ethnic minorities

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu May 16, 2002 10:24 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
I am flattered that you remembered this, C Elegans, and I do not consider myself to be Asian-American as the only thing Asian about me is my parentage. My parents are both white, middle-class, protestants and I share their language, culture, prejudices, ambitions and everything else. I think like a white American and I act like a white American because that was my upbringing.

Of course I remember

So, it's the same for you as for me. My parents are typical white Swedish middle class people, and that's how I was brought up. My father is of Jewish descent, but nobody on his side of the family has cared about that for several generations, and he's an atheist anyway.

Many times, especially with people I don't know, I find myself treated in a way which is related to my race. For instance, some people think that I am a kung fu master (it's genetic, you know)

ROFL

It's like the concept that black people have "the rythm in their blood", so they are supposed to know how to dance...What a pity there are no Kung fu-genes

In Sweden, I seldom encounter any special events because of my looks, since Swedes take for granted that Asians who speak Swedish with no accent, are adopted and thus Swedish. The only things that sometimes happen are the other way around, that people forget I'm not genetically related to my parents. Like one of my friends, who said "It's strange that you're so small when both your parents are so tall"

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu May 16, 2002 10:47 am

ROFL It's like the concept that black people have "the rythm in their blood", so they are supposed to know how to dance...What a pity there are no Kung fu-genes/.

Reminds me of an interview Art Blakey (great jazz drummer, leader of the Messengers) once gave, in which he spoke about all the ethno-musical arguments that "jazz is a natural byproduct of African culture" with disdain. "Man, I just got back from a tour in Africa, and those dudes don't know sh*t about playing jazz." He caused an uproar among the mighty and self-righteous at the time.

Since when has Islam been a minority?

As I'm sure you know

, any large group can become a minority in the right circumstances. What's instructive is to see how well they adapt, and what they're thinking at the time. For example, the Jesuits found it difficult to abide by Imperial court decisions in 17th century China, since the Popes of the day were extremely powerful in Western Europe; and evangelical missionaries today are often frustrated and angry at the same tactics being used to prevent their activities by the Russian Orthodox Church, in Russia, as they've used upon non-Christian denominations in US communities. I suppose this brings up the question: does any majority ever grow "small," gracefully?

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Thu May 16, 2002 10:51 am

Im male, I think we are slightly outnumbered.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu May 16, 2002 1:09 pm

Originally posted by Dottie
Im male, I think we are slightly outnumbered.

49% men, 51% women - except in the regions were infant girls are killed because they have no value to the family. Apart from this, boys have a higher infancy mortality than girls, because the Y chromosome can carry more lethan deficits, don't ask me why, nobody knows why - yet.

ThorinOakensfield · Post by **ThorinOakensfield** » Thu May 16, 2002 1:33 pm

I'm god, so I guess you could call me a minority since theres only me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !! !!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

ThorinOakensfield · Post by **ThorinOakensfield** » Thu May 16, 2002 1:36 pm

Originally posted by CM
Yup Pakistani muslim. There are 2 others as well.

Me and Omar.

KidD01 · Post by **KidD01** » Thu May 16, 2002 2:21 pm

I'm a minority in place where I live as well. But due some emotional scar I don't think I want to discuss it openly in forum. Sorry

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu May 16, 2002 2:25 pm

Originally posted by KidD01

I'm a minority in place where I live as well. But due some emotional scar I don't think I want to discuss it openly in forum. Sorry

Most bikers end up with some unfounded label

*hug*

KidD01 · Post by **KidD01** » Thu May 16, 2002 2:34 pm

@Ysh : Thanks for the hug

ATMOF some of SYMers knows what's the thing I'm refering but not in details ( but believe me not the biker things

)

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Thu May 16, 2002 2:56 pm

Originally posted by KidD01

@Ysh : Thanks for the hug ATMOF some of SYMers knows what's the thing I'm refering but not in details ( but believe me not the biker things )

I guessed not the biker thing

On the subject of bikes - we could soon be social outcasts - my d/h has fitted a very meaty exhaust to our baby, and it rattles the windows!

