I am like you, rarely talk about politics. Politics is murky. Politics is dirty. Politics is to distort truth so it suits the politician’s agenda.
I am like you, I don’t mix people with government or country with culture. No government is blameless, no “ism” is “for the people”, and no labeling of “left” or “white” justifies hatred.
And I am like you, straddled between two worlds, fighting to form our own opinions, finding our own voices, and defining our own identities.
Nice to meet a fellow traveller. The pressures an immigrant faces in a country like US must be immense, especially since identity politics is such a big thing there. (It's big in Malaysia too, but honestly not as mad).
Liz, I like the passion with which you wrote this article. In publishing this, you’re honoring and being true to yourself. I’m glad that my writing has in some way inspired your courage to express your honest opinions here.
The issue of China and her people is extremely complex, and there are so many angles to approach it. Plus, the Chinese diaspora is huge, and the experiences of each group of Chinese diaspora, like yours, are unique.
Since I grew up in Hong Kong to parents who fled Communist China, and later on worked as a journalist both in Hong Kong and mainland China, my perspectives are influenced by such experiences. Regardless, I think it’s unfair for Westerners to conflate all Chinese people with the Chinese government. It certainly doesn’t help when we’re all lumped together and dehumanized by those who take advantage of anti-China sentiments to advance their personal and political gains. The colonial “white man’s burden” dynamic is very much alive today,
I resonte with you that the U.S. government should focus on solving its own domestic problems and spending money on its citizens’ welfare rather than on its military.
I hope you keep writing and sharing your unique experiences and truth as a Malaysian Chinese. The Chinese and Chinese diaspora culture is so rich, and by highlighting what we know, we’re also inviting a healthy conversation around topics that are little known in the West.
I hate being too preachy tho, like who am I to lecture Westerners 😂
But, interestingly, I was taught to sort of distance myself from my Chinese roots. I was told to be more Western, that I shouldn't send my kids to Chinese schools because they will turn out different, that Chinese Ed kids are "one kind". And hinestly, I don't blame the Chinese Ed folks for looking down on English educated Chinese because we seemed so determined, sometimes, to stamp out our roots. I believe this is part of the whole colonial past that we have. It is so complicated especially since I descended from a mixed race branch of the Chinese diaspora. I am trying to be more balanced and in the centre but am finding it hard 😂. I could write several posts about this!
When there are two powers vying for control each have their supporters and detractors. usually at some point one will decide to the more people than the other, but it is only a matter of degree. both the government of China and the USA have real difficulties in their approach but often need to leave his native country to all seem just how far this goes.
China is the more people country but that does not that these USA isn't evil, merely less evil than. its competitor. Which means that one can demonstrate the evils of the US and its allies.
On a personal scale, the irritants of the place in the middle, however defined, are personal and problematic. Reading your essay reminds me of a number of details that flicker through the life of someone who is not quite one thing but also not quite other. the divisions are stark when used down to the individual level on an almost constant basis. One cannot, literally, greet someone without being remind that it is a hostile world once hit you skin.
but this is why you must be logical ways which the differences present selves. I will take merely one example: the United States has the most dominant military on the planet. however a better measure is the PPP differences rather than GDP. One sees that while the US is dominant, even to the extreme, it is not as dominant as looks because of differences of other prices. But what it lacks in volume, United States makes up for in fear. And I mean this both internally and externally. United States terrorizes a number of countries around the world but it is actually very on to use the force that it gathers: the real objective of defense statistics is to make possible for those vast in the sector to fast towards rather than defending the nation.
What this means is that it is less evil and more evil than it looks. There has to be a dominant military power on the planet. The US has stepped up to that role and has therefore done awful things for its own interests. other nations have joined on to the US hegemonic role and participated these projects for their own benefit. China has taken on the role of the subordinate power attracts dissatisfaction with premier power, and it to does unspeakable things.
