Tuesday, January 26, 2010

There Are Differences, But...

Hi, Family.
Today I would like to touch on a rather sensitive subject. There are so many people out there in the world who can not seem to tell the difference in one Asian nationality from another. These people either assume that all Asians are Chinese or Japanese, or they simply say "Asian" as though it were a dirty word which covered all Eastern peoples and cultures. These small-minded, thoughtless individuals get me so irritated, I can barely stand it. The assumption, on their parts, seems to be "If it's not white, it's not worth the trouble". I would love to grab these people, one at a time, and shake some sense into them, but there's an old saying: "You can't teach them and you can't kill them", which is, sadly, very true. (Not that I, personally, want to kill them; just teach them.)

Some years ago, I was taking some college computer classes with a very nice, lovely Korean/American girl and her sister. This young lady was involved in the college's work-study program as an office assistant. One day a guy student came to the office, where my friend  and I were talking. He asked her about some class he was taking, but she didn't have the information he wanted. He smirked and said: I thought Chinese people were supposed to be smart." My friend stood looking at him for a moment, with hurt and then anger in her eyes. Then she said, very quietly; "I'm not Chinese; I'm Korean." the guy laughed and asked her what was the difference. I had been standing there, listening, with my fists clenched. Before (____) could answer him, I said, "Excuse me, but it makes a great deal of difference to a Korean, being called Chinese or Japanese, or some other Asian nationality. Not that these people have anything against each other, it just isn't fair to label one as being any of the others. They are all different, and unique people in their own way." The guy stared at me, but my friend gave me such a look of gratitude, that I was glad I had spoken up on her behalf. I then proceeded to tell  the guy that it was not fair to assume that all Asian people were Chinese, or Japanese; the way so many people did, instead of realizing there were many Asian cultures. I told him he wouldn't like it if someone assumed he was a Canadian, or some other Caucasian nationality. I also said that I knew (____) was Korean, even though she had never told me that. The guy looked surprised and promptly apologized to my friend.

The sad thing is, this kind of behavior is common all over the Western part of the world; especially here in the United States. I am ashamed of this fact, since I was always taught to be open-minded toward other people, regardless of who they were, or their country of origin. I am glad for this kind of upbringing.  But these thoughtless types are, unfortunately, still my people.

My point is this: why can't people, especially my race, be more sensitive to the feelings of others to the extent of learning something about peoples of other countries, instead of just callously lumping them into a single category? Thank goodness for those individuals, like our American Baesisters, who can do so much more than just distinguish the differences in Asian cultures; we can also see the similarities between these wonderful people and ourselves. That is what this dear Family of ours is all about, after all. This is due, in great part, to the loving influence of our Charming  Prince,  Bae Yong Joon.

On a final note, I am now attending classes with a wonderful Korean exchange student, at our local Junior College. When our first class together had ended, I approached her and asked, "You're Korean, aren't you? She looked surprised, but pleased, and nodded. "Um-hum, how did you know?", she asked. I told her I could tell by the lovely structure of her face, and that my favorite Korean pop singer had the same shape to his face. She thanked me for the compliment, and we became friends from that moment on. In fact, she is now my best friend at the college. She helps me with my Korean language studies, and I help her with her English. As another friend of mine used to say: "It's all good." (RIP, Jeremiah; you are missed.)

 Love to all Family, everywhere. Anna

Friday, January 22, 2010

I Am Upset...KTO!

Hi, Family. I hope all are well.
Today my rant is directed specifically toward Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). Question: why is the 'Korea Inspiring' CF featuring Bae Yong Joon only slated to be shown in Japan? Not Fair! I believe that KTO should show CFs,  featuring our Prince Charming, in countries all around the world.  (No offense to our Japanese Family; just congratulations on their good fortune.) Thankfully we have all of our wonderful Asian Family, from all countries, who have been sharing this BYJ CF with the rest of us. Still KTO is being unfair in the exclusion of the rest of the Asian Family, as well as All of the western part of the Family, from being shown the BYJ CF in all of Our countries. For shame!



I would like to say here, thank goodness for the internet, without which we westerners would not even be able to be a part of this amazing, International Family in the first place.  (On a personal note, in the short time that I have been a Family member, I have been shown such kindness and love by the other Family members, that I am a bit overwhelmed by it all, but in a good way. Kamsahamnida and Arigato,  and  thank you, to all, in many other languages in which I don't know how to say these words. God bless and keep you , Family everywhere. Love to all.) Anna     

