Discussion post, kids

[excitedrainbow]

Life update later, but for now, I saw this article a few days ago:

Chinese Britons have put up with racism for too longIt was up on ontd_political too, but by the time I read it discussion had died off, boo. It really hit a nerve with me, so I'm just going to repost my comment from ontd_p and then leave comments open for debate - I'd really like

Comments

[excitedrainbow]

Irish born Chinese, I presume? How long has her family been in Ireland? I'd actually really like to know more about the history of the Chinese in Ireland, because there aren't as many historical links with China as England has.

How bad is it for her? Personally I've only ever been directly called out once, but my dad's shop gets calls of 'Konichiwa!" and kung fu noises from passing idiots all the time. It's very much a small, steady trickle of things that make me roll my eyes at people, but not much more. Is there the same sort of culture of silence/unwillingness to complain?

[excitedrainbow]

IDK why but I always thought that it would be about the same as it is in Britain i.e. always there but on a small, petty scale rather than overt and extremely vocal. What kind of areas are less tolerant and why? I would not have thought that Dublin would be one of them!

[akissinacrisis]

I have a couple of thoughts but feel a little reticent to discuss this too much as I am very much Caucasian...

I would say that your assumption about your Dad's opinions representing his generation's is a fair one; it backs up everything I've ever read about Chinese work ethic.

'you go and prove them wrong by having an amazing career!' made me laugh - it reminds me of something I read the other day: "Living well is not the best revenge. Revenge is the best revenge." (Not that I am saying that you need a revenge; just that the sentiment is similar.)

My very lovely close Irish friend (from a small village) recently blacked up for a party (held in his village, but there are photos on Facebook) and he sees no problem with this. I do not want to make massive generalisations either, but I think it might be safe to say that there are things that are not acceptable in west London that are acceptable in rural N. Ireland.

Never ever read the comments on Guardian articles.

[akissinacrisis]

Oh also I read that you are travelling and won't see this for a while, hope it's going well!

[excitedrainbow]

Fairly well so far, hitchhiking's been a lot of fun, though I'm finding it hard to catch fellow travellers with a car to head round the East Cape atm. Will just have to hitch and take local buses, I think, but we'll see.

Revenge is the best revenge

YES, OH MY GOD this sentiment is in my soul, like, I know they're idiots and I'll probably do better than they will, but that doesn't mean I don't want to go smack them across the face, ok Mum and Dad? My personal inclination to shy away from fights contributes, but this attitude of unwillingness to say anything in the face of abuse/idiocy is really ingrained in me, which is frustrating. WHY DIDN'T I SAY ANYTHING WHEN THAT DRUNKEN MORON CHUCKED A BOTTLE CAP AT ME IN ROTORUA AND SHOUTED KONICHIWA? A lifetime of not saying anything, that's why.

Never read the comments on any online article, is the lesson I've learnt.

♥! How're you, lovely?

[akissinacrisis]

Sounds good