When you wake up this morning, realize that there are millions of people like yourself are caught in
between Scylla and Charybdis. they can see how the statistical variation often leads directly down to myriad examples their own lives. I've won and glad that you have spoken out and wish you best and partaking in strategies to ameliorate the worst outcomes.
I'm glad you wrote it and published it. There's so much finger pointing going on in the west, and people tend to forget when you point a finger there's always three pointing back. It blows my mind when people have such strong opinions on something they know nothing about.
Me too! The thing is, I know most Americans are in the middle and feel like you. But they feel tired of all the "war" around them and prefer not to say anything, so I appreciate you leaving a comment here :)
It's true. Most people don't realise the war is actually inside of themselves. I'm Canadian, but I feel like it's the same problem, many people I know never actually step outside of their hometown to see how others live and just blindly follow what's fed via the news—there's so much fear. Living in Asia for the past 8 years showed me that nothing is as it seems! Super grateful to see things with my own eyes, and for people like you who share from your experience.
I'm a proud member of the French diaspora of Canada, and feel my principal loyalties are to France & Quebec, so I can sympathise with love for one's home culture.
I despise the French government, but love France, and also think that China is none of my business. I wish to go teach ESL in Japan, but disapprove of war with China. If China is to survive or collapse is none of my business, and the destiny of China should be up to the people of that country.
Anti-Chinese sentiment is something I feel very depressed about, as my own affection for China's culture, traditions and history, and love for Japan & Korea leaves me frustrated by those who are pro-interventionism in Asia even though it has always ended it badly before. What's more is that it'll obliterate all of the countries involved.
I'm not fond of communism, but am sceptical of intervention as it could never work out. But anyways, good on you pour avoir stood up for yourself Mme Tai, if I may ask real quickly in the spirit of pro-Chinese culture have you read either Romance of the Three Kingdoms & Journey to the West?
Alas, being a Chinese illiterate I have not read the original texts, but I do remember the stories by hard, especially Journey to the West - my family watched the 1986 drama as a family.
About communism, I think me being so distanced from all the anti-communism propaganda, I never emotionally resonated with the fury about them, but I did learn it in my history books. (We had a communist insurgency in Malaysia.) These days I have a more neutral view of the CCP. Thing is, we Asians are more used to autocratic rule so a part of me admire's the CCP's efficiency. These days I'm wary of Xi making changes to the structure of CCP, rendering it even more autocratic, but reading both sides' stories about it, I can almost understand why. (Though I don't think it's the right road to travel, but that will take to long to explain!)
I guess my dislike has to do with the 100 million being slaughtered in its name, in the past century or so and Canada trying to push hard in favour of socialism/communism is why I've grown to detest it and am of the view that it is the sloppiest form of government imaginable. In my view democracy disappeared decades ago in the West.
That said, I believe a nationalistic system is best, but I in no way wish to dictate others' governments and have no interest in debating them. They all seem unpleasant and wretched things, such being the nature of politics.
As to the books I meant to ask also if you had read any translations. But oh okay, 1986? Didn't know about the drama interesting.
Elizabeth, this piece made me think a lot. It might be terrible for me to admit but I stopped reading or watching mass media awhile ago. I used to read news for work and it really got to me. I do think politics is just awful and it’s a large reason I stopped reading the news, so in a sense I don’t think I actually had this idea of china because I wasn’t reading the sentiment.
I agree! Our country has so so so much to do with helping its own people and problems. The finger pointing at foreign nations is just petty. I don’t mix people with their government like you do. I’m really glad I’m connected with you here so I can learn another outside of the US/western perspective!
By the way, I need to find the Chinese version of mulan!
Hey, I was a journalist, and a world news editor and I NO LONGER READ THE NEWS. Especially anything pertaining to Malaysia's ;D
I don't think it's good for my mental health.
