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ASIAN LIFE IN LOS ANGELES
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WHAT YOU SAY

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ABC married to Korean who understands.(ABConfu),

It's easy to blame others for one's personal problems and lack of self esteem, isn't it? Twist Confucious' teachings?????? I don't think so.

Believe me, Confucious has nothing to do with seeking mutual respect, and reacting when there is a lack of it. The friction you see amongst Koreans and other groups derives from animosity created by the relatively quick success of ambitious- hard-working Koreans. Koreans in America have attained much more succcess financially in a much shorter period of time than any other Asian group, partly in due to the fact that Koreans stand firm on their convictions and do not allow others to step on their feet without objections, unlike the ohter Asian groups you mentioned.

So if it's our determination and strong will that has caused such tensions, so be it. Your post is like the typical analogy of the broke fool who sits on his ass and whines about the rich yuppies.

You can quit bringing Confucious into the picture also. His teachings have very little to do, if hardly any, with the lifes of Korean Americans.

I'd also like to mention a Korean proverb,"If you don't have anything wise or constructive to contribute to a forum than don't bother posting!"
Chitown Depressant Tuesday, May 07, 2002 at 00:32:46 (PDT)

To: AC Dropout

Yea, dude, that was a smart business strategy by the Asian father. I'm sure he was racist against black people, but his son was a hell of a nice guy. It was my pleasure to lay my money on the counter for him to take. They actually sold their store to a family from Yemen. It was a big difference cause the Yemen guys were really cool.

My family also frequented a Chinese buffet when I was younger. Man, I couldn't wait to go get dinner at that place. It was such a treat for the adults and kids alike. The food was superb and the service was excellent. If it was wholely my choice, I'd give practically all my money to Asian restauranteurs.

Sounds like the neighborhood you grew up in was pretty tough. But there must have been some black guys who were down with you. I mean there must have been some African-American dudes who invited you into their homes and showed you some hospitality. Don't you have any positive stories of African-Americans kids during your childhood? Was it all about fighting over snickers bars and walkmam radios? Please tell me that you didn't have negative experiences only with the African-American community during all those ten years! If so, God bless you.
Geoff DB GeoffDB02@aol.com Monday, May 06, 2002 at 22:16:09 (PDT)

To: L.A. Chica

I was reading your reply, as well as the Chinese-American guy's post (the one whose grandfather encountered those gangbangers in his store).

Wow, that must have been a hell of a confrontation. I don't have to imagine too much, cause I witnessed similar incidents when I was a kid.

I won't even attempt to intellectualize about those types of incidents because we all know so damn well what would have happened had the Asian grandfather called the cops. First, the police would have showed up an hour after the incident. Secondly, they would have taken a description of the perpetrators and filed a report. If anything, if the cops would have suspected who did it, they would have confronted the gangbanger and told him the storeowner didn't want him in their store. Then, the gangbanger would have gotten pissed and further victimized the old Asian guy.

Now you see why big supermarket chains don't do business in low-income neighborhoods. It's a damn shame.

That incident kind of reminded me of a scene in a movie I saw called "Menace II Society". These two black kids go into a store in LA to buy some beer. When the a Korean lady start to follow them around, the black guys get irritated and start talking smack to her. A male Korean cashier starts to talk smack to them and they briefly exchange insulting remarks. The Korean cashier then delivers the coup de grace: "I feel sorry for your mother". That's when all hell breaks loose and one of the thugs pulls out a gun from under his waist and kills both Korean storeowners. It was a damn shame to watch that unfold. Even though it was a movie it had so much real life pain and agony too it.

We definitely need more tough cops on the streets. The kind of smart cops who know how to be tough, even-handed and innovative in how they deal with different ethnic groups. We need them and we need them bad.
Geoff DB GeoffDB02@aol.com Monday, May 06, 2002 at 22:00:23 (PDT)

ABC married to Korean who understands:
So moron you think Coreans are the sole cause of negative race relationship?
Is it the Coreans who are rioting, robbing banks and store all over America? Great majority of Coreans are hard working people who work their asses off so that their children wouldn't have to endure this crap from blacks. We don't whine and cry racism like blacks, we don't need excuses.
And you know why Chinese, Filips and Japanese as you said "got along fine" in the past? With whom?
Blacks? Whites? maybe you people were too busy "kowtowing" instead of having some pride and defending what's right.
I was so proud of seeing my fellow Corean brothers on top of those roofs with rifles ready to shoot those lazy scums. You know you can't count of the LAPD.

LA Chica
Yeah I was right, you are a libel low life. Why don't you volunteer to have all these criminals housed in your house. You can feed them and save us tax payers alot of money. People like you need to become the victims of violent crimes so you'll wake up to reality. You're Asian and you're so proud of your Asianess that you call yourself with a Spanish Tag name. haha
What a joke you are.

