Thread: Prejudice and Interracial Marriage

"go home spic"

Is Tu Mexican (or Latin American)? I've never heard of an Indonesian (or Asian in general) being called a 'spic'. Sounds like he's been harassed by some real dumb schmoes..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spic

I actually used to enjoy being teased at school when the teaser was expressing his ignorance. My father is Iranian (35yrs+ an Australian) - (my mom's 'bule' Aussie), but I was born in, and grew up in a small WA town. There was a kid who used to call me Saddam and "Scud" (as in Scud missile) - this was in the early 90's. I guess he didn't know that Iran and Iraq were at war for almost the entirety of the previous decade. Perhaps he knew, but didn't care - my name was foreign. In any case, strangely enough I used to enjoy hearing him go on and on - and I was only in grade 8..

The world is abound with idiots..

Ct

Hmm...you're half Iranian. I have a few Iranian friends I met when I was living in Seoul, S. Korea. They were all engineers and one of them is the wife who's also an engineer, busy with her work, and being a mother to a little daughter and an excellent host and cook whenever she entertains. Invited me for tea too to taste all the snacks/titbits from Iran. They're quite delicious. In fact hubby now is in Iran and always brings me the different kinds of nuts. Are you still close to your Iranian side of the family?

:)

Very close and we grew up on Iranian food - until now, I always get people to bring sabzi to Indonesia for me from Vancouver (where there are many Iranians) - they always get interrogated by customs of course as it looks like marijuana. My wife cooks better Iranian food than I and our former Indonesian live-in maid / nanny could cook Iranian food better than anyone in my family.. My wife had taught her the basics and armed her with a classic Iranian cookbook - which this girl studied, and mastered.

Unfortunately the language was not passed down to myself or my brother. My mother lived in Tehran for 7 years after meeting my father in England and living with him there for many years. But at the time my mother was in Iran, it was a very different place and she didn't need to know Farsi - she worked for several different consulates (US included) - but just as a receptionist, oh and as an English teacher for the Iranian Airforce. Anyhow, it's beyond me how she was able to live there that long and not absorb the language - but she didn't. Also apparently speaking Farsi wasn't a requirement for teaching English to Iranians??? Anyhow, so my father's poor excuse for not teaching my brother and I Farsi is that it was too hard, given my mother didn't / doesn't speak it.

ct

Personally, I particularly like what Doctor Bruce wrote when relaying his story:

“The world is getting more complex than I sometimes like to admit – even here on our little island of Bali, some of the ugliness that the Western tourists bring with them intrudes on paradise.”

That totally sums it up for me, as in my experience I have had no exposure to racist or prejudice directly or overtly expressed by any Balinese. While what they maybe thinking could be something else entirely, they are far less inclined to make their thoughts or feelings known. I have experience curiosity plenty of times, and a polite inquiry directed at Eri generally clears the air of any uncertainty.

Anyone who has become involved in learning the Balinese ways, particularly Hindu/Dharma is very much aware that the Balinese are far less inclined to be judgmental, or to take some high moral position over another human being. In that regard, Westerners have far more to learn from the Balinese, than the other way around.

This is my opinion and my opinion only. From my travels in mostly Bali and more recently to other parts of Indonenisa I find that Indonesians in general do not judge people. My experience is that it does not matter if you old, young, fat, skinny, plain looking or drop dead beautiful. They treat everyone the same.

I find most of the judging is done by tourists who have no facts as to the situation and assume the worst and then sometimes voice it. Everybody has a right to live their life as they see fit, (I do exlcude old men with young girls or young boys) as long as they are not hurting another human being.

Love is found in various forms not just in same race, same age and same attitude relationships. People can say what they want to me, I just think they are jealous however my partner does get upset. Personally I don't because it is none of their business, they do not know the cirumstances of our meeting or our history.

if somewhat nosy about relationships

Isn't THAT the truth??!! Excellent point...and something I've grown too accustomed as part of daily life here.

IMHO Thorsten, you give far too much credit to both American servicemen during the Vietnamese war, as well as German tourists of the 70’s as accounting for the present state of prostitution in Thailand, or anywhere else in Asia for that matter.

Prostitution in Asia is as old as the oldest Asian culture, which is equally true when addressing Western culture. In Asia, once Marco Polo forged a trade route, Western customers were very much welcome. Plenty of Asian prostitutes made their way back to Europe well before the Vietnam war was even thought of, let alone the presence of the French there. Speaking of the “migration” of prostitutes, Macau now has double the number of Russian prostitutes over Asian. The reason is simple...well healed Asian gamblers prefer Western, (blonde, blue eyed, and white), prostitutes and Macau caters to Asian gamblers.

The “nailing the dishwasher” comment by Markit has nothing to do with prostitution, or any ignorance of what prostitution is. Rather, IMHO, it has everything to do with prejudice and racism that can only prosper and grow within a sick or underdeveloped intellect. Combine that with a poor upbringing, you have all the ingredients necessary for continuing this illness.

As already noted by several other posters on several occasions, if Markit wanted to have a discussion on this topic, he could have had it without a whole lot of effort. Once his declarations and warped opinions were made clear...it was obviously time for him to depart, or be thrown out.

“Here, where I live, we will have to face prejudices, people will be talking and joking behind our backs, no doubt, but I’m also confident that Kadek will be able to cope with this and handle this and I also know this will change very soon and if not, then I will knock on the shit and probably move to Bali.”

You are referring to Kadek’s upcoming trip to Germany? What you anticipate is very unfortunate, but two things come to my mind. One is that you are a gentleman, and a great defender of a lady’s honor, the other is that Kadek most certainly, doesn’t need this...which is exactly the same as with Eri and I.

Once again, I wish you both a GREAT time in Germany...full of uncountable happy memories. Cheers.