About this China sentiment - eventhough I no longer read the news, the anti-China, sinophobic sentiments leak into even the most mundane things. For eg, I mod a forum for Chinese dramas, and I have to wade through ignorant, sinophobic comments and posts all the time. It's extremely upsetting that I can't even get respite from that in my "fun spaces". The amount of "educating" us Chinese diaspora folks must do to these folks is ... exhausting. I mean, just the other day, I had to stop myself from blowing my top when a poster asked for opinion of a drama from international folks because Chinese (from China) people don't know what makes a good adaptation. To me, the most egregious Sinophobic comments are these - the ones that paint her people as stupid, sheep-like and with no agency.
I appreciated this piece so much for your honesty and also the passion I felt in it. I’m a white, cis, female who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I know nothing about china. What I do know is that the people of a country don’t make up what we hear about that country in the news, especially US news. It’s all propaganda, really, as you pointed out. I like what you said here, “Instead of pointing fingers at other countries and calling out their “evils” and shortcomings, perhaps countries like the United States and Britain or whatever can train their resources and will to better themselves and fix their own problems.” Totally agree. Thanks for writing this!
And thank you for being open to my message :) It's a bit nerve-wracking to share something so frank, as I'm not the kind of person to rail on the Internet. However, I just want us all to be fair with China. If our governments are not perfect or free of corruption or bad deeds, why do we expect China to be unblemished? And I think it is far productive for the whole world if we try to solve our problems rather than blame other people for them. :)
You are so welcome. I totally get the nerve-wracking feeling of sharing something that could result in backlash. It's scary to do that. How do you feel having done it?
I'm feeling much better about my whole newsletter now, to be honest. Embracing what my heart truly wants to do. I guess I've been self-censoring all this while and it's rather freeing not to!
Oh that's so inspiring. I often self-censor because I don't want to offend, right? and this, "Embracing what my heart truly wants to do." So important and beautiful!
It took me way too long to realise this about my Substack! And interestingly, it's the Substack ecosystem of writers that helped me realise this when they commented on one of my older posts, giving me their sage 2 cents. And I went, but of course, why didn't I realise this?
Great piece - you might like "Radio Free Amanda" over here stateside.
Brava Elizabeth, for “calling a spade a spade”!
I am like you, rarely talk about politics. Politics is murky. Politics is dirty. Politics is to distort truth so it suits the politician’s agenda.
I am like you, I don’t mix people with government or country with culture. No government is blameless, no “ism” is “for the people”, and no labeling of “left” or “white” justifies hatred.
And I am like you, straddled between two worlds, fighting to form our own opinions, finding our own voices, and defining our own identities.
I am with you!
Nice to meet a fellow traveller. The pressures an immigrant faces in a country like US must be immense, especially since identity politics is such a big thing there. (It's big in Malaysia too, but honestly not as mad).
Liz, I like the passion with which you wrote this article. In publishing this, you’re honoring and being true to yourself. I’m glad that my writing has in some way inspired your courage to express your honest opinions here.
The issue of China and her people is extremely complex, and there are so many angles to approach it. Plus, the Chinese diaspora is huge, and the experiences of each group of Chinese diaspora, like yours, are unique.
Since I grew up in Hong Kong to parents who fled Communist China, and later on worked as a journalist both in Hong Kong and mainland China, my perspectives are influenced by such experiences. Regardless, I think it’s unfair for Westerners to conflate all Chinese people with the Chinese government. It certainly doesn’t help when we’re all lumped together and dehumanized by those who take advantage of anti-China sentiments to advance their personal and political gains. The colonial “white man’s burden” dynamic is very much alive today,
I resonte with you that the U.S. government should focus on solving its own domestic problems and spending money on its citizens’ welfare rather than on its military.
I hope you keep writing and sharing your unique experiences and truth as a Malaysian Chinese. The Chinese and Chinese diaspora culture is so rich, and by highlighting what we know, we’re also inviting a healthy conversation around topics that are little known in the West.
I hate being too preachy tho, like who am I to lecture Westerners 😂
But, interestingly, I was taught to sort of distance myself from my Chinese roots. I was told to be more Western, that I shouldn't send my kids to Chinese schools because they will turn out different, that Chinese Ed kids are "one kind". And hinestly, I don't blame the Chinese Ed folks for looking down on English educated Chinese because we seemed so determined, sometimes, to stamp out our roots. I believe this is part of the whole colonial past that we have. It is so complicated especially since I descended from a mixed race branch of the Chinese diaspora. I am trying to be more balanced and in the centre but am finding it hard 😂. I could write several posts about this!
