I, Asian: 5 Things I Hate About My Own Race
1.) Piracy, Piracy, Piracy
No, this is not about Asian people wearing eye-patches and raiding ships (though that could have happened in the past, I don't know). It's about the obvious thing you see everywhere if you stroll down a local Chinatown or go overseas. It's bootleg. Yes, it's illegal. Yes, it's unfair to the media industry and everyone who's employed under it, which are probably hundreds of thousands of people who are not celebrities or rich executives. So, please, just stop it.
2.) Dyed Hair
Not to judge people solely by looks, but why do so many Asians, especially the younger generation, sport the dyed hair look? I mean, please, if you guys try so hard to be different you'll all end up being the same. It's just the way the world works. I have dark hair-oh my goodness, I must be a tool! Please. It's called being born that way. Yes, expressing yourself is expressing yourself, but this dyeing trend, especially among overseas Asians, must do just that-die.
3.) Abusing Our Own
Yes, there are people in every race that abuse each other. But for some reason, I've noticed that no one abuses each other as much as the Chinese race. You name it, it's happened-sweat shops all over China, illegal immigration deals to America from other Chinese that costs an arm and a leg, and Chinese workers being overworked by Chinese bosses for scrap pay and the occasional abuse. And all this doesn't include how often Chinese people rip each other off on the streets each day. I grew up hearing so many Chinese say that every Chinese person should love China. So if that's the case, how about we start off with every Chinese person learning to love each other?
4.) Why the hell are we so cheap?
Now I'm not saying that everyone should go out and spend money like Paris Hilton on crack or anything, but it doesn't hurt to be willing to spend a little extra for higher quality. Growing up, my dad had the tendency to cheap out on a lot of things. One thing that especially bugged me is that whenever he went out to a restaurant, instead of spending money on a drink, he would always order a glass of water with a lemon and try to make lemonade out of it (three bags of sugar and squeezing the lemon into the cup). Please, if you want lemonade, it doesn't hurt to spend the dollar on it. And if you don't feel like lemonade, just drink the water. Believe me, I love my dad to death, but also believe me when I say that my dad is far from the only example I can use. Nearly all of my Asian friends can vouch for me on this.
5.) The False Humility Thing
If you're a fellow Asian, you know exactly what I mean. When you go over to another Asian's house, especially a traditional one, if you try to give them a gift they would always begin the usual exercise of "No, no, I can't accept your gift! No, no, it's okay! You shouldn't have done that!" so on and so forth. After politely arguing with them to take the gift, you finally sit down for dinner and when they serve you something, they would, again, go through the usual thing of, "Well, what I cooked for you…I don't think it's that good. It's just a little thing I scrapped up…blah, blah, blah." And they go on and on as they serve you Peking duck and a five-course meal that's not even close to what they describe. Yes, modesty and humility are virtues. But so is honesty. Please, just quite with the false humility already. Yes, we get it, you're humble and you want attention for it. Yes, we get it, you're doing that reverse-psychology thing on us, okay, enough. Please, take the gift, say thank you, and let's eat like normal people.
I know that there are always exceptions and that not all Asians are like this. I also know that every culture has its flaws and quirks. But honestly, does this make me a racist? I don't think so. In fact, I think a strong point of any culture is its ability to confront its own noticeable flaws and occasional vices. Are there going to be some Asians out there who would hate me for this? Probably, but they're entitled to their own opinion. Besides, what I wrote here, I don't think it's that good. It's just a little thing I scrapped up…
Published by David Yuen
David Yuen is a first generation Asian-American who was born and raised in NJ. He has been writing for over 10 years and he is currently a data manager in the Biotech Industry. View profile
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74 Comments
Post a CommentYes, I'm Asian, I dye my hair, I'm totally with saving the bucks. I try my best to be polite, who doesn't?. I grew up in a big Thai family, We dont abuse eachother, and Yep, im part chinese too, didnt see that coming did you?
ABSOLUTELY AGAINST ALL OF THIS, ITS JUST INVALID, not all of us are the same, whatever right? We were just born with stereotypes in the world.
Worst part is you might reply with the usual excuse, "But I'm the same race, I'm just trying to make a statement." Well BRO, its best to keep to yourself in this world.
We are, who we are, and who we want to be.
I thougholy enjoyed your article. As a Sydneysider I completelly agree with everything you have written - but I think it's only a few problems that you've mentioned, you could have talked about a lot more. I really liked seeing contraversial stuff like this! Perhaps you should post it in chinese too? ;)
"I think this person just needs to feel comfortable in his/her own skin. And right now - he is obviously uncomfortable - which is understandable, because what Asians are 100% comfortable in a society that virtually ignores our presence and importance?"
This is so me. Honestly I think the hair dye comment was kinda stupid. I've seen many Koreans, Japanese and Chinese from the mainland who dye their hair..and yet they still sport their culture that they grew up in...hair dying is just for personal interest, does not mean that they are trying to be white! But I agree because some groups of Indians are similiar and I am a Indian-American. There are sooo many things that happens that make me me want to totally abandon my culture..well not the whole Indian culture..just the part where my family is from..however there are things that I really admire that makes me want to stay close to it...truth is I can't live the life that my family expects me to be because I don't
Honestly,
There is so many different type of Asian cultures that you must look back at the history to begin to know why they are what they are. Chinese people's have been brought up to be cheap, (why not, most of you spend to much anyways). And honestly, Lemonade in China cost about 10cent and here its a dollar do you see the difference?
Dying hair? So is most of Europe, America, even India. They do it because its fashion. Most of the blonds you know aren't even blond!
Modesty, seriously? Everyone does, its personality, its culture, its individuality. Its a lot of things not just being plain Asian.
Honestly, again, I really hate people that generalizes things and not being very specific. I don't hate or love Asians because its just a color thats covering the real you!
horrible article. what's considered normal to you is not normal for others. they probably think your weird for doing what you consider normal, that you are arrogant and have rough manners, or that you're ugly/unfashionable because of your "normal" appearance. its called cultural difference.
theres nothing wrong with dying your hair. its called style. and is frugality that bad? you pay for someone if you think they're being cheap then.
Most Chinese people are rude and selfish little me monkeys. They need lessons in basic manners
I don't like asian's that eat dogs/cats.Also I heard that some asians bury pigs alive just for their meat!!!!!!!!! (p.s. i like asians that are vegetarians or if they dont eat cats/dogs)
GO TO http://www.uniteddogs.com/stopkillingdogs/ AND SIGN THE PETITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i heard that majority of the white people dye their hair since most have the brown/dirty-blonde look. so where are all these light blonds coming from? are all white people trying to be scandinavian?
what a load of bullshit. dyeing hair is about having fun, i doubt that asian ladies have whiteness in mind when they dye their hair red, blond, brown, w/e
btw there ARE blond oriental asians. they're called "mongolians"
David, you are very up tight, just chill out. Yes you are entitled to your own opinion but the way that you use your own race as an excuse is disgusting. Do us all a favor and look at yourself before you judge other people. Damn ungrateful.