Geoff
You're just stupid, Coreans don't owe blacks, NOTHING! Don't be another typical black asking for freebies.
You don't want us there, simply don't SHOP! Or own your own damn store, how many times are you people going to see other ethnicities come and own businesses in your neighborhoods?
Better yet when are you people going to teach your kids to have some displine?
They are OUT OF CONTROL, maybe one day even the Mexicans will wake up and open a store in your communities.
We should house criminals with libel bleeders. Monday, May 06, 2002 at 21:41:24 (PDT)

To: Man of Lha(mancha)

I read that editorial by Steve Lopez and the guy is right on the mark. Incidentally, kind of thought his articles on the recent LAPD Chief Bernard Parks fiasco was right on the money, too, even though I strongly supported Chief Parks.

Anyway...

Yes, Korean storeowners do deserve an apology from the looters/rioters. However, given the fact that those guys are criminals kinda make the suggestion mute.

There is no way to discount the lack of recognition given to Korean-Americans during the 1992 civil unrest in LA. It would have been better if the storeowners had property insurance. But, as Mr. Lopez pointed out, they didn't have property insurance for the same reason they didn't have health insurance - the money.

All those long hours spent laboring over their businesses all gone to waste because a bunch of thugs decided to victimize law-abiding black, Asian and Hispanic people. Reverened Cecil Murray made some conciliatory statements in the article, but LA politicians should have been more understanding.
Geoff DB GeoffDB02@aol.com Monday, May 06, 2002 at 21:35:15 (PDT)

From (ABConfu)
Well obviously, I did not make myself clear. ABConfu, is not a Chinese woman, I'm a Chinese man married to a Korean women, who thanks her good luck she never married a Korean man.
When I say "Whatever" I don't mean being passive. I mean "Laidback" like a good Hawaiian boy. Koreans are too uptight and serious, it doesn't help with what you do, and that is to mix with your customers and treat them with respect, one customer at a time,and one day at a time.
Regarding Korea or Corea,the Chinese gov't made it official some time ago that the phonetic written english of Chinese would go from pinyin to its present form today. That is why Beijing was once spelled Peking. Has the Korean gov't made it official worldwide that Corea is now the correct spelling??? If that would happen,Corea would be adopted overnight. Me divide Chinese and Koreans, as a letter stated?? It's our own lost if as Asians we hate each other. My letter can't possibly influence any normal person. I only care about Asians and other ethnic Minorities. I bash all Asians, not just Koreans,and I love all Asians. I don't want superficial handshakes that look good in the media between Asians and other minorities, give me the real thing.
ABConfu Monday, May 06, 2002 at 18:30:24 (PDT)

Mexican...in LA:

You're right that the Latinos looting during the riots were mostly Central-American.

Why did you characterize Mexican people as "lazy"? How ridiculous.

Mexican-Americans are the nation's largest minority business community. Furthermore, many Mexican immigrants work two or three jobs, yet still manage to send 9 billion dollars a year back to Mexico. That doesn't sound like laziness to me.

As for the riots...Business owners in South LA lacked political clout, which is why the city ignored their needs. (I don't think that has changed.) Sadly, that counts more than anything else.

http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/success/20010803-millman.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/25/international/americas/25FUND.html
LA Woman Monday, May 06, 2002 at 15:33:00 (PDT)

Geoff DB,

From my experience with Blacks as a youth I did not find it negative or positive. It was the way we lived.

Perhaps I did not mention I ran in a black neighbohood posse. So many of my fights back then were defending black friends against other blacks who might have "static" against us. So it wasn't always my sneakers or walkman I put myself on the line for. I was always the token asian among blacks.

As for me mistakening an upstanding Black citizen from a Black that just can't represent, that would be like me making the mistake of a coolie Asian for a JAP Asian.

Remember your first post was about the conflict in Poor neighborhoods where blacks have something against Korean shop owners. These conflicts don't occur in mid-town Mahatten New York. Where everyone is in a suit and tie, and has the funds to purchase overpriced food from Korean shop owners.

I was only imparting onto you the sub-culture of the poorer black neighbohoods, where activities in shoplifting, street fighting, and "scheming" was promoted and gain social standing among peers. This element is what I believed to caused the Korean shopowner to become cynical. Because we can assume the Korean shop owner in mid-town mahattan is of similar mindset as those they open shop in poorer parts of the city.

Now because academic opportunities presented to me I've also met blacks that were my academic superior. And there is one Black kid who became a close friend of mine in college, who I believe will actually win the Nobel Prize in Pyshics in about 40 years.

But you did not want to talk about those blacks in the beginning. You wanted to talk about the poorer urban blacks and the Korean shop owners.
AC Dropout Monday, May 06, 2002 at 10:43:41 (PDT)

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