RE: [Paddlewise] Taboo Subjects (was: paucity of minorities in kayaking)

At 06:25 PM 9/25/2000 -0700, Jack Fu wrote:
>It goes on and on.
>
> >> I hope you don't mean to cut off discussion of a subject
>
>Good heavens, cut off discussion of this subject? There's no way
>anyone can hope to cut off discussion of this subject. It is the
>great American passion. Just turn to any newspaper or magazine,
>or turn on the TV.
>
> >>  As various minorities arrive into the mainstream there is
>something more to life than work.
>
>Really Ralph? I never knew that!
>
>Jack Fu
>47°38'N 122°08'W

Jack, Ralph and All:

A few thoughts.  Diaz and Fu discussing their views on minorities =  you 
left out the Gui Low (phonetic, but not romanization of "Grey Ghost Foreign 
Devil).  I am a White-Anglo-Saxon who was raised in North Central Texas in 
the sticks (and to think about it I don't have to say I'm sorry, but I 
can't help it either).  There were no Afro Americans (what is politically 
correct here?) in the town of 2,000 closest to us.  There were plenty of 
Mexican Americans and just as many illegal Mexicans.  I married a JAP:  let 
me explain - born and raised on Okinawa with a Okinawan Mother and a 
Russian Jewish Father - ergo JAP.   I joined the Army and was rewarded with 
a beautiful wife (twenty five years and counting) and daughter.  We moved 
to Hong Kong and travelling the Pacific Rim I discovered what it meant to 
be a minority, one with money compared to many that I came into contact 
with, but a minority just the same.  I speak Cantonese fluently (starting 
to loose it due to lack of use), but it helped me discover a whole new 
world.  A culture that was totally alien to me.  One that was predominately 
Buddhist  and had annual Ghost Festivals (At first I thought they were Goat 
Festivals, but soon found out differently when I explained to a fellow that 
where I was from we raised Angora Goats.  He said Angry Ghosts.  I said 
Yeah, Angora Goats.  So much for communications, but I still don't 
participate in Ghost Festivals).

In the early development of the Western United States minorities played a 
significant roll.  The greatest Indian Fighters were Black Calvary who 
later went to help Teddy Roosevelt win the Spanish American War - The 
Buffalo Soldiers!  There were great African American Cowboys as well.  The 
Chinese helped build the rail roads along with the Irish.

Are we a racist culture?  I believe so.  I think many are so not out of 
specific decisions, but out of ignorance and fear preferring to be around 
those most like themselves.  Less than other places in the world (Japan, 
Australia, China), but racist none the less.  I had dinner with a Chinese 
business person in Singapore a few months ago and she asked what I thought 
about China.  I expressed my concerns over Hong Kong given China's action 
in Tibet.  She flatly stated that she was a card carrying Communist and 
felt that I was wrong.  I told her that she would learn now or in the after 
life, but the Tibetans are no less human than she is.  She seemed to be 
able to accept my deep felt beliefs.  I didn't attack her, but the 
issues.  Don't kill the sinner, but address the sin.

In many instances I believe that it isn't by choice or design, but by 
cultural differences and just plain lack of exposure to an endeavor that we 
don't see more African American Kayakers or Chinese Poll Vaulters.  There 
have been great fisherman, whalers, explorers, climbers and yes kayakers 
that are other than WHITE!  The economics of change and plain old racist 
actions that have restricted many minorities from pursuing interests that 
were natural to their historical culture or beyond their sphere of exposure 
are falling.  As they said in "Crazy People":  "The reason that Japanese 
quality is better than American is because they are short and their eyes 
are closer to their work."  This and other hasty generalizations go a long 
way towards justification of many bad "rationals" for some.

We should encourage all to celebrate the opportunities that exist 
today.  It is now, more than ever a matter of choice.
I choose to participate in Sea Kayaking.  I don't know of any of my 
ancestors that pursued such interests.  But we all have relative freedom of 
choice.  Relative to our inclinations and economic priorities.

I choose to celebrate my uniqueness and the differences I discover in 
others.  Regardless of skin color!   Thank God we aren't all alike!

Paddle With Pride!

Fred






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