李春燕谈如何做美国人(23): 看看这个Chinese Lady! 你是谁?

最近因为Bob Beckel 似乎又一次把Chinese 这一词推到风口浪尖。有的认为把来美的Chinese也都包括了,我们成为永久怀疑对象。中英夹杂是因为这Chinese一词从未像现在这样难翻译。有的要托清干系,有的要往里钻。不论你认为如何,看看下面的一个发生在瞬间的对话,想想您的回答。

上月去科罗拉多Garden of the Gods在往游客中心入口走的路上,突然听到楼上孩子们异口同声地喊,“Look at that Chinese," "That Chinese lady!" 我蓦然间意识到是说我的吗?就抬头看,果然一帮boy scout 初中生在低头看我。从东部这个大沙拉碗 (salad bowl v melting pot) 来的我还真未受过这等优待。就想算了走过去吧?一转念还是抬头笑着打招呼,"Hi, How are you guys?" 孩子们大都愣了一下,然后的回话就不如叫我Chinese lady 时自然了。也许是没想到我会抬头搭话?目前朋友中反应大都是这个Chinese是中性的, 孩子也没成熟、无心好奇。但很多反馈都觉得这个Chinese是否把我们当外人了(见下),ie, perpetual foreigners, no matter what we think we are。

连到BB事件,不禁想,难道这些孩子还会说“Look at that Chinese American lady" 吗?对于一个故意把race都加进去的节目(7/10从未说政府),孩子们和公众看到的是人还是政府?想起刚来美时二代室友交了白人男友,却被他母亲阻挠,说“all Chinese are drug dealers", 丝毫没意识到她家来美比室友父亲来美还晚。那么现在是否要说“All Chinese are hackers?”

我们和孩子以后走在街上要带牌子吗?而二战日裔被关集中营,华人就是怕不被分辨而带牌子的。Monica Yeung Arima在Fox Facebook上讲的Vincent Chin 不够振聋发聩吗?起码当年是Chinese 和日本人区分,现在要是Chinese 和 Chinese 区分得过来吗?这样媒体推波助澜,从CNN (Chinese are goons and thugs),ABC (kill everyone in China),到FOX (Chinese are the biggest threat),potential damage 在哪儿?媒体对上面这些innocent孩子们潜移默化的影响在哪儿?更好笑的是我不是硅谷码工码婆啊,如果说要区分大洋哪一边的Chinese,我也要撇清我不会hack computer 啊。加州参议员Ted Lieu 因为是学电脑的跳起来,但我完全可以高枕无忧,因为我没那本事做间谍,操心为甚?没办法都被一勺烩了,还怪我敏感吗?走在街上不但要带着 “I am a Chinese American” 的牌子,还要带第二块儿牌子: “I know nothing about computer.” 岂不是笑话了 :)

言归正传,我接着又抬头问了句 Where are you guys from? Then after they answered, I said cheerfully, "I am from New Jersey!" 。现在要问朋友们,你们听到孩子们叫Chinese lady or Chinese man会什么反应? 注意不是评论这件事,而是first instinct, will you say anything? If so, what would you say when you only have a couple of seconds? 对于说要跟孩子们make a conversation 的朋友,如果你在楼下,他们在楼上,你一走而过,没时间坐下来交流,会马上说点什么?具体建议 is appreciated. 其实理智上评论说不要敏感, 但本能上反应孩子们把我们当外人,而要澄清我们是Chinese Americans 是否也是敏感呢?我们需要说自己是Chinese Americans 吗?说了有区别吗?

在不是母语的国家,我们要训练自己的反应。我们都说在英文媒体发声,如果这么小事都反应不过来,或假装没听到,不是失去沟通的机会了吗?也是收集反馈的本意。






牧童歌谣 (2014-07-22 11:50:27)

佩服你说:How are you guys? 孩子们其实是不知道其中的根根节节的,一个hi,一个微笑就化解了,他们对中国人的概念也会改变。 我在孩子的朋友间也遇到过这样的事情,我就主动笑着跟他们打招呼,跟他们玩Harry Potter的问答游戏,气氛一下就好起来,后来孩子们非常喜欢我。 对成人何尝不是这样的心理呢? 不拿自己当外人,去掉做客心态,很多事情就迎刃而解。

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:27:08)

谢谢反馈!请转发朋友圈,我想做调查。

李春燕 (2014-07-26 16:48:32)

