What the hell is Er Guo Tou Chiew made out of?

[Mao]

I have a small question regarding race and racist terms (theoretically anyway) since we've effectively threadjacked this anyway:

There are some terms that we all know to be pretty blatantly offensive, chink, gook, n*gger, etc. However, there are others that are less well-known. I for one didn't even hear of the term wetback or even think it was offensive until someone had to explain to me why it was. Now, is more awareness of these terms good, or should we not place as much attention to it? If we bring out so much attention to it, they'll learn such terms that they might otherwise never encounter and wouldn't care about. This is much like "How much attention should we give to Neo Nazis?" There probably must be a balance, but where is that balance?

[DaShi]

So what is the forum's policy regarding racial slurs? Wasn't Captain Obvious banned (or was it perma-banned) for jokingly making such slurs?

[DaShi]

Some more thoughtful responses, now that I've calmed down. Sorry, this has always been an important issue to me.

Originally posted by Mao
Seriously though, the problem of racism in China isn't anything new I would think. I would think that's it's actually common in any homogeneous society, or even one that isn't so homogeneous (there's enough racism between the Han and various minorities...). Yeah yeah, you dislike Han, but I've yet to see any other alternative (I'm actually kinda curious if there is one...). Besides, the term did it's job pretty well, didn't it? Dr. Sun would be proud...

Well, I think a lot of it is coming to light because of China's opening up and the increase of the numbers of foreigners. In some respect, I can understand the reaction to this change because it is rather abrupt and sudden. However, the attitude seems to be either we should accept it or ignore it. I believe that this is the wrong choice. Instead, it should try to aknowledge the problem and look for ways to change it. For all the turmoil racism has caused in the west, the most significant changes occured when people were forced to confront their views and those being oppressed, along with sympathizers, fought for change. However, in a culture of saving face, it's difficult to admit their is a problem to begin with.

As to daily racism...well...this racism is a collateral effect (or maybe it's not and racism is the main cause and the following is a collateral effect, not sure of the causality here) of the uber-patriotism that Chinese society (moreso than the government itself I would argue) encourages. I mean, I'm sure you've encountered this. When asked why people work, many don't just say, "oh, for my family, so I can have a good life, etc." but rather also add "for China. So we can develop and be strong. So we can modernize." This sense of uber-nationalism, jingoism almost, is actually a bit scary, but works perfectly for the Beijing government, doesn't it? See? Everyone's happy in the end, and the casualties are (once again...) Black people... *sigh* Although, to be fair, I don't think anyone's really claimed racism wasn't a problem in China, even the government...

I don't think nationalism is causing the racism or vice versa. I do think that they do horribly [horrible as in scary, not bad]compliment one another. Perhaps among the young there really is a belief that they are better than us, or at least a desire to believe that. As I've said before, they are taught in school how Chinese think and act and how other peoples think and act.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Spiffor



Don't you want to avenge the outrageous defeat you suffered in our hands during the last Euro championship?

You're a bad Englishman

Oh please. I'm a Brit, not an Englishman.

And French defeats of the English, or Brits, or Angevins or Plantagenets are rarer than hens' teeth, so celebrate while you can, horse devourer !





A Spiffor snack:

[Spiffor]

Mmmm, horse...

[molly bloom]

mmm.... Frenchmen.


I'd post a link to the fabulous 'Dieux du Stade' Calendar (oh, be still my beating heart...) of the French national rugby team, but I'm sure Cotton Minger would explode with apoplexy.


So I'll post a piccie of this chap instead- a little young and smooth for my tastes, but in Puritan Polytonia he'll have to do....

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by molly bloom
I'd post a link to the fabulous 'Dieux du Stade' Calendar (oh, be still my beating heart...) of the French national rugby team, but I'm sure Cotton Minger would explode with apoplexy.

[Drake Tungsten]

Mmmm, horse...

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Mao
Hmmm...they probably are taught those things. Some, however, like "Did China ever start a war?" I find hard to blame the students themselves, since that's what they're taught and have little access to other information.

One look at the map and seeing the size of China should tip people off that some conquests occured at sometime in the past. A country just doesn't get that big without cracking a few eggs.

[DaShi]

Well, they are usually referring to Communist China when they say China never started a war.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by DaShi
Well, they are usually referring to Communist China when they say China never started a war.

Except for that bit in 1979 when they invaded Viet Nam.


A small matter of 120 000 Red Army troops who crossed the border into northern Viet Nam. Perhaps they were simply after some snake wine...


Then of course there had been the border clashes with India- small 'wars' in the 1960s.


Oh, and the joyous reincorporation of Tibet within the Han people's co prosperity sphere.


It's funny how self-determination for ethnic minorities or nationalities seems to apply only to European or American colonies or territories...

[Mao]

Originally posted by molly bloom



Except for that bit in 1979 when they invaded Viet Nam.


A small matter of 120 000 Red Army troops who crossed the border into northern Viet Nam. Perhaps they were simply after some snake wine...

People's Liberation Army damn you...PLA!!! Speaking of which, does anyone know if it finally changed the official PLAAF or PLAN or PLANAF in English yet? The translation doesn't really make much sense, and sounds a lot better (and actually makes sense) in Chinese.

Then of course there had been the border clashes with India- small 'wars' in the 1960s.

And with the USSR, don't forget about them.

Oh, and the joyous reincorporation of Tibet within the Han people's co prosperity sphere.


It's funny how self-determination for ethnic minorities or nationalities seems to apply only to European or American colonies or territories...

Erm...isn't there already a thread with this topic? (not that that's stopped anyone before...)

[DinoDoc]

Is UR ignoring this thread now?

[DaShi]

Of course. He's been proven wrong, so now he just wants it to disappear with all the others, so he can continue to drive-by post mean-spirited comments to those who corrected him, while trying to suck up to others. This is our mod. I doubt we'll see any change in his behavior. I guess we know that racial slurs are now allowed on Apolyton. What's next punishing people for defending themselves? What ever happened to Sidgames and Whistler?

[Bosh]

Originally posted by DaShi
Of course. He's been proven wrong, so now he just wants it to disappear with all the others, so he can continue to drive-by post mean-spirited comments to those who corrected him, while trying to suck up to others. This is our mod. I doubt we'll see any change in his behavior. I guess we know that racial slurs are now allowed on Apolyton. What's next punishing people for defending themselves? What ever happened to Sidgames and Whistler?

Come on, comparing him to whistler is just unfair. I've never seen anyone duck and weave as much in debates as UR (which gets DAMN annoying) but that's nothing compared to whistler's immature asshattery and UR doesn't really abuse his mod powers from what I've seen.