Use of the word 'Jap' - is it offensive?

[ganmo]

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Geez ganmo-chan, that must have been so tough for you... aren't you from Hawaii? Being American-born and Japanese by race... you have a foot in both camps, so to speak.

Yes, I'm from Hawaii and yes, sometimes it's difficult to have a foot in each camp, figuratively speaking. I know I had relatives in Japan who also fought during the war...maybe they were involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor...or worse...who knows? It feels like that quote from a TV program a long time ago...about the woman who wrote an autobiography of her life in Manzanar. When the man was asked who would he side for, Japan or America...he said, "When your parents are arguing...whose side would you take?"

My grandmother and mother in Hawaii almost lost their lives when Pearl Harbor was attacked. If you think about it, my relatives from Japan may have almost been inadvertantly responsible for what could have been my grandmother's and mother's deaths...funny thought...I wouldn't be here now if that was the case.

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When that person said that, you should have replied "Well, do you feel bad about Hiroshima?" Although I doubt you ever would.

Stupid ignorant people...not worth my time or effort to reply. Just a nasty look was all I could give. You're right...I wouldn't have been able to think up an equally insensitive come-back remark at the moment because it was totally unexpected.

[Anime Dad]

There will always be stupid and insensitive people in the world unfortunately. Some of them even become president of the USA

[ganmo]

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There will always be stupid and insensitive people in the world unfortunately. Some of them even become president of the USA

Oh...that monkey who sits in the Oval Office... don't get me started on him. He said the Trade Centre attacks were likened to the attack on Pearl Harbor. And just because he said that, stupid idiots were going around attacking Asians as well as anyone who looked Middle Eastern.

I never mentioned that I lived in Colorado for about 2 years...before moving to Scotland...mostly because it's full of bad memories. When I lived there, on September 12, I got assaulted on the bus by a drunk. He glared at me, balled his fist up, whacked me in the shoulder, glared at me once more and then continued on his way to the back. I was so stunned because I've never, ever been physically attacked just for being Asian. Verbally - yes, physically, no. I was so shocked I just sat there while everyone looked at me (but didn't bother to help me in any way). I didn't report it because I didn't know what to do...and I was getting off at the next stop anyway. I'm glad I left Colorado...would never go back there, ever.

[Anime Dad]

OK, no more Oval Office monkeys

It makes me sad to hear of your experiences. It's no wonder Asian people tend to form their own communities in non-asian cities. It's probably the only way they feel safe

[ganmo]

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OK, no more Oval Office monkeys It makes me sad to hear of your experiences. It's no wonder Asian people tend to form their own communities in non-asian cities. It's probably the only way they feel safe

Nah...it's okay...you can cuss the old, brainless git out anytime!

Yes, you're right. In unfamiliar territory, it's easier to be among your own kind...sense of familiarity, feeling safe, that sort of thing.

It's not too bad here in Scotland...the majority of the people here have been extremely nice, tolerant, polite and friendly...I've lived here for about 4.5 years and have only experienced maybe about 2 episodes of racism but it was very subtle...indirect Anti-American remarks, mostly.

[Anime Dad]

Scots are too busy killing themselves with fatty food and whiskey to worry about anything else.

Do you find anti-american comments easier to take? I mean, it's not your fault that Bush is an imbecile.

[ganmo]

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Scots are too busy killing themselves with fatty food and whiskey to worry about anything else.

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Do you find anti-american comments easier to take? I mean, it's not your fault that Bush is an imbecile.

For some reason, it doesn't bother me as much as being called a Jap.

When someone (or some people) would make an Anti-American remark, however subtle, in front of me...and I knew that it was being directed towards me, I would say, "I don't agree with that idiot's (Bush's) policies. Would I ever return to America? Absolutey not. As long as he and his cronies are running the country, I would never return to America to live...visit yes, live no".

That answer always seems to shut the people/person up because it's not what they expected to hear from me, an American. And then they would usually smile and go away or change the subject.

But being called a Jap...that's on a more personal level. It's like hitting me deep down into my soul because it's what I am. I can't help it if I was born looking the way I do...I didn't ask to be born Japanese. I didn't ask to be blamed for or to take on the guilt for the horrible things the country of my ancestors did to the world.

[krim]

Anime Dad wrote:

Scots are too busy killing themselves with fatty food and whiskey to worry about anything else. Do you find anti-american comments easier to take? I mean, it's not your fault that Bush is an imbecile.

yay for scotch!!!

