Comments on: quick travel update and chinese nationalism

By: T Chow

T Chow — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:00:24 +0000

Sorry that you had to deal with that sort of thing growing up. I did as well, so if you think I don’t understand the Asian American thing, let me reassure you: I definitely do.

As for the anti-China sentiment, I found very few people boycotting the Olympics because of Tibet. I saw more Tibet demonstrations, but no one actually told me they were boycotting except for one European fellow that I knew. And it’s not like I only have 2 friends in the world, so on my end, I found very few of those cases. I shudder to ask where you are located, but in the Bay Area, I didn’t find this to be the norm by any means.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:52:59 +0000

Um…during the Olympics I had PLENTY of people tell me they were boycotting the Olympics because of Tibet and other strange reasons related to China. So I don’t think the nationalism was misplaced.

Also, those same people would then try to make me explain why China did “those things.” And after I told them I was Korean they would then go ask the next Asian-looking person.

@ Jay

Now you know how I feel as an Asian growing up in America. My family even got their house vandalized when we moved into a predominately-white neighborhood.

By: T Chow

T Chow — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:41:42 +0000

Garfield,

I hope that this is the case as well, but even if this does take root, I think it will take some time to embrace independent thinking. I also note that many of my friends who tend to be independent are still feeling the pull of nationalism, especially after the whole T***t and Olympic torch protests. It is a powerful undercurrent that cannot be underestimated.

Thanks for visiting!

Tom

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:43:38 +0000

The other day I was walking on the street in Shanghai and some guy told me in English to “go home”. I aso recently tried defending the US on a Chinese chat site (in Chinese) and every time I posted something it was erased by the censors within minutes.

By: garfield

garfield — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:09:57 +0000

There surely is enough nationalistic sentiment here in China and surrounding the Olympic Games. But luckily I think there’s a higher level of independent thinking among ordinary Chinese than there was before. Like if you log onto some influential Chinese forums, there’s always a few clear-headed people with valid opinions, although they’ll be soon emerged by more name-calling netizens. it’s an interesting time, to see the clash of thoughts and ideologies in China. it’s certainly gonna take longer for the Chinese people to embrace independent thinking than for them to embrace KFC. but it’s gonna happen.

By: China » Olympic Information Center: links on 16 July (second recap)

China » Olympic Information Center: links on 16 July (second recap) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:02:11 +0000

[…] quick travel update and chinese nationalismWe were in Beijing last week, and met with the blogger behind A Modern Lei Feng and Stan Abrams of China Hearsay. I also had the chance to have lunch with a pair of Chinese lawyers from King & Wood, […] […]