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Ranting For The Third Time

Hi, Family.
Since a few people seem to have found my rants interesting, I will post another. This time, I want to discuss the way some people think that if other people don't like what they themselves like, it can't be good or right. For example, as aYoutuber for a couple of years now, I have run across commenters on the channels who say things like 'so and so sucks as a singer', or 'he looks like a girl', or 'she sounds like a guy' or other, worse comments. this one is 'gay' or that one is something or other else. Why do people do that sort of thing on the internet at all? If I find myself in a situation where someone asks my opinion on a singer, an actor, or most any other subject, I try, for the most part, to give them a nice answer, or at least a polite one. If I feel negatively about the subject, I still try to criticize in a constructive way. The only instances when I am not that nice is when I see a comment by one of these sour, negative individuals who think their favorite is the best whatever, and that everyone else is wrong. Even then I am icily polite. Now, when an individual raves about a favorite something without putting down someone else tastes, I don't worry about them. I often express my preference for this actor over that one, but without being sarcastic or rude. And, if I comment on a preference that way, I will often provide a URL so that no one has to take my word for it, but can check it out for themselves. My question is: why can't everyone be that way when it comes to 'netiquette'? Don't the majority of people use common courtesy when talking face to face? Then, what is the difference that makes them feel it is o.k. to be rude online? I can't see one. I feel we should have manners and respect even when we can't see the person we are addressing. Don't we do that on the phone? Then why not the 'net'? Now, the whole point I am making is this; I have read a lot of these negative comments which were posted on the numerous videos which fans (family) have made of our Prince charming and uploaded to Youtube. I get so irritated, because these people have probably never even bothered to find out just what a wonderful person our Yong Joon ssi really is. They see him with long hair or when he is giving one of his guy friends a shoulder massage, and they automatically shout 'gay', and I want to yell at them; just because he is sensitive, and a 'touchy-feelie' kind of person doesn't mean he is weird. I am a touchy-feelie person myself. I hug all of my friends, male and female, and I kiss my women friends on the cheek. But, I can tell anyone, when I see our Yong Joon I get positively weak in the knees, which proves I definitely like men. So, with Yong Joon ssi, he just really looks out for everyone who matters to him and tries to make them all comfortable, and help them in any way that he can. Still, he keeps telling everyone that the thing he needs most in his life, right now, is a wife. I don't think a 'gay' guy would say that, not even as a joke; proving where our Prince Charming's true interests are. And proving he is a normal man. And, my, my what a man he is! I don't think any woman could hope for better, because there probably is no such thing. Love to all, Anna

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Here We Go Again...

Hi, Bae Family,
I thought you all might enjoy this rant as well as the last one, considering it is about a recent topic posted on one of the other sisters' site.

"Hello.
Well, it seems as though no one is going to post any comments here, not yet anyway, so I may as well post another rant! This one concerns individuals who consider themselves so expert in a particular field, they think no one else could possibly know as much as they know. I ran into an example of this just today. A certain Asian actor recently wrote a photo essay book and had it published, with not-so-surprising results: it became a mega-bestseller. There was a teacher who told one of his/her students that the book could not have been written by said actor because it was too well-written. Wait a minute. Just because that person is a teacher, that automatically makes them an expert on book writing? And be cause the author is an actor, that means he can't be a writer as well? What the flip? That makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever. Is a celebrity, especially an intelligent, multi-talented one, supposed to be limited to doing only one thing in life? How stereotypical is that kind of thinking? In fact, this particular celebrity has proven the versatility and range of his abilities, on more than one occasion. As actor, model, businessman, artist, musician, and more, this person has shown a wide range of talents. What gives that teacher the right to assume an actor is just capable of being an actor? That is a very narrow-minded view for an educator to take. What kind of influence is that to be to a student? Not a very good one, or so it seems to me. I  have not read the aforementioned Photo essay book, but I am sure of one thing. Given the kind of character which the author is reputed to have, I do not believe he would take credit for writing a book unless he really wrote it. From what I have seen of this person, I am actually certain he would not do that. Thank you. Anna"

(Again, I took this from one of my other blogsites. (Posted Jan. 7, 2010 on "Anna's Roaming Mind")

Saturday, January 2, 2010

A Man's A Man...

Hi, Baefamily.

I thought you might enjoy this:

"Hello.
I am ranting today about the way some people are always putting down other people. I have found that many people, all over the world, think Korean men are too feminine. I say, so what? If Korean men want to get in touch with their 'feminine' side, what is that to anyone else? A lot of women, including yours truly, find this to be an attractive quality of these men. To us, it means they are secure enough with their masculinity to be able to delve into the other side of the picture. Perhaps we are in touch, enough, with our masculine side to be able to truly appreciate these guys and their self-awareness. I know I am somewhat masculine, but that doesn't mean I am not all woman and a lady besides. And being feminine doesn't make a guy any less of a man. It just indicates a finer degree of sensitivity, and perhaps a greater understanding of the female counterpart. I, for one, say 'more power to the feminine man, who is still all man!' Thank you. Anna"
(This is a rant I borrowed from one of my other blogsites: Anna's Roaming Mind.)
Be well, all family, everywhere. Love, Anna