The Monster That Is History

[arisblue]

Headnote: As my dear raietta has so kindly pointed out to me that, yes I've been neglectful as regards my LJ entries and this is unacceptable. Also with reference to a comment made by dear budgie, who said that I only came up in LJ when I was drunk, I hope this entry will prove that I do sometimes keep my head clear from alcoholic influence... :)

Comments

[arisblue]

So I guess I am the type of person someone like Wang may have grieved over - foreign influence so strong that I'm only Chinese in appearance.

oh please be assured that Wang didn't kill himself because of that - at the material time he's yet to see the ABCs (American-born-Chinese) and BBCs (British-born-Chinese). :) seriously, and just in my humble opinion, i think if you don't speak Chinese and don't know the Chinese language, there's no reason why you should identify yourself with Chinese. by apperance you can be recognised as Asian! nationality or ethnicity is more about political reasons and cultural identiy than DNAs.

but yes, death of cultural tradition is a worry. at least to me it is... ahhhh, i can't believe i said that!! who am i really, to worry about the end of my people's tradition and cultural which is very much a hearsay!!?

no i don't think change is a bad thing. to survive, in accordance with Darwinism, country as well as cultural all need to adopt as quickly as possible. still, i remember a poetry saying that: the flower in the next year will be even better, i just don't know with whom i shall share the view...

[lyrebird]

Ethnicity and nationality - there was something in the paper about it the other day! Nationality is linked to citizenship...but there is uncertainty about ethnicity. An ex-politician who encouraged the Australian idea of multiculturalism was appalled that people were calling their ethnicity Australian instead of Italian or Greek or Chinese. He had wanted people who migrated to Australia to practise and preserve their cultural traditions here in Australia too - which I think is great!

I think the death of cultural tradition is a problem...but I suspect I'm more part of the problem than the solution. Research here has shown that it's the second generation onwards who end up identifying with their country of birth...it's kinda inevitable that past traditions will be forgotten. I do regret not being able to speak or write Chinese - I tried to learn Mandarin ages ago and it was so hard! The characters, the pronounciation...it's so different to English. I really admire those who can speak more than one language.