Greetings!
Do you get upset when people call you using a racist term? Do you want to correct others every time you hear people talk about other races using politically incorrect racial terms?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A Chinese couple with their baby in a stroller took a walk near where they lived. They walked past a building (a senior activity center). Quite a few older men and women were chatting outside. A man asked loudly, "Are you Jap or Chink?" The young Chinese woman knew very well the man called them by old racist terms. Peacefully, she said, "We are Chinese." Some women walked forward to look at their baby, and a few men followed. They surrounded the baby. Their faces brightened up. They said "how adorable" and "what a handsome boy". As they were adoring the baby, they began to have a conversation with the couple. It was a while before the couple could continue on their walk.
In time, the seniors said "here comes the Chinese couple" when they saw them walked by.
After their second son was born, people often stopped the Chinese couple while they were shopping in stores. They asked if the boys were twins. Occasionally, they asked the couple to stay where they were so that they could ask their friends who were somewhere in the store to come to see the boys. Sometimes the husband did not want to wait. The wife always said they had time. To her, it was a joy to see the joy on people's faces as they looked at her sons. They asked where the couple came from. It was a simple conversation, yet in treating each other with friendliness, everybody walked away with a happy smile.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yes, the above was my experience.
Some people (particularly the older generation) might use politically incorrect racial terms because those were the terms they had learned while they were growing up. However, they might not hold any animosity towards other people. At the same time, people might use politically correct terms, yet they had racist views within.
On a few occasions, I heard my Chinese friends / relatives used old racist terms while talking about other races. To me, it was all about intention. For example, Mr. Lee talked about his American friend with politically incorrect racial term. Then he said, "We hang out from time to time. I talk to him in broken English, and he understands me well. We help each other out at work. He is a good man. We are friends." He said his American friend did not find the racial term offensive. Instead, he took it with good spirit. Sometimes he introduced himself to other Chinese using that racist term.
Of course, just like any other race, there were some Chinese that had racist views. I did not feel the need to correct others every time I heard people using racist terms. If they had been using those racist terms all their lives, they would not change because of a few words of mine. My approach to a few of my friends / relatives that had negative views of other races was l listened to them with patience. When they were done talking, I shared with them the good I saw in other people. They listened with their eyes opened. A lot of times, they actually agreed that what I said was true. At times they even recalled the good about other race from their own past experiences.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Have a harmonious April!
Many blessings,
Q of D
No comments:
Post a Comment