This sounds like a complex issue and the dynamic seems unique in your country. I'd love to read more about this!
Yea I will be writing more about this. It is so complex it wil take a few issues 🤣
Looking forward!
百花齐放.
When there are two powers vying for control each have their supporters and detractors. usually at some point one will decide to the more people than the other, but it is only a matter of degree. both the government of China and the USA have real difficulties in their approach but often need to leave his native country to all seem just how far this goes.
China is the more people country but that does not that these USA isn't evil, merely less evil than. its competitor. Which means that one can demonstrate the evils of the US and its allies.
On a personal scale, the irritants of the place in the middle, however defined, are personal and problematic. Reading your essay reminds me of a number of details that flicker through the life of someone who is not quite one thing but also not quite other. the divisions are stark when used down to the individual level on an almost constant basis. One cannot, literally, greet someone without being remind that it is a hostile world once hit you skin.
but this is why you must be logical ways which the differences present selves. I will take merely one example: the United States has the most dominant military on the planet. however a better measure is the PPP differences rather than GDP. One sees that while the US is dominant, even to the extreme, it is not as dominant as looks because of differences of other prices. But what it lacks in volume, United States makes up for in fear. And I mean this both internally and externally. United States terrorizes a number of countries around the world but it is actually very on to use the force that it gathers: the real objective of defense statistics is to make possible for those vast in the sector to fast towards rather than defending the nation.
What this means is that it is less evil and more evil than it looks. There has to be a dominant military power on the planet. The US has stepped up to that role and has therefore done awful things for its own interests. other nations have joined on to the US hegemonic role and participated these projects for their own benefit. China has taken on the role of the subordinate power attracts dissatisfaction with premier power, and it to does unspeakable things.
When you wake up this morning, realize that there are millions of people like yourself are caught in
between Scylla and Charybdis. they can see how the statistical variation often leads directly down to myriad examples their own lives. I've won and glad that you have spoken out and wish you best and partaking in strategies to ameliorate the worst outcomes.
I'm glad you wrote it and published it. There's so much finger pointing going on in the west, and people tend to forget when you point a finger there's always three pointing back. It blows my mind when people have such strong opinions on something they know nothing about.
Me too! The thing is, I know most Americans are in the middle and feel like you. But they feel tired of all the "war" around them and prefer not to say anything, so I appreciate you leaving a comment here :)
It's true. Most people don't realise the war is actually inside of themselves. I'm Canadian, but I feel like it's the same problem, many people I know never actually step outside of their hometown to see how others live and just blindly follow what's fed via the news—there's so much fear. Living in Asia for the past 8 years showed me that nothing is as it seems! Super grateful to see things with my own eyes, and for people like you who share from your experience.
I'm a proud member of the French diaspora of Canada, and feel my principal loyalties are to France & Quebec, so I can sympathise with love for one's home culture.
I despise the French government, but love France, and also think that China is none of my business. I wish to go teach ESL in Japan, but disapprove of war with China. If China is to survive or collapse is none of my business, and the destiny of China should be up to the people of that country.
Anti-Chinese sentiment is something I feel very depressed about, as my own affection for China's culture, traditions and history, and love for Japan & Korea leaves me frustrated by those who are pro-interventionism in Asia even though it has always ended it badly before. What's more is that it'll obliterate all of the countries involved.
I'm not fond of communism, but am sceptical of intervention as it could never work out. But anyways, good on you pour avoir stood up for yourself Mme Tai, if I may ask real quickly in the spirit of pro-Chinese culture have you read either Romance of the Three Kingdoms & Journey to the West?
Alas, being a Chinese illiterate I have not read the original texts, but I do remember the stories by hard, especially Journey to the West - my family watched the 1986 drama as a family.
