91 replies to this topic

[tangawizi]

Somebody earlier said having a drop of chinese blood in you means you are always a chinese. May I bring up the subject of transracial adoption because it may just shake up a little the nurture versus nature debate on cultural identity. Well, I hope you will find fascinating the findings made from case studies on transracial adoptions.

When you adopt a child of another race, it changes how others regard you and your other family members.

A curious finding has been that if you were a Caucasian family who adopts a child born to one black parent and one white parent, many people would now consider your family to be a Black family.

Strangely, the same doesn't appear true if you adopt an Asian child or Hispanic child. You usually aren't perceived to have become an Asian family or Hispanic family. This phenomenon is true in European families, as well as American.

Studies on children who have been adopted by parents of other races have shown generally positive results. If the child was born of another culture, he/she may enjoy the opportunity to learn about the foods and traditions of his/her ethnic origin. But don't be surprised when you run the risk of overcompensating and the kid doesn't care about going to his/her homeland for vacation or attending summer cultural camps or ethnic gatherings, and just want to be like everyone else. Some parents have reported that such reindoctrination of the child's original ethnic culture can cause immense anxiety and a blow to the self-esteem.

Striking a good balance can be very difficult for the adoptive parents. Usually the children are the ones who began to back away from the ethnic activities, telling their parents such things as 'Not every dinner conversation has to be lesson in chinese history'. Furthermore, adopted children who love their parents want to resemble their parents. It can be very painful to hear a young adopted child asking you to "wash out" his/her skin color - this is a natural instinct of every child in the world. In adoption books, parents are advised to approach this issue with sensitivity and nurture a sense of acceptance of the differences and reinforce the goodness of such differences.

Well, coming back to the question of whether one is Chinese this or that, I just cannot help but feel that these studies from transracial adoptions would be adequate to prove that a chinese may not necessarily grow up feeling an ounce of chineseness juz coz he/she's got chiinese blood. The experience of transracial adoptions seems to suggest that cultural affinity is edified through a balance of nature and nurturing factors. Having said that, living here in Africa, there is a saying that once you have a drop of african blood in you, you are always an African no matter what. I would always counter this notion with the examples of transracial adoption. There is a lot of prejudice to sieve through in the nurturing environment to rear a well adjusted confident young man or woman.

I hope I have made some contributions to this interesting thread.

Edited by tangawizi, 18 February 2006 - 10:33 AM.

[Genghis_Khan]

To me, a country is a country.
I may live my whole life in this country and not feel like I belong, and vice versa. I may live my entire life sharing their beliefs, their culture, their pet peeves, everything, hell, even consider myself a true countrymen.
But when push comes to shove, I may be American, I may be Singaporean, I may be Bruneian (if there's such a term)....but what am I? What do I identify with? Where do I come from, my parents, my heritage? Even then, those beliefs I have came from a heritage and culture on its own.
...It all boils down to your race.
I can never run away from my heritage, my culture, my roots, and I have grown to be proud of what, who and where I am and come from.
I'm Chinese first, no matter what. "Singaporean" is not a race. It's a country of immigrants, and those immigrants have races and origins as well. To call myself 'Singaporean' first is an oxymoron. It's a brand, a label, not an origin, not a culture, not a heritage.
I'm Chinese first, even if every chinese throws eggs at me and say I'm not - because I don't need people to tell me who I am, what I am, and where I come from.
A country is where I make my home, where I feel I belong, if need be, I will defend it to save what I love, even against my roots, if I need to - but not without an ultimate, ethical reason that will shake me out of my firm beliefs.
Besides, if I'm Singaporean for example, and I don't even feel like I belong and welcomed, or that its my home - I can always migrate. You can't migrate your race.

Yeah.. you were right...
Singaporean are people who live in Singapore..
They can be Chinese, Malay, India or any other race...
So, you are Chinese Singaporean and shouldn't be just Singaporean...
Just like you were Chinese who live in UK, would u refer yourself as british ?
It may seem weird if a Chinese British said he is British (without the words Chinese) it only shown that you were British Citizen, but never people ask you were the citizen of which country should you just say the nationality..
Be proud of being a Chinese okay guys..

[urofpersia]

Yeah.. you were right...
Singaporean are people who live in Singapore..
They can be Chinese, Malay, India or any other race...
So, you are Chinese Singaporean and shouldn't be just Singaporean...
Just like you were Chinese who live in UK, would u refer yourself as british ?
It may seem weird if a Chinese British said he is British (without the words Chinese) it only shown that you were British Citizen, but never people ask you were the citizen of which country should you just say the nationality..
Be proud of being a Chinese okay guys..

