tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793669946906507976.post287504950035041613..comments2023-11-05T02:02:36.138-08:00Comments on George Koo: Relatively speaking, the Chinese do not become American citizens, how come?Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13997598378471957487noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793669946906507976.post-63531768543980420662015-05-26T08:00:40.007-07:002015-05-26T08:00:40.007-07:00My parents came to the U.S. for studies after the ...My parents came to the U.S. for studies after the Second WW, and like many educated Chinese were targeted during the McCarthy era. Some went back to China, and others like my parents decided to stay. Most of the educated Chinese from that period eventually distinguished themselves in many fields. My parents who settled in Boston counted among their fellow sojourners and friends leaders in the academia who became profs at Harvard, MIT, and other Boston institutions, architecture, music, art, and business. They helped each other survive because there were relatively few highly educated Chinese living in the U.S. during that time. They also had no alternative since many of them were unable to be in touch with their family for almost 39 years due to the bamboo curtain. I would say that although there is some discrimination in the U.S., it is still a land of opportunity. All of them who became U.S. citizens were glad that they did so even if their circumstances gave them little opportunity to do otherwise as many of their colleagues who did return back to China suffered greatly upon return or later during the Cultural Revolution. It is never easy to become a naturalised citizen, even in a relatively open and tolerant society as the U.S. I think language and cultural barriers have to be overcome, and obviously overt and unintentional discrimination needs to be overcome. As a second generation Chinese, I have felt very comfortable in the U.S. and have not felt the need to assimilate like my parents. Moreover, I have enjoyed significant advantages in education and professional advancement as I learned to navigate the system as a native rather than a foreigner. Obviously cultural values such as emphasis on education, self reliance, and hard work were passed down by my parents. My parents, now deceased, later returned to China to work-the wanted to give something back to China and to build a new China-which was their youthful dream when they went to the U.S. after the Second WW. Although, they lived and worked at a major university and developed a new life there at a late stage of their career, they never once contemplated renouncing their U.S. citizenship for a Chinese one. I think many second or third generation Chinese, like me, also feel the same. Although I identify with being Chinese, and enjoy interacting with those from China, I still am an American. Although America is an imperfect country, I honestly say that my family members or my parents friends' children who grew up in the U.S., felt little discrimination educationally as many of us attended the most elite universities or professionally as many U.S. companies started to recognise that racial and ethnic diversity was a positive attribute to strive for. However, over the years, starting with Taiwanese, then HK, and then a large influx of mainland Chinese immigration, it is possible that some who have arrived to the U.S. more recently, may sense discrimination. It also may be that there is some fear of Asian competition within the U.S. and abroad.Pymannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793669946906507976.post-11176809261843146142015-05-19T11:23:09.163-07:002015-05-19T11:23:09.163-07:00Anyone who doubts Dr. Koo's trenchant observat...Anyone who doubts Dr. Koo's trenchant observation that Chinese and Chinese Americans face constant threat of being racially profiled by the government should read articles like the following, the latest of many such charges: http://news.yahoo.com/u-charges-three-chinese-professors-three-others-economic-135539276--business.html<br /><br />Ivy Leenoreply@blogger.com