Response to Caucasian Perspective

I think what you have shared with us is interesting and enlightening. But, I did not like how you automatically labeled everyone "ignorant" and said that you are not. I believe that everyone in their own sense is ignorant. Ignorant to the feelings of others, the different cultures that exist, the reason for life, the beauty in learning, etc. I am sure that you meant "ignorant" in the sense that people refuse to see how multifaceted everyone is, but it just came our extremely harsh. By also mentioning that "[you] am not ignorant", made it seem like you think are above us all. It is rare for mankind to be able to reach beyond the outskirts of ignorance. People cannot always see beyond these limits. By saying that you are not ignorant is to say that you can see and know the unknown endlessness beyond these boundaries that many people are stuck in. Sure, there are people who know more than others and are closer to the outside than the people who know few on the inside of this city, but there are very few that can venture far out. So, I thank you for sharing you perspective, and I appreciate hearing what a Caucasian person feels, especially about the silent but deadly stereotypes that a white person experiences.

a cartoon on English Prejudice in 1796

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype

A Cauc(asian) Perspective

Hmm. The typical caucasian. The first thing that comes to mind is: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/. I, a "typical" white person, fits many of these stereotypes. However, why must i conform and be defined by someone else's perception. I should not be defined by the way I dress or by the activities I partake in, but more or less, by my personality.

I attend a very culturally diverse high school. My asian friends often ask me, "Do you ever feel asian because you hang out with so many asians?" Of course, I respond "No". Why would I ever feel like I am of a different culture? It frustrates me when I do well on a test and someone remarks, "Gosh, you're so asian". Once again, "I am not asian". Asians are not the smartest people in the world. It is a stereotype that bounds people to believe in this image of a studious asian. Just because I am white, people do not think I am allowed to be intelligent. But actually, I am smarter than half of the asian population in my class.

As a caucasian person, I have noticed that many cultures and races are often ignorant. I am not ignorant and it is not right to associate me with the wrongs others that share my skin hue commit. Generalizations are wrong, as everyone is a unique individual. White people are not the only ignorant people in the world. Education is key to solving the issue of ignorance.

Additionally, just because I have blond hair and blue eyes and come from a German background, people tend to associate me with the "Aryan race". My friend often jokes with me that I am of the "Aryan race" and that I am anti-semitic. However, once again, she is wrong. I have friends of all different backgrounds, and by looking at my heritage alone, people do not know the true me. I am not a Nazi-loving crazy, but a fun-loving individual who does not rely on her background for her personality.

I will not conform the the standards of any stereotype. I am intelligent, but I'm not Asian. I am German, but I am not a Nazi. I am Irish, but I am not a leprechaun. I am Italian, but I am not a guido. I am Polish, but I am do not snack on perogies all day long. My ethnic background does not express the true individual I am and I will not be bound by any stereotypes.

I am me.

Asian Pride?

I thought that I had finished going through my phase of ethnic doubt and hate. But I still feel it here. I did not realize my dogged disappointment with my physical appearances that blatantly give away my ethnicity. Having thought that I had accepted and maybe even embraced my culture and looks, I was crushed by Miley Cyrus’ new Asian eyes picture. I was never a fan of hers, but I also never hated her…until now. In her “apologize”, she defended herself and did not bother to apologize to the people that she may have hurt. It is not the fact that she, herself, mocked Asians, but the fact that she influences the majority of the female youth around the world. By posing in such a picture, she enforces the stereotypes and the mocking of Asians. Cyrus overlooks the underlying problem in her photos, only seeing the superficial and self-absorbed problem of the public attacking her. She may be trying to protect herself, but in the end, she ends up hurting an entire racial group--one growing exponentially. She hurts me. She hurts me my making me doubt myself, again. When I thought I was strong enough to rise above racial problems, I am knocked down by criticism to me, my family, my people.

If you have not seen the picture, here it is:

http://weeklyworldnews.com/celebs/miley-cyrus-asian-photo/

Coming Soon!

Sneak Preview for next week:

We will be featuring a Caucasian perspective on diversity and interaction interact to prove a balanced view.

In the mean time, please enjoy the variety of photos highlighting the intermingling and interaction of different cultures and objects, something we strive to create:

source: http://www.davidhorvitz.com/if/index.html

source: http://nerdmeritbadges.com/

source: http://www.rodel-la.com/

Finer Things Club?! source: http://www.thegeorge-hotel.de/deutsch/

source: http://www.isaacymanu.com/

source: http://www.slinkachu.com/

An Asian Perspective...

Growing up in Central New Jersey, I never really knew I was different. I recall my kindergarten class at Wildrow Haridge, where I was best friends with Jensen, a blond haired blue eyed girl, and Rebecca, an African American mix. We were best friends despite our different ethnicity. We were best friends because we did not know there was a difference between us. We were best friends because we thought we got a long well. We were friends without prejudice. As I got older, I soon began to sense a difference. My Caucasian friends and I lived almost different lives. They ate hamburgers, pasta, and meatloaf. I ate rice, lo mien, and eggs soaked in tea. We were friends but there was a disconnect in our lives beyond school, Pokemon, and Polly Pockets.

My first real encounter with prejudice that I remember was when I went shopping at the mall with my mother. I was around seven years old. My mother stood in the line to pay for the three cardigans that she had selected. Although there was no one in front of her, the cashier did not gesture for her to come up. Instead, the cashier glanced at my mom and continued to fold the various garments behind the counter. We waited patiently for five minutes. Another woman came to the line and stood next to us. The cashier quickly acknowledged her and asked her to come closer to the cash register to pay. The Caucasian woman had chestnut hair. My mother was furious with the service, so she slammed the cardigans, a flash of colors that thundered into the counter, and stormed out of the store. Bewildered, I stood shocked in line. I did not understand what had happened.

After catching up to my mother, I asked, “what happened mommy?”

I felt like someone had attached 100 pound weights to my heart as it began sink in my chest. Oh, how I will never forget the feeling of inferiority. Why would people treat you differently when we are all essentially the same. We both have eyes, ears, arms, legs, a stomach, toes, a brain, and, more importantly, a heart. Why can't the heart look beyond my appearances? I also recall other prejudiced encounters with others. Every time I feel different in a demeaning way or feel inferior as a result of another's actions, I get that same heavy feeling in my chest. I feel as though others immediately classify Asians as nerds that do not have lives, smell of hey-i-have-not-showered-in-days and old Chinese food. The worst stereotype is just the sense of being classified as the simple, the stark, the heinous: NASTY. No one wants to be nasty. I am not nasty, but people think because of my ethnicity that I am. It hurts me so much that I hope others don't experience the same. But they do.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackspics/202148389/