Identity is ultmately an individual question. The fact that Chinese, Malay and Indian identitis are emphasized in Singapore is more a result of government attitude and policies which continue to encourage such division.

I happen to disagree that regardless of which ethnicity you are born into, pride should be encouraged. Whatever the ancestors of the ethnic group known today as the Chinese did is their own concern, I am Chinese and I did not contribute one iota to it. Do I marvel and respect their achievements? Of course but in no way was *I* responsible.

I don't see anything weird with a British of Chinese descent claiming he is British. The only country where I sometimes encounter the fact that it is not enough to simply identify yourself by nationality is the US of A, even then they are specific cases rather than a generality.

[Centaur]

Strange that a simple question could sparkle off such a debate that encompass so many different things. Dear GZ, you are definitely not a sub-citizen of Singapore, you are part of Singapore, your being here made a difference to many. Surely a little kindness could go the way... especially if we are people who studies history, it should only make us more tolerant and not demanding that everyone should go our ways?

I am born and bred in Singapore. How do I see myself? I am first a Singaporean - actually, this word was coined by MM Lee, and then a Chinese. So to answer your question - Singaporean Chinese.

My roots are here and if someone would even think of invading Singapore, I would be the first to take up arms to defend it. The color of my skin does not make me any lesser a Singaporean or for that matter a human being. I have often told many friends from overseas that I am color blind... blind to the colors of someone's skin, but open to the person within.

[urofpersia]

I am born and bred in Singapore. How do I see myself? I am first a Singaporean - actually, this word was coined by MM Lee, and then a Chinese. So to answer your question - Singaporean Chinese.

Actually, I personally feel it should semantically be Chinese Singaporean both officially and if you are emphasizing you are Singaporean first and foremost. This would mean you are a Singaporean of Chinese descent.

Singaporean was coined by LKY? I didnt know this. do you have a source?

[Centaur]

I have no problems with either. Yes, it was mentioned in a news report some time back in the Straits Times (I cannot remember the date of the report) about the MM coining the word 'Singaporean' - it was something to do with a Singapore identity - a common bond, as we have four major ethnic groups living together. I thought it was pretty clever of him to do it.

[CobraComander]

i consider myself a citizen of the world, but i definitely dont have any loyalty towards america. to me, its just a place to make money, and get out when you do.

[bloodmerchant]

Edit: Though I consider the two terms interchangeable, I think I now consider myself to be more likely to be American Chinese, as a Chinese born and raised in America. I know that not all Chinese on the mainland may accept me for who I am, thus I am inclined to consider myself Chinese-American. I don't consider myself to be Asian-American, as Asian is a very broad term and so is Chinese (in my opinion). In America, if you're not a White or Black American, you're still not considered to be fully American, even if you had ancestors living there for generations. Like in the case of Chinese or Hispanics. (Some Hispanics can pass as white, such as speakers of Ladino-influenced Mountain Spanish in Colorado, as many of them are descended from Iberian Jews or entirely European-desended Hispanics) Even if you had Chinese ancestors who lived in America before, compared to a child of Polish immigrants, the second-generation Polish-American would be more 'American' than a third-generation Chinese American because Poles are white, for example. Even Black Americans at least consider White Americans to be American, and White Americans consider Black Americans to be American, as opposed to Americans of Chinese or Hispanic/Latino descent.

Edited by bloodmerchant, 05 April 2011 - 05:40 PM.

[Peace]

Well, I am Chinese Indonesian. To be honest, I love Indonesia very much (despite racism against Chinese Indonesian). This is country where I was born and grow up, but I don't feel that I belonged or accepted here. I also love China very much, but I don't know much nor able to speak Chinese (thanks to Soeharto anti Chinese policy). The fact that I called myself Chinese Indonesian have nothing to do with how much love I have toward China or Indonesia, only the fact that I am Indonesia citizen of Chinese descent. Just to differentiate myself from Indonesian native people.

I don't know if I have identity dilemma. I cannot choose which one I love more: Indonesia or China. I pray that both countries will get along and success. But, I want to get out from Indonesia if I can for better future.

Edited by Peace, 05 April 2011 - 02:18 AM.