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu May 16, 2002 5:29 pm

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
@Minerva- Would you say, knowing both english (my native language) and Japanese, that it's a difficult language to learn?

I've never learnt Japanese as the second language, so it's difficult for me to say how difficult to learn Japanese (you know what I mean? ). It was a hard work to learn English for me, as I'm not good at learning foreign languages, and still is trying hard to improve it.

I can tell you what might be difficult to learn Japanese, instead. It's a language full of exceptions. A German liguist once said, "It's impossible to write Japanese grammer book, because notes for exceptions will be bigger the main part of the book." Pronounciation is very easy, though. And the expressions and discriptions in the novels and letters are really beautiful and delicate.

@CE: You gave up?

Hope you can pick up again soon...

Ode to a Grasshopper · Thu May 16, 2002 9:19 pm

&Minerva

I understand what you mean, but for instance having started on French I could definitely tell you that English would be a tricky language to learn as anything but your native tongue. There are too many exceptions to the grammatical rules in english and a lot of english expressions make no sense when you think about them. French, while having it's own peculiarities, is much more straightforward and the construction makes more sense with less exceptions than there are in english. However I've got a gift for languages, so that probably helps me be able to make a comparative judgement.

Your english seems fine to me. I know a lot of Australians (okay, so they're Australians

, english is still their native language) who would have worse written english than you do.

KidD01 · Post by **KidD01** » Fri May 17, 2002 12:13 am

Originally posted by Yshania
<SNIP>On the subject of bikes - we could soon be social outcasts - my d/h has fitted a very meaty exhaust to our baby, and it rattles the windows!

I believe there's a regulation about the noise generated by muffler on some countries. Any regulation about that there ? Well there's none in my country so sometimes late at night some "idiots" pass with their stupid lowly "trimmed-exhaust" bike. I wish I could do the things like those on "Road Rash" game - give them a real spank and let them kiss tha ashpalt

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Fri May 17, 2002 2:14 am

Who the hell posted this originally anyway?
I assumed that mr Waesel's question was referring to whether we are minorities where we actually live.

That's right.

About me: My parents are divorced. that's about it.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Fri May 17, 2002 4:01 am

Originally posted by CM
We have some aussies, like Tam and Curdis (where did he go by the way?)

Born in Mauritius but a naturalised Aussie. Hell I don't even remember the little island, nor do I have any sentimental attachments with it.

As for Curdis, your guess is as good as mine.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri May 17, 2002 6:32 am

Originally posted by KidD01

I believe there's a regulation about the noise generated by muffler on some countries. Any regulation about that there ? Well there's none in my country so sometimes late at night some "idiots" pass with their stupid lowly "trimmed-exhaust" bike. I wish I could do the things like those on "Road Rash" game - give them a real spank and let them kiss tha ashpalt

Yes, the noise is regulated here - but I am not sure the legal limit. It is a legal exhaust though

LOL! re Roadrash!

- I bet you kick them off their bikes all the time huh? When my son had a go at this - I had to discourage him from doing the same to the pedestrians!

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Fri May 17, 2002 6:44 am

@Yshania, are you going to let me off my leash now?

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri May 17, 2002 6:46 am

Originally posted by Gruntboy

@Yshania, are you going to let me off my leash now?

Oops!! - of course! sorry

Ode to a Grasshopper · Fri May 17, 2002 6:51 am

*Runs away before Grunty can *hug* him. Points towards CM* He's over there! He's over there!

Sorry Fas, I'm no man's human shield for a weapon of this magnitude.

Shadow Sandrock · Post by **Shadow Sandrock** » Fri May 17, 2002 9:41 am

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
I think SS was bisexual, but that's not really an ethnic minority and she's not around anymore anyway.

SS was only interested in women... trust me on that one.