tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post114490991611856866..comments2024-03-18T05:55:21.051-07:00Comments on Rice Daddies: Authentically AsianUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1146625884989624412006-05-02T20:11:00.000-07:002006-05-02T20:11:00.000-07:00I agree with many of the comments. To learn about...I agree with many of the comments. To learn about Chinese culture, and how Chinese Americans thrive in the U.S., how about making friends in the Asian American community?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145659432157462142006-04-21T15:43:00.000-07:002006-04-21T15:43:00.000-07:00So true. My husband and I are white adoptive pare...So true. My husband and I are white adoptive parents to our Chinese-born daughter, and we far more prioritize living in our diverse, largely Asian, neighborhood than dressing our kid up in "authentic" Chinese clothes, or attending "Culture Day." We're learning as we go, though, and trying to do right by our girl. And slapping her in a cheong sam every once in a while is just not going to cut Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145480920489184122006-04-19T14:08:00.000-07:002006-04-19T14:08:00.000-07:00thisisLarry,My wife feels the same way. She is 2nd...thisisLarry,<BR/>My wife feels the same way. She is 2nd generation British of Chinese parents, but doesn't speak Mandarin--dropped it because of brutal racism growing up. But we have carved out a path to give our kids the opportunity to be as involved in the chinese community as they would like. fortunately we both love eating dim sum, so every sunday morning we're hoovering up har gow nearby<BR/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145388190401357332006-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:002006-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00Others have echoed this point, but I think that, m...Others have echoed this point, but I think that, more than transmitting some kind of "authentic" (whatever that means) "Asian Culture" to TRA kids, what gets overlooked by a lot of white a-parents is the idea of Asian-<I>American</I> identity and experience. What it means to be an American of Asian descent, part of that history, especially when raised in a white family and/or homogeneous daddy in a strange landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02838412669298860456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145383720471685432006-04-18T11:08:00.000-07:002006-04-18T11:08:00.000-07:00Papa2Hapa,Ah, ok - I hear what you're saying now. ...Papa2Hapa,<BR/><BR/>Ah, ok - I hear what you're saying now. And yeah, Korean cultural nationalism is pretty hardcore (and short-sighted from the sound of it).<BR/><BR/>Thisislarry,<BR/><BR/>Just to reiterate: personally, my point was never around one's "cultural" identity. I'm not particularly culturally connected to China in terms of the practices and customs I grew up with. However, my identityO.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12016225824431559881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145380309936263122006-04-18T10:11:00.000-07:002006-04-18T10:11:00.000-07:00I've had the weird guilty feeling before that thes...I've had the weird guilty feeling before that these adopted asian kids would know their 'culture' better than my third generation chinese kids.<BR/><BR/>Here in Silicon Valley (as elsewhere I'm sure), you get lots of uber-parents who will go to the hilt to celebrate the cultures of their adopted kids. You also have very vibrant and authentic immigrant cultures (SF, Cupertino, etc etc) to tap thisislarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04157349911656341561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145379851822989392006-04-18T10:04:00.000-07:002006-04-18T10:04:00.000-07:00If you feel like being further horrified, check ou...If you feel like being further horrified, check out the following site: http://www.pshrink.com/chinadopt/<BR/>This guy justifies adopting transracially from China, as opposed to domestically, for reasons such as (and I quote): "It seems that alcoholism, drug abuse and antisocial behavior are all strongly hereditary. Having a kid is a crap shoot, genetically. We try instinctively to better our Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145359439224387762006-04-18T04:23:00.000-07:002006-04-18T04:23:00.000-07:00PLI don't think I meant to indicate that genetics ...PL<BR/><BR/>I don't think I meant to indicate that genetics was my only link to Korea. That would be very much like eugenics and rationalize a sort of fanatical resistance to accepting anybody outside of blood relations as Korean.