Comments on: Racism Is Unacceptable.

By: SirKelvin

SirKelvin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:57:52 +0000

Asians born in America are as welcome as we are. I mean, we are known as the “United” States of America. Each state has it's own background and past. Like I said before, I have no tolerance for racism and any kind of hate towards and human or thing.

We all have the right to live, so live, and continue to let live.
I love everyone!

By: SirKelvin

SirKelvin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:53:39 +0000

I'm an african-american young male and I absolutely have no tolerance for racism. I mean, we should be past all of that. Don't you?

By: nemogbr

nemogbr — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:26:13 +0000

Interesting photo.

Like Efren, I’m Filipino and didn’t learn to use chopsticks till my twenties, mainly due to eating at too many Chinese restaurants.

When I go, I see many families of all races using them. From kids onwards. The oldies are the ones who get the spoon and fork.

It has been a pleasure to help some of the European ladies on how to use them.

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:47:43 +0000

Leo, American born Asians are born in America… so their home country _is_ America. Are you saying that American born Asians can’t ever be American?

Jesse, way to be off-topic.

By: Barron

Barron — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:20:45 +0000

I eat lunch at work with chopsticks that I keep in my bag. My wife and her friends do the same. I don’t know what is wrong with the fact that the woman in the picture is doing the same.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:36:42 +0000

Actually Thais do eat with chopsticks (thanks to the Chinese), but it depends on the food. Spoon and forks aren’t uncommon either.

By: BumScientist

BumScientist — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:53:32 +0000

Thai eat with their hands. So do Indians.

By: RR

RR — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:58:33 +0000

Wow Leo, quite the charisma man, ain’t ya? You really showed us A-A’s. Except that your inane and vapid post only reveals that you might have some issues yourself when it comes to people of color speaking out on racism. It sure doesn’t show any insight to the topic at hand.

By: John

John — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:11:57 +0000

@jozjozjoz – well, I guess using chopsticks “enhances” the woman’s “asian-ness,” but the guy is making fun of her slanted eyes. If there is a good size percentage of Asian Americans who bring their lunch to work and use chopsticks to eat their lunch, which I would not be surprised.

As for at work – when you are in a kitchen and there are only a few people, it’s probably easier to make fun of someone, as opposed to an open cubicle space or if everyone has an office – that would be much more difficult.

By: jozjozjoz

jozjozjoz — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:26:15 +0000

@Leo, is the rudeness really necessary? Clearly this image is not depicting anyone in Xi’an, Hainan Island or Hanoi. Glad you’re so well-traveled, but don’t you see the irony in this image?

I’ve seen this image before and I believe it’s attributed as a PSA-type thing in Australia. Regardless, this is clearly not depicting an Asian in Asia, where — you’re right — everyone WOULD be eating with chopsticks.

But the point isn’t really about the actual use of chopsticks so much as the DEPICTION of what the Asian person is doing. It’s implied that they’re in the workplace so why would she happen to be eating lunch when her co-workers are mocking her? Oh, that’s right, because sitting at her desk on her laptop or phone isn’t Asian enough! They have to make it EXTRA clear that she’s “being Asian” (read: being different/foreign/non-Aussie) by depicting her whilst eating her food with chopsticks.

Hilarious.

PS – Sorry, Moye. I don’t think she’s eating a salad with those chopsticks, although I can see why you’d think that at first glance. But wait, isn’t a bowl of rice just being stereotypical, too!?!?

But John, not to belabor the point, but it’s not about whether or not people of Asian origin eat with chopsticks — of course they do. It’s that of all the things that she could be doing, especially given the context of this being a workplace harassment ad, why must she be shown eating (with chopsticks)? Think about it.

Phil, I’ve been wanting to start a series of polls called “Racist or Funny?”