About communism, I think me being so distanced from all the anti-communism propaganda, I never emotionally resonated with the fury about them, but I did learn it in my history books. (We had a communist insurgency in Malaysia.) These days I have a more neutral view of the CCP. Thing is, we Asians are more used to autocratic rule so a part of me admire's the CCP's efficiency. These days I'm wary of Xi making changes to the structure of CCP, rendering it even more autocratic, but reading both sides' stories about it, I can almost understand why. (Though I don't think it's the right road to travel, but that will take to long to explain!)
I guess my dislike has to do with the 100 million being slaughtered in its name, in the past century or so and Canada trying to push hard in favour of socialism/communism is why I've grown to detest it and am of the view that it is the sloppiest form of government imaginable. In my view democracy disappeared decades ago in the West.
That said, I believe a nationalistic system is best, but I in no way wish to dictate others' governments and have no interest in debating them. They all seem unpleasant and wretched things, such being the nature of politics.
As to the books I meant to ask also if you had read any translations. But oh okay, 1986? Didn't know about the drama interesting.
Elizabeth, this piece made me think a lot. It might be terrible for me to admit but I stopped reading or watching mass media awhile ago. I used to read news for work and it really got to me. I do think politics is just awful and it’s a large reason I stopped reading the news, so in a sense I don’t think I actually had this idea of china because I wasn’t reading the sentiment.
I agree! Our country has so so so much to do with helping its own people and problems. The finger pointing at foreign nations is just petty. I don’t mix people with their government like you do. I’m really glad I’m connected with you here so I can learn another outside of the US/western perspective!
By the way, I need to find the Chinese version of mulan!
Hey, I was a journalist, and a world news editor and I NO LONGER READ THE NEWS. Especially anything pertaining to Malaysia's ;D
I don't think it's good for my mental health.
About this China sentiment - eventhough I no longer read the news, the anti-China, sinophobic sentiments leak into even the most mundane things. For eg, I mod a forum for Chinese dramas, and I have to wade through ignorant, sinophobic comments and posts all the time. It's extremely upsetting that I can't even get respite from that in my "fun spaces". The amount of "educating" us Chinese diaspora folks must do to these folks is ... exhausting. I mean, just the other day, I had to stop myself from blowing my top when a poster asked for opinion of a drama from international folks because Chinese (from China) people don't know what makes a good adaptation. To me, the most egregious Sinophobic comments are these - the ones that paint her people as stupid, sheep-like and with no agency.
I appreciated this piece so much for your honesty and also the passion I felt in it. I’m a white, cis, female who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I know nothing about china. What I do know is that the people of a country don’t make up what we hear about that country in the news, especially US news. It’s all propaganda, really, as you pointed out. I like what you said here, “Instead of pointing fingers at other countries and calling out their “evils” and shortcomings, perhaps countries like the United States and Britain or whatever can train their resources and will to better themselves and fix their own problems.” Totally agree. Thanks for writing this!
And thank you for being open to my message :) It's a bit nerve-wracking to share something so frank, as I'm not the kind of person to rail on the Internet. However, I just want us all to be fair with China. If our governments are not perfect or free of corruption or bad deeds, why do we expect China to be unblemished? And I think it is far productive for the whole world if we try to solve our problems rather than blame other people for them. :)
You are so welcome. I totally get the nerve-wracking feeling of sharing something that could result in backlash. It's scary to do that. How do you feel having done it?
I'm feeling much better about my whole newsletter now, to be honest. Embracing what my heart truly wants to do. I guess I've been self-censoring all this while and it's rather freeing not to!
Oh that's so inspiring. I often self-censor because I don't want to offend, right? and this, "Embracing what my heart truly wants to do." So important and beautiful!
It took me way too long to realise this about my Substack! And interestingly, it's the Substack ecosystem of writers that helped me realise this when they commented on one of my older posts, giving me their sage 2 cents. And I went, but of course, why didn't I realise this?
That's why I love Substack :)