<BR/><BR/>My intention was to point out that in Korea, they tend to shun anyone who isn't culturally Korean. Yet at the same time they accept very warmly "white" papa2hapahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371976595340004706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145340869864531522006-04-17T23:14:00.000-07:002006-04-17T23:14:00.000-07:00Papa2Hapa,I hear what you're saying but using gene...Papa2Hapa,<BR/><BR/>I hear what you're saying but using genetic "blood-links" to constitute a connection to culture leads down the slippery slope to a lot of things, including eugenics and things like Hitler's Final Solution. I'm not even trying to be dramatic here: what links people through culture has nothing to do with genetics - it's about lived experiences. <BR/><BR/>I would disagree that O.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12016225824431559881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145321487602444022006-04-17T17:51:00.000-07:002006-04-17T17:51:00.000-07:00Eww. If you're going to use bleach, at least have...Eww. If you're going to use bleach, at least have some fresh scented Clorox. That'll make the mess somewhat pleasant.<BR/><BR/>About "authentic" and being caught in the middle.<BR/><BR/>I feel that as a whole community (asian, adoptees, adoptives, and non-asians) should think of adoptees as part of whatever culture they claim to be.<BR/><BR/>Since I'm genetically, blood linked to Korea, I am papa2hapahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371976595340004706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145209899965922032006-04-16T10:51:00.000-07:002006-04-16T10:51:00.000-07:00"we could purchase a cheongsam for our daughter or..."we could purchase a cheongsam for our daughter or other traditional dress? We want to be authentic as possible."<BR/><BR/>Ew. Ew. Ew. I want to go wash my eyes with bleach after reading that. Ew.WannabeMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938094279274975960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145200695434073192006-04-16T08:18:00.000-07:002006-04-16T08:18:00.000-07:00Hi, I'm de-lurking here.I'm also an adoptee from K...Hi, I'm de-lurking here.<BR/>I'm also an adoptee from Korea and was in a family that was the polar opposite of these modern day a-parents who try to give their kids some education about their native culture. In my house, every single effort was made to isolate me away from anything Asian. It was a hard road to ride down, I was singled out for not being white but at the same time I wasn't allowed Butta Bunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289927051493462395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145200340764341372006-04-16T08:12:00.000-07:002006-04-16T08:12:00.000-07:00Does "Cooks Illustrated" also have a good recipe f...Does "Cooks Illustrated" also have a good recipe for bimbimbap?<BR/><BR/>And what does the centerfold look like in that book? I sure hope it doesn't sexualize bokchoy!papa2hapahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371976595340004706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145171685732759982006-04-16T00:14:00.000-07:002006-04-16T00:14:00.000-07:00"We should establish a rule that white folks must ..."We should establish a rule that white folks must have current positive references from at least twenty Asians before they can adopt one."<BR/><BR/>I'm just trying to imagine what this would look like...<BR/><BR/>"So yeah, uh, Ashley and Seth are a pretty cool couple...for white people. I mean, I caught Seth using my computer to look at porn but it was just Suicide Girls, not any Asian stuff and O.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12016225824431559881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145135820992168092006-04-15T14:17:00.000-07:002006-04-15T14:17:00.000-07:00Growing up in Hawai'i, I knew kids who were adopte...Growing up in Hawai'i, I knew kids who were adopted from Korea but you wouldn't know until they told you--or someone else did, so i guess we knew it was significant somehow. Someone should do a study though, on adopted Koreans/Chinese who grow up in hawai'i, sf, etc. vs Iowa or whatever.<BR/><BR/>Also, another bad site parallel to the China Doll thing: Little Panda. Google it.Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06131341155228629159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145134653865228032006-04-15T13:57:00.000-07:002006-04-15T13:57:00.000-07:00If white parents of adopted Asian babies need to a...If white parents of adopted Asian babies need to actively seek new friendships with Asian Americans, shouldn't that alone be a red flag? We should establish a rule that white folks must have current positive references from at least twenty Asians before they can adopt one. If you haven't met one, you can't adopt one. (And, you're not qualified because you dated an Asian woman in college, white Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145105276677233012006-04-15T05:47:00.000-07:002006-04-15T05:47:00.000-07:00I am from the group of KADs who didn't get access ...I am from the group of KADs who didn't get access to "culture" camps or internet networks until our adult years.<BR/><BR/>I've been to many KAD conferences and met teenagers who come because their parents make them come. They begin to feel like objects on display.