[Tu_triky]

krim wrote:

yay for scotch!!!

Laphroaig's...it helps to degrease all that greazzzzy food the Scottish eat....kind of like Kaboom or Simple Green

[ganmo]

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yay for scotch!!!

@krim...I looked at your avvy and imagined her saying, "yay for scotch!!!" and then I laughed...

Thanks...a little bit of humour to take away the seriousness is always a good thing!

[ganmo]

Quote:

Laphroaig's...it helps to degrease all that greazzzzy food the Scottish eat....kind of like Kaboom or Simple Green...

Nani itteno...? Yoppara?

triky's been having one too many cups of sake...

[Tu_triky]

ganmo wrote:

Quote: Laphroaig's...it helps to degrease all that greazzzzy food the Scottish eat....kind of like Kaboom or Simple Green... Nani itteno...? Yoppara? triky's been having one too many cups of sake...

i wish....i'm bone dry....sake wo nomimasendeshita

[Anime Dad]

ganmo wrote:

Quote: yay for scotch!!! @krim...I looked at your avvy and imagined her saying, "yay for scotch!!!" and then I laughed... Thanks...a little bit of humour to take away the seriousness is always a good thing!

LOL if the Scots never do anything else..... they did invent scotch.... YAY!


I won't drag the conversation on any more and get you depressed ganmo-chan.... just keep your chin up..... just think, maybe one day you'll have a scots accent.... now, that would be a funny sight (to me anyhow)

[ganmo]

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LOL if the Scots never do anything else..... they did invent scotch.... YAY!

I'm sure a lot of Scots share your joy...

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I won't drag the conversation on any more and get you depressed ganmo-chan.... just keep your chin up..... just think, maybe one day you'll have a scots accent.... now, that would be a funny sight (to me anyhow)

Actually, it was good to vent...I've been holding all this in for so long so, don't worry...I feel so much better.

About the accent...the last time I went home to Honolulu for a visit, my aunt and mother told me I developed a strange, or as they say, "funny-kine" accent. They said I've picked up a very slight Scottish accent (but I can't hear it when I speak).

I think an Asian speaking with a full Scottish accent is quite an interesting thing to see. Watch the next Harry Potter...the Chinese girl who plays the character Cho-Chang (I think that's her name)...she was born and raised in Scotland...very interesting to watch her when she's being interviewed.

[Anime Dad]

Yeah, I remember her from the last Harry Potter movie (i'm a Harry Potter fan too!)..... it's funny seeing Asians with Scottish accents

[Wynter]

Anime Dad wrote:

Yeah, I remember her from the last Harry Potter movie (i'm a Harry Potter fan too!)..... it's funny seeing Asians with Scottish accents

YAY HARRY POTTER! My students think I'm nuts cause I wear HP clothing...

ganmo wrote:

But being called a Jap...that's on a more personal level. It's like hitting me deep down into my soul because it's what I am. I can't help it if I was born looking the way I do...I didn't ask to be born Japanese. I didn't ask to be blamed for or to take on the guilt for the horrible things the country of my ancestors did to the world.

Exactly! I feel the same way when people call me "paki".
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[Anime Dad]

Wynter wrote:

YAY HARRY POTTER! My students think I'm nuts cause I wear HP clothing...

I reckon you'd be an awesome teacher, Wyn-chan

[Wynter]

Anime Dad wrote:

I reckon you'd be an awesome teacher, Wyn-chan

LOL! Only for the HP fans. Everyone else just thinks I have a screw loose.
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[Anime Dad]

Well, you do. But in a good way

On topic....... hang in there ladies, try to ignore the bigots and embrace your uniqueness

[thtl]

Anime Dad wrote:

When that person said that, you should have replied "Well, do you feel bad about Hiroshima?" Although I doubt you ever would.

I would have thought that a response like that would be asking for a fight. Personally I'd say something like "Sins of our fathers". But then I'm Chinese and we got bashed around by practically everyone in WWII, so I wouldn't be put in the same situation.

Actually I don't feel so strongly towards that 'bigot'. Probably because I've worked in a Japanese company for a few years and the most of the Japanese I got to know, old and young, made it clear to me that they thought what the Japanese military did in WWII was inexcusable. No one liked to think that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified means to an end, but all agreed that ending the war sooner rather than later did no harm to Japan in the long run, as the situation goes.