Crossed over the border early this morning. Had lunch near the ruins that I planned on exploring today and tomorrow. Spent about 30 minutes to update myself on the what's-going-on in civilization as well as a quick chat with a friend, the wonders of technology. It was sunny and the headache from yesterday came back. I closed my eyes but the conversation kept playing in my mind.
Julian said:
I find the wording and overall message in the song very meaningful. Nationalistic.
Friend said:
Yeah, I heard it before. Both the Mandarin and Cantonese version are nice.
Julian said:
Both are. I love China.
Friend said:
You hated China before?
Julian said:
No, I never hated any country but I'll elaborate when we meet next week.
Friend said:
Ok. Enjoy yourself.
Julian said:
The food here is fantastic. Corn tortilla and some forgotten beverage. Got to go off now.
Friend said:
Take care. Bye.
I never hate China but I find some policies and practice both archaic and quite barbaric. My criticism and dislike notwithstanding, the Chinese have some of the greatest and richest of literature, poems, idioms, and ancient inventions. But as Chinese as I am, I don't speak Mandarin. Not that I yearn to go back to China despite not-so-friendly situation here in Malaysia. This place is like no others. From what I read, I wouldn't want to live in Australia, NZ, Canada, Japan or even Singapore.
Back to the "Chinese" topic, consider the following:
He summed up most of what I feel, except for the porn part. It isn't exactly hate as in loathe or contempt but rather frustration for my own kind. I understand the "banana" term very well. Yellow on the outside but white on the inside. If some people that forms the majority in Malaysia are guilty of sowing racial discord, then my people isn't helping to reverse it.
Take for instance, in varsity, some consciously gather and polarize another group. Sometimes I rather work with people from another race since my own looked at me with an icy gaze for not speaking Mandarin! They're so afraid to lose and end up trying to "modify" some results. Tell me, who'd stand such behaviour? I find the Malays and Indians are easier to work with because we understand each other and we don't have the must-win-at-all-cost attitude. Then, some think that if they don't learn in their language, they'd lose their identity. Five thousand years of civilization isn't going to crumble because you don't use the language.
Bear in mind that these apply to SOME but not all. It's SOME Chinese, Indians, Malays but NOT ALL. I respect the conservative views too but it isn't going to help if people don't accept that it's no longer the 50's where everything we do will aid China. We ought to contribute to nation building even if it meant learning in English or the national language, Malay. It'll not help if we champion communal issues.
But then, I concur that racists ought to be shot *evil grin*
...If you like Pina Coladas
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you'd like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the Cape...
I've heard that many times, funny ending to the whole affair. Wait, that's it! It's pina colada. Now I remember the forgotten beverage. And yes, there are more Spanish-speaking people here and everything is so Spanish. Anyway, I'd try to get my mind off things and concentrate on exploring the ruins and the valley before a 90-mile journey to the capital.
Julian said:
I find the wording and overall message in the song very meaningful. Nationalistic.
Friend said:
Yeah, I heard it before. Both the Mandarin and Cantonese version are nice.
Julian said:
Both are. I love China.
Friend said:
You hated China before?
Julian said:
No, I never hated any country but I'll elaborate when we meet next week.
Friend said:
Ok. Enjoy yourself.
Julian said:
The food here is fantastic. Corn tortilla and some forgotten beverage. Got to go off now.
Friend said:
Take care. Bye.
I never hate China but I find some policies and practice both archaic and quite barbaric. My criticism and dislike notwithstanding, the Chinese have some of the greatest and richest of literature, poems, idioms, and ancient inventions. But as Chinese as I am, I don't speak Mandarin. Not that I yearn to go back to China despite not-so-friendly situation here in Malaysia. This place is like no others. From what I read, I wouldn't want to live in Australia, NZ, Canada, Japan or even Singapore.
Back to the "Chinese" topic, consider the following:
Somebody called me a racist because I once said I hated Chinese people. Now this matter can sort of be related to coffee. You have expressos, mochas, cappucinos, kopi-0 kaos and such. Sure the cappucino has a more pungent aroma and the kopi-o kao is well, thick but that's the thing you see. You know you can't live without coffee. You just have to show your preference of which one you like better. Same goes to the Chinese. I hate Chinese people who stare at you when they find out you can't speak in Chinese. It's like as if they've seen a ghost. I hate Chinese people who speaks Chinese among themselves, knowing full well I have no clue what they're saying. And I hate Chinese who laugh at you for being a so called "banana", whatever that means. But then I love Chinese who can cook good food. I love Chinese who can speak English and who are outgoing and love to hang out. I love Chinese who do not discriminate you for who you are. Heck, I love those Chinese in the porno videos. So there you go. You can't say I'm a racist because I hate SOME of them. It's like saying I hate coffee because I don't drink white coffee. Sure I hate the Chinese but probably only about a third of the population anyway. Is that so big a deal?-John T., a Chinese
He summed up most of what I feel, except for the porn part. It isn't exactly hate as in loathe or contempt but rather frustration for my own kind. I understand the "banana" term very well. Yellow on the outside but white on the inside. If some people that forms the majority in Malaysia are guilty of sowing racial discord, then my people isn't helping to reverse it.
Take for instance, in varsity, some consciously gather and polarize another group. Sometimes I rather work with people from another race since my own looked at me with an icy gaze for not speaking Mandarin! They're so afraid to lose and end up trying to "modify" some results. Tell me, who'd stand such behaviour? I find the Malays and Indians are easier to work with because we understand each other and we don't have the must-win-at-all-cost attitude. Then, some think that if they don't learn in their language, they'd lose their identity. Five thousand years of civilization isn't going to crumble because you don't use the language.
Bear in mind that these apply to SOME but not all. It's SOME Chinese, Indians, Malays but NOT ALL. I respect the conservative views too but it isn't going to help if people don't accept that it's no longer the 50's where everything we do will aid China. We ought to contribute to nation building even if it meant learning in English or the national language, Malay. It'll not help if we champion communal issues.
But then, I concur that racists ought to be shot *evil grin*
...If you like Pina Coladas
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you'd like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the Cape...
I've heard that many times, funny ending to the whole affair. Wait, that's it! It's pina colada. Now I remember the forgotten beverage. And yes, there are more Spanish-speaking people here and everything is so Spanish. Anyway, I'd try to get my mind off things and concentrate on exploring the ruins and the valley before a 90-mile journey to the capital.
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