<BR/><BR/>One of the most asked question I get at these conferences is from white parents who approach me to ask "when should I tell papa2hapahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371976595340004706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145059042013466082006-04-14T16:57:00.000-07:002006-04-14T16:57:00.000-07:00Great post. I agree on so many points. I think a...Great post. I agree on so many points. I think a lot of white people---particularly the ones who find themselves in the position of adopting asian children--have convinced themselves that there simply are no racial issues in the US anymore. Period. In their opinion, all that ended in the 60s. So why would they need to teach anything about race to their children? We got this reaction from Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145050883136744212006-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:002006-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:00Kristied,I think you're confusing the issue here. ...Kristied,<BR/><BR/>I think you're confusing the issue here. As many people have noted, the idea of an "authentic" Asian or Chinese experience is a misnomer. Culture and identity are not fixed objects that can be picked up or worn or eaten, etc. So it's not that Asian American parents are more "authentically Asian" than other parents since the whole idea of being "authentically Asian" is more or O.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12016225824431559881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145039361931267022006-04-14T11:29:00.000-07:002006-04-14T11:29:00.000-07:00How about "Chyna"? Confession (I always was a litt...How about "Chyna"? <BR/><BR/>Confession (I always was a little disappointed to discover that Chyna Phillips wasn't actually, you know, Chinese).<BR/><BR/>I also have to say that while I think being named "Asia" when you're actually Asian is a bit too literal, it's not a bad name on other people, like Asia Argento.O.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12016225824431559881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145039140745171492006-04-14T11:25:00.000-07:002006-04-14T11:25:00.000-07:00"But the blog's title?"Anna Our China Doll"Does th...<I>"But the blog's title?<BR/><BR/>"Anna Our China Doll"</I><BR/><BR/>Does the blog also start playing David Bowie's "China Doll" when the page opens? <BR/><BR/>Oof again.O.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12016225824431559881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1145015333636825062006-04-14T04:48:00.000-07:002006-04-14T04:48:00.000-07:00I hope they don't name her Suzy. Suzy would be bet...<I>I hope they don't name her Suzy. </I><BR/><BR/>Suzy would be better than "Jade", which is what our former neighbors named their adopted-from-China daughter.<BR/><BR/><I>What about Asians who arent from asia? And whose parents arent from asia? The ones who are completely immersed in the american society? Are they any more inclined to give an Asian perspective than their white/black neighbors? <Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16184630001079498697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1144995820726416022006-04-13T23:23:00.000-07:002006-04-13T23:23:00.000-07:00Got this from a fierce KAD sister blogger who shal...Got this from a fierce KAD sister blogger who shall remain nameless (but c'mon, y'all know) b/c of all the haters who piled on after she dared to post [gasp!] her own opinions and experiences on <I>her own blog</I> (esp. after the NYT article):<BR/><BR/>A couple of a-parents have a blog about their experience with this stated purpose:<BR/><BR/>"The purpose of this blog is to share our adoption daddy in a strange landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02838412669298860456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1144991020134008282006-04-13T22:03:00.000-07:002006-04-13T22:03:00.000-07:00My (white) anut adopted 3 kids from korea. One as...My (white) anut adopted 3 kids from korea. One as a baby and the other 2(brothers) were 2 & 4 at the time of the adoption. (my aunt had tried for years and years to have children and was told she could not. 4 years after the final adoption she did get pregnant and also has 2 natural children) My cousins have had what they themselves consider to be a wonderful life and family. They are Kristiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583736569012353198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21651465.post-1144948610034616342006-04-13T10:16:00.000-07:002006-04-13T10:16:00.000-07:00As a Korean Adoptee to white parents I really disl...As a Korean Adoptee to white parents I really dislike the idea of "authentic" asian culture.<BR/><BR/>One of the main problems I encountered growing up was that Asians and non-asians never considered me "Korean" or would say things like, "but you're not really Asian."<BR/><BR/>To me, being adoptee is authentic asian culture...and therefore we need to expand our definition of authenticity to papa2hapahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371976595340004706noreply@blogger.com