一些反馈:“Garden of god,不知道是不是个土白人聚集地。早年开车长程搬家时,到了鸟不下蛋的地,在麦当劳冲饥,当地孩子也是使劲盯着,但没有被这样称呼。当时理解为他们纯朴 (把我们当外星人看了。如果被这样叫,我猜也会大方打招呼。室友男朋友家的情况- 偏见总会有。记得我在哈佛做内科大夫那年也遇到这么个有偏见的白人,他主动话题中国,我与他争辩几句,发现一两句也说不清,想到我们的角色关系,治病是正事。但心里很生气,意料不到的是第二天查房时他主动道歉。”

“白人的color privilege ”

“让我想起三四十年前在北京有一条规定:不许围观外国人. 但是大家看到和自己长得不同的人还是忍不住多看两眼. 没有恶意但让别人不舒服. 现在到处都是华人的地方应该不会这样. 只有比较偏辟的地方,没见识的地方会这样.” 

李春燕 (2014-07-26 16:49:11)

一些反馈:“We have to try to let people remember, that Chinese lady might be an American lady. ”

“比较研究很有意义”

“如果有美國小孩说Chinese Lady, 我会友善地笑笑并打招呼,我不会覺得有任何被別人歧視的感觉,客观上,我也曾被美國小孩称作Japanese Lady, 或者 Korean Lady,所以觉得是件极平常的事...”

“还是那句话 无论某些人如何自我改变标签 给你加标签的人不改变你就没辙”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:28:46)

转“两年前在北京绣水卖东西看到中国小朋友拍着一个男老美的大肚子问里面是什么. 笑死我了. 心想这孩子太胆大了也太没礼帽了. 那老美还哈哈大笑. 他分得清谁是善意的谁是恶意的吧. 因人而异. 不是所有人都岐视人的. ”

海云 (2014-07-22 13:32:02)

回答问题:我这人可能有点儿麻木,如果遇到有人叫我Chinese Lady,我通常会微笑地说“Hi”,不觉得怎样,可能还是因为心里认同自己就是个中国女人的关系。换了是第二代,心里可能会不舒服了。

去科罗拉多度假去了?

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:32:37)

转“第一反应是:这里从外表判断的Chinese说的首先是种族、民族,多半和国籍、政治信仰啥的关系没那么大,所以是挂多少牌子也撇不清的啊[微笑]占人口多数的人群对少数族裔所拥有的优越感,很多情况下是种本能反应,所以真正的平等一直是需要争取的[奋斗]”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:33:40)

转“我的第—反应就是我被当成是外国人,就好比我们小时候在中国时走在大街上看到高鼻子的洋人时都会很稀奇地叫道,"快看,外国人。"那是—种好奇且友好的表现。美国是个移民国家,按说人们对见到与自己肤色模样不同的人应见怪不怪,也许是科州移民少的缘故吧。但有点确实是肯定的,人们看你的肤色,而不是看你的绿卡或是美国护照。”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:34:33)

转“杰克逊整容是因为美籍黑人在美国受歧视吗?如果因为黄种人的长相被歧视,在不能改变肤色和长相的情况下,可以借鉴一下当初黑人是怎么争取平等的。”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:35:34)

转“最可能是装没听见”

转“Feel offended”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:36:05)

转“Once a Chinese, always a Chinese. 华人入美国籍后,很多其他族裔的人仍然认为美籍华人是中国人,这种种族、民族的认同是无法改变的。”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:36:52)

转“如果有美國小孩说Chinese Lady, 我会友善地笑笑并打招呼,我不会覺得有任何被別人歧視的感觉,客观上,我也曾被美國小孩称作Japanese Lady, 或者 Korean Lady,所以觉得是件极平常的事...”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:49:36)

上月去开会。Miss you all. 我其实还没写我下句话,怕影响读者。等收集多了再写上我自己的反应。

刘瑛依旧 (2014-07-22 13:41:13)

德语里,Chinese 称呼好像并无贬义。

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:41:35)

转“我会觉得这些人大惊小怪并上前打招呼寒暄”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 20:39:49)

英语里也没贬义,不象Fox News Bob Beckel Chinamen 那个

李春燕 (2014-07-22 13:45:55)

转“美国人知道是亚裔,却不一定知道打交道的是不是中国人,很多美国人根本不在乎你原来是韩国的,日本的,中国的或者台湾的”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 14:34:14)

转:"If someone calls me chinese lady, I will say hi and start a conversation. Maybe joke w him, too. He might change his bias if he has any."

