|
|
|
|
|
GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WHAT FOBs THINK OF AMERICAN-BORN ASIANS
y FOBs we mean anyone who has ever been called an FOB. -- "fresh-off-the-boat", anyone not born here. In other words, half the AA population. Even the 2 million AA who immigrated as kids and speak English like -- or in some cases, better than -- native-born Americans rarely escape the sting of being dismissed by American-Born Asians (ABAs) based on real or imagined differences.
The stereotype of the hopeless FOB who just doesn't get American culture is all too familiar. But intra-Asian prejudice is a two-way street.
No less insulting are the images held by FOBs. ABAs are the descendants of the lowliest of peasants forced to flee their homelands to become indentured servants, sniff some FOBs. Born and bred to accept second-class status in a white society, sneer others. Slackers who don't know the meaning of ambition and sacrifice -- and who lack the guts to do anything about it in any case.
FOBs run the socio-economic gamut. A significant minority (perhaps a tenth) are highly successful trans-Pacific business families seeking a safe haven for their fortunes. The vast majority are engineers, scientists, physicians and academics braving the uncertainties of new lives for a chance to work hard for more money and better opportunities. A few are refugees and illegals risking their lives to escape hopeless, grinding poverty.
It's safe to say few FOBs feel in any respect disadvantaged relative to American-born Asians. In fact, given a dozen years most do as well or better than ABAs financially, if not socially. They can be excused, then, for harboring some less-than-flattering assessments of ABAs. By the same token, in their struggle to acculturate, FOBs often come to appreciate the trails blazed by the ABS, or at least, by their ancestors.
Assuming you're FOB or straddling the FOB-ABA fence, what's your image of ABAs? Let's hear the good as well as the bad.
This interactive article is closed to new input.
Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
CONTACT US
|
ADVERTISING INFO
© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.
|
|
|
|
WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:03:33 PM)
Eds.,
Your etymology of Yankee is quite bizarre as is your history. One of the causes of the American Revolution were laws forbidding ANY trade between the colonies and anywhere except British posessions. This was quite strenuously enforced; if it hadn't been such events as the Boston Tea Party would not have occurred, since the tea (a product of China) could have been provided by what would have been Yankee smugglers. (There was also no significant sea born trade between China and anyone else until after the Opium wars of the 19th century anyway. Openning up such trade was one of the two principal reasons for that war in the first place).
YS
Thursday, February 07, 2002 at 18:09:30 (PST)
[We'll allow this one more post on the topic, just to show the selective perspective of American history buffs. Long before the Opium Wars, there was substantial western and colonial (i.e. British subjects) trade which was eventually funneled via Canton due to concerns of the Qing Dynasty. The Brits didn't pass the law giving the financially-strapped BEIC sole right to import tea into Brit possessions (e.g. the colonies) until 1773 (which eventually gave rise to the Boston Tea Party) . Ask yourself why Britain found it necessary to pass a new law to prevent colonials (and other Brit subjects and westerners trading with the colonies) from trading directly with China. Why pass a law to stop something that wasn't happening according to you?
In any event we're amused by the determined resistance to ascribing the etymology of "yankee" to an Asian source. In assessing how a Chinese term might have gained such quick currency, keep in mind that until the mid-19th century, the west valued Chinese culture and its products far more highly than China valued the culture of America or Europe -- which is why the Brits and American interests conspired to smuggle opium out of India for sale to China in order to offset the alarming trade deficit.
All in all, we find our etymology to be at least as persuasive as any that has been put forth. --Ed]
Waiwai,
I know what you are saying. But, many FOBs also look down on the American born Asians and their family background.
With Japanese Americans, it is mostly social-family background and origins. Most Japanese who immigrated to the USA are from poor, peasant backgrounds. So, the Japanese from Japan look down on the US born Japanese because of this class background and origin difference.
With Chinese Americans, it takes on the form of continuing regional and dialectal animosities brought over from China. Most of the long time, and American-born Chinese are of Cantonese descent, while the newcomers are of Mandarin descent. Both groups look down on each other even in China.
So, to bridge the gap is a big question mark? Much of the FOB-Asian American animosity is a carryover from Asia. We got to let go of that before we come together and see ourselves as one in the USA.
the real dynamics of it
Tuesday, February 05, 2002 at 01:02:08 (PST)
To tell you the truth, there's nothing wrong with being a FOB. As least we know where we came from, and who we are, and we know about our culture. unlike the AA, but majority of them don't know crap about their own culture (WhiteWashed), they think they could call themselves "ASIAN" American just because you have yellow skin and black hair, HELL NO!! They are just a disgrace, they are not fit to be call "Asian" American if they don't know the Asian side of themselves. they might as well drop the Asian part call themselves American instead. Cause we don't need none of them ppl out there, They are only a disgrace.
P.S. No offense to some of the AA that try to learn about their own cultrue. I love you guys. Love the fact that you guys are trying to learn about yourself. The paragraph above is for those AA that's is whitewashed and think they are so much better than the FOBs. They should never forget that their parent, grandparent, or great-grandparents were FOBS, so when they make fun of us, they are making fun of their own family.
WaiWai Qlilwaiwaihk@hotmail.com
Saturday, February 02, 2002 at 16:13:24 (PST)
jjk,
Learn how to spell before you write. It's leech, not leach, you moron. If Asian way is part of the American way, we FOBs are already living the American way. Sad thing is lots of AA don't see Asian values should be part of the American values, but they often complain whites exclude Asian values in this country. How ironic!
FOP, not FOB cos I came off the plane, not the boat
Saturday, February 02, 2002 at 11:06:24 (PST)
jjk:
the idea of assimilation was disposed of in the early 90's. where were you?
acculturation is key. and all of us, not just FOBs, need to acculturate.
but just out of curiosity, what is the "american way of life" that you speak of?
penelope
Friday, February 01, 2002 at 17:13:25 (PST)
jjk,
Are you a FOB with no self-worth masquerading as a ABA? Otherwise, why would your sentences reek of so many spelling errors. I have seen immigrants who have only been in the US for one year with better English fluency than you. You are the scourge of the entire Asian race.
Brickmanli
Friday, February 01, 2002 at 14:43:06 (PST)
I am an American born Chinese of Cantonese descent. Where I live, it is mostly Chinese of other background (Taiwanese, Mandarin, Vietnam, etc.). I can't relate with them let alone date their women. I get along and relate better with Hispanic, white, black, Arabian girls. The new immigrant Chinese cause too much congestion and ethnic animosity in these neighborhoods. We try to reason and caution them. But, our different dialect prevents meaningful communication. Not to mention many of my peers cannot even speak Cantonese, let alone any other Chinese language.
Before the older generation Chinese got along with everyone and nobody made a fuss. We knew all the neighbors on our street and went to their weddings, birthdays, etc. Now, it's different. The older, uptown generation Chinese Americans are unfortunately lumped with these other Chinese groups now. We are a dying breed and many of my uncles have fled and moved to other suburbs. I guess I believe so much in the American Dream that I do not want it to be disrupted.
Harold Wong
Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 21:24:51 (PST)
Gregory -the Saint,
"Although I'm taking Mandarin in college right now for god knows what sake? "
To pick Chinese girls of course, you dummy. Why else would human invent language if not to woo women and convince them to let us in thier pants. ^_^
AC dropout
Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 14:02:50 (PST)
NEWEST COMMENTS |
EARLIER COMMENTS
|