Forum: Ancestors in the Americas

Responses:

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Subject: Not in the picture
From: Alan Woo
Date: 05 May 2001 2:30 PM

Throughout all my years of schooling,I would often learn about historical and world events. However, I felt empty. I felt Asians were left out of the picture. This show put our faces into historical and world events. While Europeans and Americans feel that they have shaped world events, they forget about other people and civilizations. Loni did a great job. Please ahve more shows like this one.

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Subject: "YES!" A definite "YES!" to the forum question
From: J. L.
Date: 05 May 2001 10:53 PM

Everyday I read more and more about European exploitation of non-European people--American enslavement of Africans, genocide of Indigenous Australians, American genocide of Native Americans, colonialism of Africa, India, China, Philippines, all of South America (and more exploitation and genocide by the Spanish and Portugese tossed in - Manifest Destiny they call it?). Everyday I see more and more mounting evidence of brutality and domination by whites of seemingly ALL non-whites on this planet. The success of whites in the last 300 years have been built on the brutal labor, exploitation, enslavement and decimation of non-white people. This what I see, as a Chinese American, in the United States. The cause of much of my unhappiness, self-esteem problems and obstacles to success career-wise are all due to the domination and racism of the whites all around me. Of course nations and people exploit, but have they exploited so many groups of people, so extensively and so globally as the whites?Alas, "Ancestors in the Americas" documents yet more crimes suffered by a group of people at the hands of whites. I am deeply frustrated. I wonder if the tables will turn one day? And the whites are no longer in power; no longer dominating almost every career, profession and position of power in this country. Then, will the new group in power make the white oppressors of the past pay? And how will they make the white oppressors pay? But this is just a pipe dream now. I bide my time...So many Asian Americans develop friendships with whites. But I ask "how do you do that without a pang of resentment every now and then?" And how do you befriend whites without feelings of bitterness souring your friendship? There are open-minded white people in the world. But their numbers defer to those whose minds remain clouded by white supremism and racism--consciously or subconsciously. I talk of this because it is not spoken in America. But I know my feelings here are not alone.Jane

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Subject: Aisains as foreginers
From: sampizz@hotmail
Date: 02 Feb 2002 2:01 PM

Janqb presents his/herself as a close minded and very pitiful whiner. America is a merely 200 year old culture, a society of assimilation, of many blending into a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts, which has achieved more in myriad fields in this short time than Aisians have over milllenia. This stands in stark contrast to 5000 years of homogenous dogmatic zenophobia so obviously ingrained in Janqb's fear filled psyche. I suggest you get with the program and revel in the opportunity to spread your personal horizons in the US, or simply pack your bag and head home to the rice fields. Get a grip.

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Subject: Addressing the Question
From: J.L
Date: 05 May 2001 1:06 AM

I did not address the forum question in my previous post. The answer is "Yes! Asians in the U.S. are still very much viewed as foreign." Paranoia of the "yellow invasion" began in the 1880s, as seen in "Ancestor of the Americas". Those lychings of Chinese migrant workers of the 1870s is no different from the hate-based crimes today. The recent case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a nuclear physicist at the Lost Alamos laboratory is one example of racial profiling and scapegoating practiced by white Americans against people of color. Another tragic example is the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was murdered by two white auto workers who begrudged the Japanese automotive industry. I think it's not that Chinese Americans are unwilling to assimilate, but that there is so much good in Chinese culture that one asks "Why assimilate? Why do I want to discard my culture and mimic the Europeans?" Chinese culture is acknowledged by many scholars to be the oldest living culture in existence. Generally speaking, you cannot wipe out 5,000 years' worth of culture in one American generation, or even two, or maybe more. There is also a sense of cultural pride that Chinese people have. 5,000 years of history. Beat that. Anyone? Anyone? The language is ancient, the traditions old and refined. What reason is there to lose these good things? Why give up good food? Why give up useful customs--ancestor worship, deference to the elderly, unflinching resistance and determination to succeed. These values have immensely contributed to the economic and social success of the Chinese diaspora. People of Chinese descent can be found succeeding anywhere in the world--Africa, Americas, Europe, Australia. So, the counter-question is "why should Chinese Americans convert to Europeanism?"However, in keeping the traditions and customs of their culture, Chinese Americans, along with Americans of other cultural origins are regarded as "foreign" and "unassimilated". To me, this is all a question of numbers. If there are more Chinese Americans, Chinese culture will become widely accepted. Strength in numbers is a fact of life. In California, Asian Americans are vocal and show solidarity. Check out the Latino community in New York City and you will see solidarity and strength in numbers. Simply put, the larger a popularion, the more it is are recognized and respected. I am glad to see that happening now. I want to add to the vocality of the Asian American community.

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Subject: Addressing the Question
From: J.L
Date: 05 May 2001 1:10 AM

I did not address the forum question in my previous post. The answer is "Yes! Asians in the U.S. are still very much viewed as foreign." Paranoia of the "yellow invasion" began in the 1880s, as seen in "Ancestor of the Americas". Those lychings of Chinese migrant workers of the 1870s is no different from the hate-based crimes today. The recent case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a nuclear physicist at the Lost Alamos laboratory is one example of racial profiling and scapegoating practiced by white Americans against people of color. Another tragic example is the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was murdered by two white auto workers who begrudged the Japanese automotive industry. I think it's not that Chinese Americans are unwilling to assimilate, but that there is so much good in Chinese culture that one asks "Why assimilate? Why do I want to discard my culture and mimic the Europeans?" Chinese culture is acknowledged by many scholars to be the oldest living culture in existence. Generally speaking, you cannot wipe out 5,000 years' worth of culture in one American generation, or even two, or maybe more. There is also a sense of cultural pride that Chinese people have. 5,000 years of history. Beat that. Anyone? Anyone? The language is ancient, the traditions old and refined. What reason is there to lose these good things? Why give up good food? Why give up useful customs--ancestor worship, deference to the elderly, unflinching resistance and determination to succeed. These values have immensely contributed to the economic and social success of the Chinese diaspora. People of Chinese descent can be found succeeding anywhere in the world--Africa, Americas, Europe, Australia. So, the counter-question is "why should Chinese Americans convert to Europeanism?"However, in keeping the traditions and customs of their culture, Chinese Americans, along with Americans of other cultural origins are regarded as "foreign" and "unassimilated". To me, this is all a question of numbers. If there are more Chinese Americans, Chinese culture will become widely accepted. In California, Asian Americans are vocal and show solidarity. The Latino community in New York City demonstrates solidarity and strength in numbers. It seems that a larger popularion has a bigger voice. I am glad to see that happening now. I want to add to the vocality of the Asian American community.