李春燕 (2014-07-22 14:36:45)

转“我会跟他们打招呼,并问他们有什么事,怎么看出来我是Chinese。我改变不了这张亚洲脸,我不羞于承认自己是Chinese, 它代表的是种族,而非国籍。我为自己而骄傲,自信,有强大的内心以微笑去面对任何层次任何族裔的各国人。”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 14:48:27)

转“孩子反映,不能当真,他们的认知系统还没形成,他们也没有好恶之意,人的族裔认同其实到高中以后开始显现”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 15:15:37)

转“没标准答案,一定要直接回复,my name is xxx, I am a Chinese American.”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 15:16:34)

问大家第一时间反应。那么说I am a Chinese American是否敏感了?

李春燕 (2014-07-22 17:04:00)

转“A lot of time people have mistaken me as Japanese or Korean, I always let them know that I am Chinese.  I also find people from the mid west to be less open minded 见识少.  So my take to this is they are not making a racial commend, it is simply because they have never met an Asian.  Now adays Chinese tour are so popular.  When we went to Colorado, Yellow Stone 2 years ago, you can hear people speaking Chinese everywhere.  My cousins who were born here told me that they often laugh at those westerns who have never been to NYC not to mention travel abroad, when they ask my cousins “do you guys  eat rice everyday…”  My cousin told them she likes rice but also love pasta.    It is up to us to educate those like the boy scouts you met that Chinese are not foreigner in country any more.  We are just as American as their family and friends.  So a big smile and friendly conversation is a great start.  ”

李春燕 (2014-07-22 18:19:05)

转"I will say "Do you have anything you need to say to me?" 

They are just kids, if they are good, they will be ok, if they are naughty, they may not mean to be disrespectful, if they are disrespectful, then it doesn't matter Chinese or not, "look at that old lady, ugly lady, weird lady, strange lady, pissed off lady, crazy lady, waoh, I can't even list all the mean words they can come up with.  Chinese is not even the point here any more.  "

李春燕 (2014-07-22 18:20:13)

转"I think the word itself is neutral, so depending on the tone and attitude of the person who use it.  but just the word itself, I don't think it is offensive.  my coworker (caucasian) sometimes calls his wife "my little dumpling" on his facebook, but they have a good relationship and he is respectful to her all the time.  "Chinese lady" is way more neutral and respectful than "little dumpling"."

李春燕 (2014-07-22 18:22:06)

转"I think it's okay. I am Chinese man so nothing wrong being called that way.

I told my kids we are Chinese. This is an identity I am proud of and will be more proud of going forward."

李春燕 (2014-07-22 18:32:59)
From Lu:"kids may grow up in a countryside where they never or rarely see one or two Chinese, possibly a restaurant/takeout owner there. Let me just assume that.

I'm not sure if they were in good intention calling you Chinese lady.  Regardless, this demonstrated a couples of things. First, kids identify people by race first; second, the kid assumed you don't understand English - because of the first point. Third, they treated you not as "us" but "them". Well what can you do about it? A good smile and hello are enough. There was no time or obligation to teach or educate them that Americans are made of different people... Fortunately we live in NJ/NY." 

李春燕 (2014-07-22 18:33:37)

谢谢深刻分析!入理。

李春燕 (2014-07-22 20:10:35)
转"我不会在意,其实有时不在词语本身,而在于说者的态度。如果他们没有恶意,就无所谓了。
记得刚来美国时,我在Hoboken送报纸,有个公寓里两个十来岁的女孩从我身边走过,说了声:stupid Chinese woman. 我当时未加思索,挥起报袋就打过去,拦住她叫她再说一遍,她没敢再说。 "
李春燕 (2014-07-23 03:07:42)
From WQ: "Through a 1 minute exchange, you have to do a quick judgement of other's intention (good, bad, neutral, naughty...), but even if let's assume the other is a mean racist, all one can do is to show others I am not the one that you can pick on, but it's complex how other's opinion  formed and impossible to change in 2 seconds.  the key is to judge the intention, but before jump to a conclusion, it's better to keep everything neutral.  think fast, speak slowly. "
李春燕 (2014-07-22 20:25:40)

A lot of times we can't think that fast. 想起几年前在超市目击一白人男子和一Chinese吵架,似乎是那女子对收款员不太耐心,男子要教训她一下,最后嚷嚷"Go back to China!" 我当时就不知如何反应,只好走开了,但一直在琢磨当时是否该介入?又能说什么?是否太怂了?

