Posted on 09/18/2006 7:07:41 PM PDT by radar101
SAN DIEGO – More than 300 Chinese and Chinese-Americans cheered and waved the two nations' flags Monday morning on a pier at San Diego Naval Base, a noisy greeting for two Chinese navy ships making a rare visit to U.S. mainland port. Hundreds of Chinese sailors in white uniforms with blue neckerchiefs stood stiffly at the rails of the destroyer Qingdao and the auxiliary ship Hongzehu as they cruised into port.
It was only the second visit ever of People's Liberation Army vessels to San Diego, and the first since 1997.
Chinese-American dancers and drummers entertained before a pierside ceremony. Base commander Capt. D.R. Smith and Rear Adm. Wang Fushan, deputy commander of the Chinese North Sea Fleet, exchanged brief remarks.
“As soon as we arrived, we received a warm welcome,” Fushan said. “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for your hospitality.”
Fushan invited visitors and the media aboard the Qingdao for a tour and photographs. The Chinese sailors smiled and posed for photos.
Chinese and U.S. armed forces began a series of tentative contacts in the late 1990s, but they ended abruptly in early 2001 after a Chinese fighter jet collided with a Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft off China's coast. The Chinese pilot died, and the U.S. crew was held prisoner for 11 days after the EP-3 was forced to land on Hainan Island.
But since last year, Pacific forces commander Adm. William Fallon has stressed closer ties with the Chinese military, a move welcomed by local Chinese-Americans.
“I think the U.S. and the Chinese should know each other,” said Frank Liu, president of the 2,000-member San Diego Chinese Association. “I'm hoping the United States and China can have a better relationship.”
It isn't quantity I'm addressing. You are likely right about that, that there are more cultural events by these non-European groups. I'm talking about what someone whole heartedly accepts as American.
The only one remotely european in origin is St Patty's day.
Oh, I've been to Scandinavian events before. And in my city, there are alot of Greek Festivals, Oktoberfest, etc. And, though I haven't gone to them, there are annual lutefisk eating contests here. And I don't even live in Wisconsin or Minnesota.
I think you're being overly sensitive.
I probably was at one time, but I've come to accept it. But I'm just saying, the political correctness isn't as one side as many people make it out to be...
From this article, it appears to me that it was forced. But I'll do some more digging around. It may lesson the historical severity of what happened if they were not forced into the camps. But then again, 120,000 were force OUT of an area they called home. Which, once again, we are back to whether or not that many Germans and Italians were forced out of their homes.
Early in 1942, all persons of Japanese descent, approximately 112,000 people, as well as smaller numbers of German and Italian enemy aliens were ordered to evacuate specific West Coast military areas in the interest of national security. Similar evacuations of German and Italian enemy aliens occurred along the entire East Coast. It was only out West that the U.S. government provided relocation centers as a temporary alternative to resettlement for those who wished it. Such housing was restricted to Japanese evacuees only, however. German and Italian evacuees were on their own. Ten such centers were established and administered by the civilian War Relocation Authority. These relocation centers had the highest live-birth rate and the lowest death rate in wartime United States and were exempt from the rationing programs imposed across the country.
Residents of such centers were free to leave when outside employment and living arrangements for them could be obtained. Of the 112,000 Japanese evacuees, 15,000 were immediately able to relocate elsewhere on their own. Another 35,000 who did enter the relocation centers eventually left and resettled in other parts of the country as employment or college opportunities arose during the war years. In some instances, Japanese living outside the exclusionary zone sought and received admittance to these centers.
The exclusion policy for the West Coast differed from that pursued elsewhere in the country because, in addition to the relocation centers, it also included a National Student Council Relocation Program. Under this government initiative, 4,300 students of Japanese ancestry -- but not those of German and Italian ancestry -- received scholarships to attend more than 500 colleges and universities located outside the exclusionary zone. In both cases of internment and relocation, U.S. citizen spouses and children were permitted to accompany head-of-household enemy aliens into relocation centers or internment camps on a voluntary basis so that families would not be separated.
Oh, and I hold no ill will against someone promoting a European culture. I just wanted to demonstrate, that the political correctness is not as one side as some people may think it is.
But what were the numbers? Certainly there were significantly more Germans and Italians on the East coast than Japanese on the West Coast. Did all the Germans and Italians find housing on their own? Was the number in the 100,000 plus?
To put it another way, were all people of German and Italian ancestory removed from the East coast the way it was for those with Japanese ancestory?
I've thought alot about this a sympathize with anyone with such feelings of exclusion. But, things are the way they are, one cannot change the way people think & how society as a group perceives things. To rage against it one might as well p*ss into the wind.
I've traveled a little & am convinced the US does a better job of trying to make disparate groups feel welcome than any I've seen, not least of all China.
On the other hand, there are increasingly those groups who choose to self segregate. They have far less to complain about.
Of course not. But you are moving the target.
I wouldn't say that I moved the target, I just made it bigger :)
Have a great weekend.
I'm no longer angry about it. But, remember, we did start this dialogue with the perception of people from China or ROC being more patriotic to their own countries and this is where that discussion led us. Whether the perception of someone speaking well of their own country is perceived differently depending on what part of the world they came from.
I've traveled a little & am convinced the US does a better job of trying to make disparate groups feel welcome than any I've seen, not least of all China.
I don't doubt that. I don't believe I have ever complained about how I've been treated. I just point out a perspective to help explain why I disagree with someone else's perspective of the world.
On the other hand, there are increasingly those groups who choose to self segregate. They have far less to complain about.
I believe it depends on the reason for self segregation and the complaint.
Me too.
Have a great weekend.
You too :)
I disagree. Native born Americans I know are equally annoyed by new comers talking up their home countries regardless of the continent.
I do understand your sensitivities in this regard. I just don't think it makes sense to curse human nature.
I am of Polish and Italian ancestry, yet would NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD at any sort of "ethnic" parade. Stars and stripes only for me.
Yeah, that's never good, huh? :)
Race reasons, I would agree with you. An Asian pride or Hispanic pride parade would put alot of people off and may even be offensive.
But I think something that is cultural, like Japanese or Mexican or Greek or Italian, etc. is good for the community at large. I go to various cultural events in my city during the Summers and enjoy them.
Will be at a few Lunar New Year celebrations this weekend/week, however!
I'm good with that :)
Will be at a few Lunar New Year celebrations this weekend/week, however!
Well, you well versed in other cultures.
This is not ethnic pride.
Most Chinese-Americans do not consider themselves to be Americans at all. They consider themselves Chinese with American passports.
The Chinese traditional culture is a big brain washing program. Deprogramming is very difficult and rare.
That is what I mean by 'self segregating'.
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