Frankly, I don't think race is the driving factor here. Xenophobia and distrust of a powerful nation that may threaten the American hegemony is not new. Also, Americans aren't the only nation that has this tendency. Throughout history, the king of the mountain has always looked out for who might be trying to push him off the top. Just because the two countries that seemed poised and interested in doing it happen to be non-white nations means little. While racism against Chinese-American people may exist, I think it's a separate issue from the fear people have of the possible future actions of the PRC leadership. There may come an unfortunate day where those two issues collide, but thankfully we aren't there yet.
It is amazing how much social progress have been made, and honestly this country, being the melting pot of the world that it is, gives me the hope for the future of man kind. It's just the political shift of tide in the last few years that've made started the doubt in my mind.
Just from the posts on this board it is pretty obvious there are a lot of resentment towards China and Chinese. The thing that is pretty amazing is it is coming from left right and center. I guess when it comes to China the United States is pretty united.
I'll say this again. The article did not come from the US. It came from the UK. Specifically the bbc (which is typically biased towards the left).
Though I'm loathe to admit that the US would ever lock up Chinese or Chinese looking citizens, the Korematsu decision was never overturned by the Supreme Court. The apology and reparations only addressed that one specific event and does not prevent it from happening again. That aside, I still believe that mobility and immigrant influx will dispel most of the anti-Chinese hysteria generated upon its own people. It's still scary stuff and perhaps we're due for another Mcarthy era...
Hmm, interesting for me to read what some Asians on the board saying, and I guess being a Muslim I can relate... First, you must understand, the whole anti-China sentiment that is beginning to spread throughout Washington, DC, is really standard procedure that every US government has followed in the past. Basically, whenever there is a perceieved threat to US hegemony, then the demonization of the other side begins. So China isn't unique by any means when it comes to this. When it comes to the perceived "tolerance" of our society, it is really a lot deeper than that. In my personal opinion, what is tolerant about our society is the system in place that attempts to guarantee minorities/women their rights, as well as safeguard them from possible encroachment upon their civil liberties from either our government or society at large. IMO, the majority of the general public in America came around to tolerate minorities with time, especially when our society began to examine its horrific past and most (not all, there is still a considerable minority among White-Americans that believe otherwise) White-Americans began to understand the need to "move on" and deal with a changing world around them. Still, obviously, you can tell just living your day-to-day life that racism is still very much alive and well, but it tends to take on different forms and mask itself behind a "cause", and those bigots that are still out there tend to pick on a different race/ethnic group whenever the occasion arises. For ex: hear some of the rhetoric said about Arab/Muslim-Americans from some of the most prominant public figures. Now, what haapens here is that if those same people said the same thing about Blacks or Hispanics, they know that there will be a major outcry because of it, and they will likely end up losing their jobs and have their careers ruined as a consequence. But with Arabs, they know that this kind of hate speech might be tolerated/they can get away with because Arab-Americans don't have nearly the same clout as Blacks and Hispanics (and even Jews) in this country. IMO, the real blame should be assessed to all minority groups, especially the hundreds of civil rights organizations we have around this country. Sadly, most minorities don't concern themselves with what's being said/done against another minority group, and they only start to care when it affects them or offends them. This is a MAJOR reason why racism is still tolerated in one form or another in this country. Imagine if the NAACP protested a hateful statement that O'Reilly made about Muslims (just an example), or if LULAC stood up for Blacks and Hispanics and Arabs and Jews and whomever else they felt were being discriminated against. It's the absence of this type of collective concern for ALL minority rights in this country that is the point here. Anyways, just thought I would share my opinion on this. And as far as the presence of Chinese spies on US soil, it's no surprise at all, much like the presence of CIA operatives on foreign soil shouldn't surprise anyone here either. It's a double-standard if you accept one and reject the other; it's going to happen regardless.
It doesn't matter, there have been plenty of "Red Scare" and "Red Storm" banners on my TV screen, from "mainstream" media outlets like CNN and FNC, as well as MSNBC.
You are absolutely right here. It's hard to defend yourself, but it's even harder to defend others just for a right cause, not to mention how hard it would be that sometimes it could mean to be against your "own people".
I guess we are all selfish in our own way. That might explain it. May be it's just human nature to pay attention to/care about what concerns you.
Since you were the one who posted it and since it contains a fair amount of editorial commentary may I presume that you, a white American, agree with it?