李春燕 (2014-07-22 20:32:47)
I actually said (my second sentence):" Where are you guys from?" After they answered, I responded with a smile, "I am from New Jersey" then walked away. 
李春燕 (2014-07-22 20:35:23)
From Lu:"That's the thing. Yes, the words "Chinese lady" are neutral but when they talked to themselves loudly with the words in that situation, it's not that friendly. They knew its not friendly talking in front of people, but just didn't expect you would understand what they said. With this they were already educated that a Chinese understands and speaks good English which is good.
Thank you for raising awareness of racial bias in this country towards Chinese. 对于一些事情,我们不必过于敏感,但也不应事不关己的态度,最讨厌那些摆出高姿态好象政治正确的人。 谢谢你的efforts."
牧童歌谣 (2014-07-23 01:33:33)

有一次有人对我喊: go home! 我回他: Not until you go back to Europe! 或者说:I AM home。 This IS my home。

牧童歌谣 (2014-07-23 01:42:16)

我家对孩子的教育是:你们是美国人,不比任何其他美国人少一分一毫,这片土地这个国家属于你们,不比任何人少一分一毫。 有一次孩子的老师要让我孩子介绍“自己的文化” (tell us about your culture),几岁的孩子不知所云,来问我。 我找到老师,问:你是让班里每一个孩子都介绍自己祖先的文化呢,还是单单把我的孩子挑出来做这件事? 是什么因素让你把我的孩子从众多孩子中单挑出来的?  结果老师校长副校长一起来道歉。  还有另外一位老师问我儿子 where are you from? 我儿子说是from this town,老师追问 where are you originally from? 儿子说我出生在 Framingham,Massachusetts。 老师说:where are you really from? 儿子就问她:where are you from? where are you originally from? where are you really from? 老师特意给我写了一封信,说我儿子给她上了很好的一课,说我儿子的反问让她反思自己,也让她成为了更合格的教师。 

李春燕 (2014-07-23 02:54:00)

感谢分享。这种经历我们也都有过,儿子四年级时恰好是西藏事件,老师单独问我儿子问题,我也是抱怨到superintendent,最后去给全部四年级讲座。非常佩服您和孩子的行动!

李春燕 (2014-07-23 03:09:11)
To WQ: That's all insightful feedback. I now refrain from judging people's intentions. But it was another incidence the day before: at my conference hotel, I was joking about whether a humongous dog should be allowed in a hotel. This man immediately responded," well in America I guess we do." I walked away and not until the Chinese lady incidence did I link the two. Outright racists are easy to deal with, yet these seemingly innocent comments make one think long.
李春燕 (2014-07-23 03:06:52)
转from WQ:" true outright racism is more obvious and easy to be a target to object, but more subtle ones are hard to detect and object to.  the speaker may not even realize the consequence of his comment to listeners.  it's not easy to respond, because you don't want to appear to be petty, it takes some intelligence to respond in such ways that will be polite, light-tone, but express some kind of subtle rebuttal if you feel that's what you want to do. others may not be bothered by such comments. but if you feel it's offensive, the feeling is valid.  the experience and feeling is very personal, very hard to have a standard way to say you should say this or that. 
I don't know the full context of your example and I was not there, just based on the simple description, I would just shrug it off.  Americans are usually proud of America. I am American, and proud of America.  it just so happened that I am Chinese American, but it doesn't make me less of American, just makes my character more rich with a mix of Chinese heritage.  If someone say, " in American, we..."  That "we" in the sentence include "me".  I am American, but about what he/she really represent me or not is another different issue.  I can say, "I disagree..."  When I say it, I mean "I am an American, but you say we-including me, but I don't think we(as Americans) all think like what you said".  冰冻三尺非一日之寒,with time, by taking ownership and initiative, it takes time and continued effort to melt any thick ice of subtle racism.  for me, the only way to do it is to be part of it, be an American and be a Chinese American.  Who are Americans, you and me, our kids, anyone coming here to make this place better for everyone living here.  We are all Americans.  I am proud of being an American, and proud of being a Chinese American.  that's what I teach my kids all the time, too. "
李春燕 (2014-07-23 03:21:19)

转“就我个人而言,我始终对种族歧视性别歧视和地域歧视不敏感,甚至可以说我认为其适度存在是合理的和有益社会进步的。我认为人并不是生来平等的,智商情商和经济基础从一落地就有差异,硬说有平等的生存机率是牵强的。但人类之所以伟大,就是一代一代为自由平等的终极目标而努力。从个体发展来看,适应一个环境,只有两个选择,改变自己,融入环境;加入和自己相同相似的群体,排挤异己,改变环境。所谓歧视,其实不过是排挤和反排挤而导致的社会争端的一种表现形式。无论是个人改变自己,还是群体改变环境,必然结果就是最具竞争力的质资(attribute)得以保留,所谓适者生存。"