[bloodmerchant]

Well, I am Chinese Indonesian. To be honest, I love Indonesia very much (despite racism against Chinese Indonesian). This is country where I was born and grow up, but I don't feel that I belonged or accepted here. I also love China very much, but I don't know much nor able to speak Chinese (thanks to Soeharto anti Chinese policy). The fact that I called myself Chinese Indonesian have nothing to do with how much love I have toward China or Indonesia, only the fact that I am Indonesia citizen of Chinese descent. Just to differentiate myself from Indonesian native people.

I don't know if I have identity dilemma. I cannot choose which one I love more: Indonesia or China. I pray that both countries will get along and success. But, I want to get out from Indonesia if I can for better future.

From what I know about the situation there, I still don't understand why Chinese Indonesians continue to stay content within an oppressive environment such as Indonesia. I do know that it is the place of their birth, why do they tolerate their loss of Chinese culture and language? At this rate, they'll become assimilated as opposed to being simply integrated. I do believe that many Chinese in China, as well as foreign expatriates in China consider Overseas Chinese as not Chinese, even if they speak Chinese language, practice Chinese culture and/or if they have a strong attachment to their parents'/ancestors' region of origin. So you're not alone in this one.

Edited by bloodmerchant, 05 April 2011 - 05:31 PM.

[Peace]

From what I know about the situation there, I still don't understand why Chinese Indonesians continue to stay content within an oppressive environment such as Indonesia. I do know that it is the place of their birth, why do they tolerate their loss of Chinese culture and language? At this rate, they'll become assimilated as opposed to being simply integrated. I do believe that many Chinese in China, as well as foreign expatriates in China consider Overseas Chinese as not Chinese, even if they speak Chinese language, practice Chinese culture and/or if they have a strong attachment to their parents'/ancestors' region of origin. So you're not alone in this one.

Well, actually these days, it's not really that bad compare years ago. Or maybe because I live in a place where majority is Chinese Indonesian. And not all Indonesian native is bad people. Some of them is very nice. In the place where I live, racism is very very little. But, of course I can not represent other Chinese Indonesian.

For why we don't move. There's several reasons for that. First, language barrier. Second, how we support our lives in other countries. I mean, not all Chinese Indonesian is rich. Many of them are just middle and low class (even though most of Chinese Indonesian income is better than Indonesian native). Third, we already have our business in Indonesia. It's not easy to leave those and start a new.

[Kenshinng]

Well, actually these days, it's not really that bad compare years ago. Or maybe because I live in a place where majority is Chinese Indonesian. And not all Indonesian native is bad people. Some of them is very nice. In the place where I live, racism is very very little. But, of course I can not represent other Chinese Indonesian.

For why we don't move. There's several reasons for that. First, language barrier. Second, how we support our lives in other countries. I mean, not all Chinese Indonesian is rich. Many of them are just middle and low class (even though most of Chinese Indonesian income is better than Indonesian native). Third, we already have our business in Indonesia. It's not easy to leave those and start a new.

Hi Peace,

May I ask whether you are from Medan where there are a lot of Chinese Indonesians? I also think its difficult for some of the Chinese Indonesians to move away from Indonesia, luckily not every part of Indonesia's racism is that bad.

[Peace]

Hi Peace,

May I ask whether you are from Medan where there are a lot of Chinese Indonesians? I also think its difficult for some of the Chinese Indonesians to move away from Indonesia, luckily not every part of Indonesia's racism is that bad.

Nope, I was born and grow up in Jakarta (in small area which majority is Chinese Indonesian). But, my parents were born in Pontianak (father) and Singkawang (mother). Then, they move to Jakarta. My parents still retain their Chinese name and speak Teo Chew or Khek. For my grandparents, they came from Zhejiang Province. So you can say that I am third generation Chinese overseas.

Where do you live, Kenshing ? Do you live in Medan ?

Edited by Peace, 06 April 2011 - 09:28 AM.

[KLdome]

I prefer Chinese-American, with the hyphen, for various reasons already mentioned and I don't wish to belabor those points.

Also, I don't have any problem with Asian-American as opposed to Oriental. Some people of Asian descent live among a larger group of other Asians and may be culturally heterogeneous -- lone Koreans or Chinese growing up in a Japanese community, and vice-versa, or the situation in Hawaii.

However, I cringe when hearing "ABC" or "American-born Chinese" because it is obviously a non-American phrase coined by people from recently British areas. It makes the speaker sound foreign born and not yet attuned to American speech. The unkind slur would be: "sounds like an FOB (fresh off the boat)." It also excludes immigrants who are citizens by choice but not born there.