Weez Blog

I don't wish to dwell on this, because I too have only a mild interest ;)

You write: "I'm looking for brown people more than I am other females."

This is exactly one of the topics I first brought up in my post - and it's a shame it got lost in the discussions ...

(A black woman in one of my undergrad classes years ago always insisted that she had more in common with black men than white women - and I never forgot that.)

I think there is an element too of what is the greater difference?

My circle of friends (virtual and physical) is well represented by women. There is no perceived loss of comfort or home in that arena.

We have friends different than ourselves - they challenge us, mold our perceptions because of difference...but sometimes, it's good to be in space where no explanation is necessary. The ground rules are understood - little things like how close to stand, where wiseassness ends and meanness begins (such a subtle distinction culture to culture).

So yeah.

Brown people.

funny, but the word "brown" surprised me a bit.
as in: "I'm brown? why, yes, I am!"

it seems we go for the descriptions with the positive or exotic vs. the plain ol' factual.

asian, cocoa-skinned, tanned, coffee with cream, sun-kissed, toffee colored, caramel.

but brown it is as well.

when we lived on base--I must have been 7 or 8--I saw a person and described him as a "blackie". I remember you asking me how I'd like it if someone called me a "brownie".
well, I wouldn't have liked that at all.
lesson learned.
but I wonder if that is what struck it from my self-vocabulary.
hmm.

You listen to me? (That older sibling thing...)

It's interesting to cut out circles of relationships. Even in the arena of asian/brown labels. Given filipino history, there is more in common with hispanic culture than other asians - japanese, chinese, korean and others that have a greater reserve.

It's like someone threw salsa into the sio pao.

Uling.... and kitchens... something is cooking

http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~english/floridareview/dumpling.htm

got a veg version of sio pao?

or chili powder into the dinuguan.
mole' on lumpia shanghai?

kain na!

once, I went to the bowling alley at Griffiss AFB, where the cafeteria is operated and serviced by a group of Korean women. There was a lone airman who was dining at the time, and I happened to just enter the cafe. All of a sudden, this guy blurts "they're all over the place"!

Very interesting discussion. I agree--we look for others like ourselve and categorize the rest as "you are not like me." I only spoke spanish until age 5. When I went to kinder all the other kids only spoke english, but they were all mexican! I was the "patty" because I was white skinned and the "wetback" because I spoke spanish! How could I be both at the same time? Very confusing. While it is comforting to be with the "like" people, I think its important to find the common humanity between us and that only comes through dialogue.

Fascinating! I was born and raised overseas - spending most of my life in South America, where I earned the distinction of being a GRINGA LATINA ;)

But I also can't help but notice that it is precisely people who have lived "outside" or in the "in-between" that are most interested in these questions ...

Agreed.

I think that's what very interesting about the web in general and blogs specifically. We get an opportunity to listen to other voices - often before any barriers go up because we cannot see age, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

So we find affinities.

I think it's great that you read my blog (posted, once before, I think), but found a greater resonance with my mom...or at least, found more things to comment upon. Now, you guys have a dialog. That's pretty fabulous. Bonds across who know how many miles that gets compressed to the distance between oneself and the screen.

Anne,

It makes sense that those on the periphery are most likely to look for the distinctions. It's like being in the point of intersection on one of those Venn diagrams.

Questions of identity never go out of fashion. :)

(Two circles overlapped. The space of the overlap).

What makes me a member of circle A, what makes me part of circle B?

When I was younger I focused upon the differences. Funny, now I look for commonalities.

My daughter asked me "Mummy, am I Norwegian or English?" I asked her what she felt like and she said she didn't know. A couple of the older girls at school had apparently asked her, and she couldn't answer. English, not Australian, because English is the language she and I speak. It sure it confusing to be a multicultural seven year old. Especially when other people ask you to identify yourself as singular.

I told her she was both, legally, because she holds two citizenships, and both because half her family comes from Australia and half from Norway. But that she sure has grown up in Norway, so perhaps she feels more Norwegian than Australian?

She couldn't answer.

Imagine a world where she wouldn't be required to answer. Where we didn't insist on identifying ourselves by gender, skin colour, social class, culture, language...

But then how would we know who we were?

Isn't the point that identity is mutable? That we can be who we are in a number of different contexts, depending on where we are at any particular time or in any particular group? We know who we are because of our consciousness of being, that original face that the Buddhists talk about. The rest is what we take on.

am i other because i'm not brown or am I like you because I am a woman ...

You're my other woman.

At the points of intersection, we are like and like minded. At the points of difference is where we get the opportunity to expand who we are.

Weez, I agree with your last statement--that it is at the points of difference where we get the opportunities to expand who we are. While I think it would be great to live in a world where we weren't judged, where we were accepted regardless of gender, race, etc. how could we expand who we are--gain deeper understanding of the spectrum of human experience--if we don't identify our differences. It would be nice if the word "identify" could signify "celebrate" rather than "stereotype." BTW-I think your mom is cool and I love the idea that so many of your family members have blogs. So many people in one family reaching out to other distant points on the net, expanding dialogue and "celebrating" who they are. Quite cool...

Cheek brings success.

Search Engine Cloaking - Website Cloaking

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me. I'm afraid of widths.
-- Steve Wright

Rule 46, Oxford Union Society, London:
Any member introducing a dog into the Society's premises shall
be liable to a fine of one pound. Any animal leading a blind person
shall be deemed to be a cat.
Mortgage Refinancing http://www.refinance-mortgage-com.com

highest quality replica jewelry Rolex watch, wrist watch, Replica Watch purchase your affordable realistic Rolex replica watch today at http://www.pro-rolex-replica-watches.com

Yes, but which self do you want to be?
Mortgage Refinance http://www.refinance-mortgage-com.com

Guten Tag - Hier ist ein sehr schooner Site. Cheap Staples

Danke!
Bob Staple

Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. martha Costly thy habit [dress] as thy purse can buy; But not expressed in fancy - rich, not gaudy. For the apparel oft proclaims the man.

Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York, And all the clouds that loured upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, Our bruised arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front; And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass; I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph; I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them,-- Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to spy my shadow in the sun. trevor So full of artless jealousy is guilt,It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.

When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast. vinnie The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day Is crept into the bosom of the sea.

O, it is excellent to have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant. mike Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say how much.

I will make a Star-chamber matter of it. chuck Lord, what fools these mortals be!

Have more than thou showest; Speak less than thou knowest. martha Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently. For in the very torrent, tempest, and as I may say, whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.