李春燕 (2014-07-23 03:22:40)

转:“同意. 有时候我还会加上一句from beijing. 这有什么呀. 善意的人会跟你讲几句. 不友善的就过去呗. 有时候我还会主动告诉人家. proud to be Chinese. ”

Lao7 (2014-07-23 16:58:30)

从微信中跟踪好文章, 回到我们海外文轩这里了。 还是这空气清新, 静心习读系列文章。 

Lao7 (2014-07-23 17:03:11)

说自己是“ Chinese American”, 有点不认同自己Chinese 身份的味道, 夹杂着自卑。

想要强调自己的美国身份,也许这样讲

I am a Chinese, but born in the United States, or living in the United states for the last 20 years. 



李春燕 (2014-07-23 17:09:47)

几年前就慕名而来,只是一直发文不多。与志同道合的朋友们交流吧。

李春燕 (2014-07-25 12:20:32)

再次感谢这么多真挚的回复,本来准备做我们ABC Club讨论的题目,现在看来讨论一次都未必够时间呢。上月当面问了几个朋友,有说就走开。一个说问那些Boy Scout 孩子“Have you ever been to China?" 我征询儿子意见,回答是“why would you bring up China?" 包括上面一个一边说不要敏感,却要辩清“I am a Chinese American", 都是一代老中sensitive,虽然理智上觉得不必上纲上线,本能反应就看出其实还是太在意了。似乎没一个回复像我当时先问那些孩子“Where are you guys from?" 

上月我问儿子,那你怎么说,他说,“I'll just yell out to them, 'so what?'" 这个铿锵有力。我们还有太多该向二代学的了。

红叶 (2014-07-23 19:57:00)

我一般觉得无所谓, 人家只是从外表上陈述一个事实而已。 但是如果是有恶意的话,

我会回应的,不会畏缩忍让。其实歧视处处存在,无论是种族、年龄、贫富等等, 只要内心足够强大, 就不受

影响。 

李春燕 (2014-07-24 02:48:25)

同意。您在那瞬间会做出什么行动吗?说什么吗?还是走开?

李春燕 (2014-07-25 20:53:07)

介绍一篇更全面的分析 http://www.weidb.com/p6335

http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA5NzIwMjQzMA==&mid=300760350&idx=3&sn=c73a1d9caeec1371a3ecfad814b686dc&scene=2&from=timeline&isappinstalled=0#rd

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:18:44)

转:“以后被问道'where are you from? 'San Francisco' where are you really from?' 之类,我也被问过,我觉得大家要具体情况具体回答。首先是互相的认识程度,而且你也可以察觉问问题的人的是否真是友好善意。根据情况,我会平静回答解释,或者反问,where are you from? No, what part of the continent (如果是Europe)did you really come from?来反问他摆平。如果我们总是愤青地对这类问题做出反应,也许是反映了我们心底里的过度敏感。我们只要平静自信地交流与回答,那些有教养的问问题的人,如果事先没有意思到自己永远不把华人当美国人的人,就会被上了一课。总之,不亢不卑的回答,就是给对方上了一堂教育课,让对方自知羞愧。要知道,持有偏见的人,没有直接接触过华人的美国人,在很多州还是占大多数。中国国内人对外地人持有的偏见,会少过美国人对外来人的偏见吗?再给你们另外一个例子。就是我以前和黑人接触交往不多,加上媒体上的报道渲染,潜意识里也会害怕他们有暴力倾向,但是和多数黑人接触交往之后,因为他们的谈吐举止文雅,我也都感觉是自己的偏见在被上了课。当然,我们也要Street smart,如果真的身处贫民窟,那遇到缺乏教养的人的比例就高了,小心为好!”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:19:40)

转“我又仔细读了一下,注意到'Look at that Chinese lady',是异口同声的,显然是极不礼貌的。有教养的人是不会那样说的。上次粗略读过还以为就是一个小孩脱口而出说的,。现在看来,他们是在用没有Racial slur的形式(lady,Chinese 等中性词的组合)来对你进行骚扰”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:20:31)

转“作为一代,被问到这个问题不奇怪,我从不以为忤,英语有口音,别人好奇而已,就象我们聚会少不了问下对方哪里人,湖北的、山东的?但二代、三代不一样,他们没有杂质的口音,如果老被问这,就有问题了。去年,一个本土长大的韩国教授也在研讨会上,声讨这一种族歧视现象。”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:21:33)

转“那就平静反问他们的根底,一次一次地给他们上课。”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:26:02)

是,有人先入为主没仔细读,说我敏感。其实还没一个反馈像我说的那样把球踢过去:“Where are you guys from?"

