zealand, the Chinese community is doing very well for itself. This is partly due to our countries less stringent immigration policies that have allowed a large migration wave of peoples from the Asia region.
Also the New Zealand Government and New Zealand people as a whole are very friendly and accepting of foreigners. Of course you get the odd bit of racism every now and then, but hey shit happens in any country.
Recently our Prime Minister made a formal apology to the descendants of the early Chinese immigrants (mostly goldminers and their sons and so on) for their discrimination of them. They were the only group of people who had to pay a poll tax of 100 pounds which was a helluva lot of money back then. Although, this is a small step and we have a long way to go before even discussing matters like compensation for those descendants concerned, New Zealand, for a small country, has made great steps in acknowledging past wrongs with one of their more significant minorities. In fact if it wasn't for the industriousness of the early Chinese who paved the roads for the recent immigrants, New Zealand would still be relatively backwards and probably still fairly hostile towards Asians. Now, the question remains: Can the same be said about the American Government in publicly apologising to its Chinese American citizens? Have they even taken the small step of compensating Native Americans and giving them back land that was previously taken? I think not.

Kiwi Fella
   Thursday, April 18, 2002 at 03:38:44 (PDT)
another proud Asian who gets on with life:

Pauline got voted out simply because she was an incompetent moron! And because other politicians had already taken heed to the popularity of some of her policies. Howard would have certainly lost the election if he hadn't fanned the racist flames using the 'Tampa' incident. Sure, there are protesters, but they are a minority - that's exactly why they have to protest. Then they are dismissed as 'socialists' and troublemakers.

I think the most striking thing about Oz is that people can get sympathy here by saying things in public that in the US would be considered unacceptably racist. Australians tend to think of Americans as being "too politically correct" but i think Americans are just more aware of what constitutes racism. Australians can actually get sympathy for saying something like "I'm not racist! But Australia is being taken over by Asians who refuse to assimilate and threaten to destroy Australian culture!"

Hey, just compare the experiences of Asians in the US (for example on this site). We definitely haven't gotten this far here in Oz. But then again I guess when Asians first stared migrating to the US, Australia was still having its official White Australia policy.

Perhaps it also depends on where you live. There aren't many rednecks in or near the cities, which are more cosmopolitan, but you know most of Australia isn't city. By the way, ever been to New York city? (That is a REAL city! When you look from the top of the Empire State you suddenly understand why the phrase "I love NY")

Anyway my point is you don't hear a whole bunch of Americans lobbying the President to stop Asian immigration because "look at Chinatown in Manhattan, they just don't assimilate and they threaten American culture"...

Sure, we can get on with life, but why can't we have a website like this in Oz? Where is the mainstream Asian Australian voice to be heard? Where, indeed? I am sick of being 'defended' and 'justified' in my own country by the multiculturalists.

Asian Australian from the *really* deep south
   Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 20:08:33 (PDT)
to another proud asian who gets on with life

well you must be incredibely naive to think that white australians take part in chinese new year celebrations, what he speaks of is how it really is, and what you speak of is how australians want other countrys to perceive australia, did you know Australia is the second most racist country in the world by time magazine. im an asian australian too and at least some of us know the real problem going on here in australia.
AZN Australian who was made to not feel Australian
   Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 19:42:00 (PDT)
Proud Asian from the deep South:

I'm an Ozzie asian too but i'm a bit dissapointed of the way you paint Australia as a redneck land downunder. There are narrow minded people here but not in the hordes as you imagine. In the news, we see white australians protesting at the detention of refugees, fighting racism, and promoting gay pride. Remember Pauline Hanson (a right wing politician) and her political party One Nation.. where is she now? "Mainstream" Australia didn't like her and voted her out.

The community actively participates in Chinese New Year and various other cultural activities. We occasionally experience racially motivated incidents here but i don't think to the extremes that america does.

American minorites have made tremendous steps but I think greater polarity, extremes exists within their society.

another proud asian who gets on with life
   Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 08:31:32 (PDT)
Banana girl,

Maybe you can give me advice on how to combine the best of both worlds. I like being both American and Asian because it just gives you a better understanding of the world and society. But it can also be frustrating sometimes. Living the expectations of your family while wanting to be more carefree and wild occassionally (which I would love to do right after I graduate from college) is hard. I know a lot of AAs have gone through this and if anyone can give me some words of wisdom on this, I'll be so grateful.
Living in America
   Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 02:26:52 (PDT)
Telling Like It Is:
Are you that ignorant? Do you really think black civil rights marches during the 60's had Asians or Hispanics in mind? But no doubt it made it easier for Asians and Hispanics later on or some would say Asians and Hispanics never had it badly as blacks so it accomplish nothing for us.

Get over it:
We can complain all we want as long as discrimination still exist. We all know whites can't compete fairly against AsianAmericans, that's why you've set up all kinds of hurdles in ourway.
Heard of the glass ceiling?
guess what? We still kick your asses.
What about all the white whiners? Despitebeing born with the privilage of white skin, having never faced discrimination for one's skin still complainswhen an Asian American out works you and out hustles you fairly.
Look who's whining?? Your're the biggest LOSER for complaining about Asian Americans. We're the least of any group to be complaing about.

Truth hurts
   Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 22:42:14 (PDT)

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