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 want to thank American in Republic of China (Aware of his surroundings) for hitting the nail on the head. Asians come over here and want to act like they are the best race on earth - possess intact family virtues, are exceptionally hardworking, smart, and morally incorrupt. If this were true, how come China is such a poor country with one of the lowest levels of economic transparency? It should have ousted European countries by now.
The success of Asians in America is because of the self-selection that occurs when ALL immigrants come to a new, far away place. THe rougues, uneducated, and unmotivated foreigners are not even granted visas to come here. In fact the US imposes strict laws on allowing in, only those immigrants who have something to contribute to the country.
But there still prevails, Asians in the US who are not successful - check out the pervasiveness of Asian gangs in the West Coast. It's all a matter of time.

Oh and one other point, please if you guys are so perfect, at least learn some MANNERS!! We mere mortals do tend to appreciate such trivial things. Please don't pick your nose in front of us, smack loudly when eating, or talk to mortals with food practically pouring out of your mouth!! Thanks!
Let's be real
   Thursday, May 02, 2002 at 22:12:47 (PDT)
Amy Tan gives me the s***s,

Asians in America in general are passive, and want to take the conservative path. Nothing is wrong with that! By assuming a low profile, we don't play with fire, and that provides us with safety.

If you think about it, there is no Asian country that rivals the West when it comes to the Western Arts and Western Intellectualism, maybe with the exception of JAPAN.

Amy Tan and all of these other Asian American artistic individuals who denigrate their own people, do so because it relatively easy; and they can readily capitalize on it because the "majority" (non-Asians)will not forbid it, but in fact, savor it.

One can safely assume that many Asians in America are too afraid to step on the tails of non-Asians, so they f*** with their own people just to stand out or to seek attention.

I once had a discussion with a Sociology Professor in the University of Hong Kong who made a very disturbing remark by stating that the ABCs (American Born Chinese)are an inferior breed; and he does this by outlining several social factors that justify their inferiority.

1)ABCs are the children of parents who were either of peasant or underdog background (aspiring professionals who were shunned) in their home country.

2)America itself is a place for underdogs (all of the great artists, musicians, and intellectuals are found in Europe, and not in America). ABCs therefore are not bred in a country of greatness, but in place that emphasize "2nd placeness".

3)America has an abundance of resources; this causes Americans to become lazy, complacent, and less competitive. So ABCs are likely to become satisfy with the many things given to them.

4)ABCs are a minority in America, and the dominant yet secondary Eurocentric culture imposes them to assimilate. He said that the Eurocentric culture of America is not really European, but an outcast culture which orignate from the colonial days.

5)ABC in the Cantonese dialect means "Jook Sing" defined as someone caught in between two opposing forces, and unable to incorporate them. He believed that Bruce Lee who himself was an ABC, absorbed 2 cultures and made something out of them, which many ABCs are incapable of doing because 1)they were not fully exposed to the Chinese culture at large, only that of their parents, and 2)they don't know fully understand the Western Culture.
Ambitious ABC hungry for knowledge
   Thursday, May 02, 2002 at 13:46:45 (PDT)
I love Amy Tan. I read the book "The Joy Luck Club" and it spoke very highly of Asian culture. There was nothing "sell-out" about it. Are people here bashing it because of the movie? Did you people even read the book? The two are quite different. The book suggested an Amy Tan who is very proud of her Chinese heritage, offered sophisticated illustrations of how Chinese people may see westerners, and elucidated cultural misunderstandings/miscommunications between mother and daughter. The complexity of her book is only seemingly simple.

The book is classic, a true gem. Amy Tan is a truly talented writer. I admire and respect her completely.
Amy Tan is a great Asian American writer
   Thursday, May 02, 2002 at 01:26:40 (PDT)
Hey Editor,

The first word of the title of the link should read "Ungrateful" not "Ingrateful". Ingrateful is not a word.

I'm anal about spelling mistakes.
Cute Chinese Girl
   Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at 23:09:59 (PDT)

[It is so a word, just a less common variant. Check a thick dictionary. --Ed]
I agree with AC Dropout on his comment on "high art" and needing the backing of the richie-rich's. He is absolutely correct (as usual).
old girl
   Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at 17:16:31 (PDT)
talent.....,

I don't know what battles you might have with your parents.

I've had a few with my own in my brief lifetime. Everything from being kickout of the house to cutting off all my funds for higher education.

But I used my parents as sort of the arch-type to the "anti-me" or the me I should never become. For I ponder if I went through the hardships my parents went through, would I become like them also?

Good luck with your demons.
AC Dropout
   Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at 15:56:52 (PDT)

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