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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.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:03:30 PM)
candy ass:
"The Hakkas (people of Meizhou) and
the "Teocheows, Hokkiens (people of Chaozhou and neighboring districts) are NOT considered PURE Cantonese"
What the ... ??? They are not considered Cantonese at all, principally because they are not. Hokkiens have their own province, it's called FUJIAN, has nothing to do with Canton. Hakka have their own language, it's called HAKKA, has nothing to do with Cantonese. I know there is prejudice in HK, but I don't think HK people regard non-Cantonese people as wannabe or impure Cantonese ... they regard them as non-Cantonese! Also Hakka got to Hong Kong first. Not like the Anglo vs Italian analogy.
Finally lots of Hong Kongers look down on the mainland students from Shanghai cuz they're always the last ones to pick up Cantonese.
P.S. You also a Beyond fan?
T.H. Lien
Sunday, March 24, 2002 at 19:52:20 (PST)
to lay smack down on UR candy ass!!!!!!!
"...yeah, my parents are worthless people, they are useful as parents but worthless in other measures in life."
--your parents should have dropped you off at the nearest train-station-orphan on the day of your birth. Or maybe they dropped you on your head on the day you were born. If I had that kind of opinion of my parents, I would have been boiled alive in linseed oil for days, and I would have deserved every moment of it.
BTW...if your parents are truly worthless, what does that make you, their offspring?
MLK
Sunday, March 24, 2002 at 12:28:17 (PST)
suzie:
i did hate a lot of people, didn't i? =p i was also 14 at the time. it's great that you don't judge people by their race or ethnicity...
re: cantonese people and 'lay smack down on UR candy ass'--
you shouldn't generalize your parent's lack of etiquette and refinement to the entire cantonese population. that would be an insult to the cantonese population. i think it is the case that it is *only* your parents that are rude and ignorant--and the evidence to support my argument? you.
cantonese people paved the way for other Asians in America.
penelope
Sunday, March 24, 2002 at 10:28:29 (PST)
T.H. Lien,
The Hakkas (people of Meizhou) and the Teocheows, Hokkiens (people of Chaozhou and neighboring districts) are NOT considered PURE Cantonese. Cantonese regard these people as inferior foreigners who settled into the province before they did. This same concept is applied in America. WASPS do not regard Irish Americans as True White Americans, and other white ethnics like Italians and Jews are always foreigners.
In HK, everyone has to speak Cantonese to survive!
Many Cantonese hate Bruce Lee because he chose to be different among the vast conformists. In addition, he put them down because he said the Cantonese Wing Chun Kung Fu style of fighting was ineffective, he proved it and that infuriated many Cantonese.
Extremely gifted and unique Cantonese folks are hard to find. They only come out once in every blue moon and die early. Perhaps every 20 years, there will be one gifted Cantonese that will die young.
Bruce Lee (1940-1973)One of the greatest martial artist, died from a Cerebral Edema.
Wong Ka Kui (1962-1993)Impressive Self Taught Rock Musician. The only Cantonese or Chinese to die as a Rock Icon. Died from a bleeding of the brain during an accident in Japan.
Who's next in 2013????
lay smack down on your candy ass!!!!!!!
yeah, my parents are worthless people, they are useful as parents but worthless in other measures in life. most people look down at the cantonese because they have the biggest superiority complex among the chinese, and are rude and ignorant! now i know why the shanghainese and the taiwanese look down at the cantonese. just like the individual before me, i think most cantonese ppl lack refinement and etiquette!
lay smack down on UR candy ass!!!!!!!
Saturday, March 23, 2002 at 08:42:44 (PST)
Damn penelope, you used to hate a lot of people. To tell you the truth, I've never heard much good news about Mainland Chinese. I try really hard to keep an open mind. I try really hard to not judge an entire race/ethnic group with just one or two people. It's a good thing you pulled through. Life is tough and there's enough hate around already.
suzie
Friday, March 22, 2002 at 10:42:05 (PST)
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