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:24:04)

转:“这种事干过,其中一个还详细告诉过他们家史,然后我告诉他,我在教一门移民课,这块土地上,大家都是移民,只是先后而已。”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:26:47)

转“总之,你自己的每一次平静,有教养,自控的反应,都是树立华人形象的机会。化危为机。”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:25:47)

我并没理会,无心也罢、骚扰也好,是希望大家仔细想想:理性分析不该和小孩子一般见识后,其实很多人本能的反应还是很敏感。

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:27:16)

转:“如果有人叫Chinese lady, 可以戏人谑回复“Caucasian  gentleman" etc”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:27:52)

我文章的意思是在不是母语的国家,我们要训练自己的反应。我们都说在英文媒体发声,如果这么小事都反应不过来,或假装没听到,不是失去沟通的机会了吗?

李春燕 (2014-07-25 21:29:41)

转:“This is a priority for all of us. Don't even bother being distracted by naysayers or people with an agenda. ”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 22:27:14)

转:“@燕子 很有意思的讨论。尤其是对教育小孩在美国面对类似情形有价值。像花街流行的stress test .[ThumbsUp][ThumbsUp]”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 22:29:30)

转“where are  you from ? 是美国人经常跟不认识的美国人搭讪时常问的问题吗? 还是见到华人后故意问的? 刚来时还答个中国, 现在直接说德州。我总觉得很多时候有故意的成份, 以华人鲜明的种族特征,问的人很可能也是明知故问。  就是时刻提醒你的perceptual foreigner的身份。 也可能我偏激了。 不过确实不了解这个where are  u  from 是不是常见问题。”

李春燕 (2014-07-25 22:31:31)
转“我不是一个Chinese lady, 如果是的,保持我作为Chinese man的心态,会看着他们,比较大声地回一句,“hi, guys",同时挥挥手”
李春燕 (2014-07-25 22:33:07)
转:“如果我是如你那样教授级的sensitive的lady, 我相信我自己也早就明白,其实,Chinese 这个词, 从语言本身来说,歧视的意味比chinaman都过份。Chinese严格地说,是小中国人的意思,就像Japanese是小鬼子类似的说法。而其他国家的白人,没有以“ese"结尾的。比如俄国人,法国人,德国人,意大利人,连匈牙利人都是Hungarian 。”
李春燕 (2014-07-25 22:34:22)

看来您跟我的sensitive (or insensitive)程度一样,that's exactly what I said,"hi how are you guys? " with a smile. But I also asked "where are you guys from?" Then, "I am from New Jersey." 之所以分析是我一直号召大家在英文媒体发声,希望能训练快速反应。联系到BB事件对哪边中国人的诸多讨论才撰文,诙谐罢了。这个对话形式果然引出极多反思。

李春燕 (2014-07-25 22:35:55)

您对ese 和ian的分析学习了!

红叶 (2014-07-26 20:43:26)

如果是小孩子的言论我不会认真, 因为小孩子不懂事, 都是大人教的。 比如上次

有个美国小孩说: “ 杀光了中国人就不用还债了。” 类似的言论, 我会告诉家

长让他们教育好自己的孩子。 如果是成人的话涉及种族歧视我则会提出抗议和警告,

总之按照具体情况而定,依法办事,避免一味忍让或者过激, 尽量将矛盾解决在萌芽阶段。 

Sujuan (2014-09-26 00:21:12)

Great answer!

李春燕 (2014-09-27 23:18:25)

转“当年在佐治亚实习,一个public health department秘书说我是她看到的第一个外国人。我回答:Do I look like a monkey?大家哄然大笑。老太婆满脸通红。老师说这些南方人只认识她们村庒里的人。所有其他的都是外国人,今天教育她一下,外国人与她一样,不象monkey! 有时候幽默可以教育这些带有色歧视眼镜的人。”

李春燕 (2014-09-27 23:19:30)

确实,黄西先生一些英文冷幽默针对美国主流就很好。http://www.overseaswindow.com/node/16120