I was talking with two other friends today and it really got me thinking..
Friend 1: So what sports do you play?
Friend 2: I play badminton.
Friend 1: But that is so.. Asian.
I wanted to tell that friend, "Well, Friend 2 is Asian. So if badminton is an Asian sport, what's wrong with an Asian being Asian and playing badminton?" (But I held my tongue)
I think it's sad that over here, more "Westernised" Asians are viewed to be "more superior" than those who still retain the way of living and the way of speaking from their country of origin. I myself am guilty on both ends, meaning that I've thought that I was better than someone else because I was less Asian than them; and I've allowed someone else to look down on me because I'm more Asian than they are.
I know, however, that it isn't true that we are of far less worth being from an Asian country compared to those who are from a Western one. For God does not show favouritism! Yes, the culture that I'm living in now does shout out to us that it's uncool to be Asian here or too Asian I suppose (e.g., to speak in a thick Asian accent, to have poor English, to only associate with Asian peers etc). Some locals have a lot of resentment towards Asians for taking their jobs as well, and that can rear it's ugly head in the form of beautiful French tumbling out of their mouths.
Still, we should not be ashamed of being Asian, of the color of our hair, our skin, our accents, our hardworking agrarian ancestry. I feel very strongly that we should be proud of where we come from and the richness of our culture. We should never never look down on one another for mispronouncing a word. Though we can guide others with language difficulties/differences so others can better understand them. We should not accept the implicit messages our society sends to us that we are inferior to other cultures. I think from the point we accept this - we too will start being racist towards our fellow Asians, and it completes the cycle.
As Christians, we should not be afraid to go against the culture we're embedded in because this world is not our master, God is.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote:
But I do think that as foreigners, we should be respectful travellers. Our aim should be to discover and experience the unknown.. then only can we grow. We should not seek to ridicule anyone or morph the place to fit our own ways of living, but rather, respect its rules and conditions.
Ah, that's my rant for the day.
Friend 1: So what sports do you play?
Friend 2: I play badminton.
Friend 1: But that is so.. Asian.
I wanted to tell that friend, "Well, Friend 2 is Asian. So if badminton is an Asian sport, what's wrong with an Asian being Asian and playing badminton?" (But I held my tongue)
I think it's sad that over here, more "Westernised" Asians are viewed to be "more superior" than those who still retain the way of living and the way of speaking from their country of origin. I myself am guilty on both ends, meaning that I've thought that I was better than someone else because I was less Asian than them; and I've allowed someone else to look down on me because I'm more Asian than they are.
I know, however, that it isn't true that we are of far less worth being from an Asian country compared to those who are from a Western one. For God does not show favouritism! Yes, the culture that I'm living in now does shout out to us that it's uncool to be Asian here or too Asian I suppose (e.g., to speak in a thick Asian accent, to have poor English, to only associate with Asian peers etc). Some locals have a lot of resentment towards Asians for taking their jobs as well, and that can rear it's ugly head in the form of beautiful French tumbling out of their mouths.
Still, we should not be ashamed of being Asian, of the color of our hair, our skin, our accents, our hardworking agrarian ancestry. I feel very strongly that we should be proud of where we come from and the richness of our culture. We should never never look down on one another for mispronouncing a word. Though we can guide others with language difficulties/differences so others can better understand them. We should not accept the implicit messages our society sends to us that we are inferior to other cultures. I think from the point we accept this - we too will start being racist towards our fellow Asians, and it completes the cycle.
As Christians, we should not be afraid to go against the culture we're embedded in because this world is not our master, God is.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote:
"Living fish may go with the stream at times, but dead fish must always do so.
There are plenty of such in all waters: dead souls, so far as the truest life is concerned, and these are always drifting, drifting, drifting as the current takes them.
Their first inquiry is — what is customary? God’s law is of small account to them, but the unwritten rules of society have a power over them which they never think of resisting."
But I do think that as foreigners, we should be respectful travellers. Our aim should be to discover and experience the unknown.. then only can we grow. We should not seek to ridicule anyone or morph the place to fit our own ways of living, but rather, respect its rules and conditions.
Ah, that's my rant for the day.
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