How did this start?

[The Republic]

When I was in Japan (for 11 hours in Tokyo flight layover), my friends and I decided to stroll around and see teh city for a while. We were going to Shanghai, and I realized that people seemed so intimidated and even scared of us. We're all about 6 ft, so pretty big to Japanese, but it seemed interesting to me that they were so intimidated. I can handle the staring just fine, but it got to me that they seemed deliberately frightened of our prescence even when I never met them. What started all this do you think? Was it WW2 or something?

[The Republic]

PS im an American

[grungy hamster]

Maybe because you are all around 6 foot, and maybe you were loud?

[羽之助]

It's not because you're American. How would anyone even tell?

Note: A group of six huge Brazilians walked into a book store/pool hall a few weeks ago as I was leaving. The Japanese staff looked absolutely terrified.

[Azrael]

Xenophobia's a hell of a thing.

[eledoremassis02]

lol, goodthing I'm a good 5ft 6in lol

[grungy hamster]

I'm 5' 10"...

[satoharu]

I'm just under 5' 6" (167 cm)...but female. A slight problem, I suspect it will be.

[The Republic]

I said im american because that explained my hypothesis about the xenophobia coming from WW2. After all, the Japanese did fight the U.S. in WW2, right?

[The Republic]

I was just curious as to what the root of this might be. Here in America, as many know, I have almost no reaction to when I see somebody who might be a foreigner, from any race of the earth. Au Contriare in Japan, though. Is it their religion, maybe? Does taoism use xenophobic rhetoric? Is is something that happened in the past? Is it Hollywood? Iwas just hoping to get some discourse going on this...

[Killer Queen]

Ah, but America is a melting pot of foreigners and immigrants. Japan, on the other hand, practiced isolationism until the last hundred years or so. Maybe a little longer.

Give them some time. It might be generations later and we'll all be six feet under, but at least Japan will be able to deal with foreigners without wetting their pants. :innocent:

[grungy hamster]

I said im american because that explained my hypothesis about the xenophobia coming from WW2. After all, the Japanese did fight the U.S. in WW2, right?

Well, I mean, I would turn the question on yourself and see if you have any hard feelings towards Japan for WW2. Do you?

I doubt it (simply inferring from the way you explained your experience). So I think it would be the same for them. That was generations ago. Now, mind you, there may be some hostility from older folks.

But I could be wrong, and it looks like I am. But I don't think the fear is from WW2.

[The Republic]

Its easy to say that if your on the winning side, hamster. Consider loosing a war to a given country plus the decimation of two cities and all inhabitants. That + all the hollywood western crap we throw at the rest of the world, and I wouldn't be surprised if thats why they appear scared.

PS i used to live in dayton, OH. Where in OH do u live?

[grungy hamster]

I live in a suburb of Columbus called Westerville. I've resided in and around Columbus my whole life. My Dad's Dad's side resides in Dayton.

This city (Columbus) has grown on me lately. It has just enough humility to not be ostentatious, and just enough esoteric style to have it's own culture, while staying in touch with other cities.

But then again, I'm like many on this board who aspire to hopefully move to Japan some day.

[steelegiraffe]

bah, dayton sucks :(

[grungy hamster]

bah, dayton sucks :(

I have observed, when visiting relatives, that not much seems to go on there.

[The Republic]

I agree. Didley squat didnt happen there. The two things I remember about dayton was the Carrilon park and the Wright Brothers' mansion, which i lived like 2 blocks from. there was also a semi-good steakhouse called the pineclub that i went to sometimes. very sleepy place. Moved there from Oakland Calif in 1991 after the hills fire took out our house. I lived in Oakwood, an incredibly rich predominantly white area which is a township of dayton. But to put it in context, I lived there from 1992-1998 (age 4- 10 or 11). Went to Harman Elementary. Oakwood was good for the age group of 0-12, but is proboly deadly boring for any other age group.

[BushyDough]

I was just curious as to what the root of this might be. Here in America, as many know, I have almost no reaction to when I see somebody who might be a foreigner, from any race of the earth. Au Contriare in Japan, though. Is it their religion, maybe? Does taoism use xenophobic rhetoric? Is is something that happened in the past? Is it Hollywood? Iwas just hoping to get some discourse going on this...

I think Taoism was more popular in china. Most Japanese dont consider themselves to be religious however, aside from athiesm I think Buddhism is next in line with some Shinto practices on the holidays and new years.

And Killer Queen was right...the hundreds of years of isolationism Japan experienced under the Tokugawa Shogunate has had an extrodinary affect on the Japanese culture. The isolation only ended when Admiral Perry came knocking with his black ships which really wasnt that long ago. Japan is still a 99% homogenious culture so seeing a foreigner to them is a big deal. :box:

[The Republic]

hmmm. I guess its just what they're used to then. thats right, though its shintoism thats in Japan.

[grungy hamster]

That was Zen, this is Tao.

(Sorry, had to put it. It's from the Tao of Programming, which succeeded the Zen of Programming)

[Niff]

I said im american because that explained my hypothesis about the xenophobia coming from WW2. After all, the Japanese did fight the U.S. in WW2, right?

Not really. I'm from New Zealand, they're as terrified of us as they are of Americans. It's because they don't see large white guys every day.

[grungy hamster]

Lol,

You should be like, "I have big eyes and smelly arm pits!"

[The Republic]

yeah i conceded that. And my fault, i forgot to mention australia and nz's part in the pacific theater.

(reffering to Niff's post)

[The Republic]

hamster, what you mean big eyes? I thought eye size was fairly proportional. (Contrary to what I previousl thought, though!)

[Urban~Ninja]

yeah i conceded that. And my fault, i forgot to mention australia and nz's part in the pacific theater.

(reffering to Niff's post)

Dude nobody here is Stupid, we know that Aus, Nz, USA fought in the pacific, we all had basic history in high school. The thing is that they dont know your American they just see you as white, i mean could you tell normal Australian apart from a Normal Canadian or American, hell no, and neither can the Japanese. Chances are most were frightened more then the fact that they were Surprised to see a white guy. Also on average we are taller then the Japanese, but they seem to be getting taller.

Hamster means our eyes are seen as nice big and round in camparison to Asian eyes. Also a mojority think tha we smell bad.

[grungy hamster]

Yup.

Mountain goats they say.

They say we smell like mountain goats.

I have yet to smell a mountain goat, but apparently it has a great chance of smelling like me.

[koku]

How about THEY DON'T SEE OR INTERACT WITH MANY FOREIGNERS let alone a GROUP?

That's what i'm banking my answers on. I think ending it at that instead of marching on forwards and throwing around xenophobia and everything else is muich better for your sanity.

[Urban~Ninja]

How about THEY DON'T SEE OR INTERACT WITH MANY FOREIGNERS let alone a GROUP?

That's what i'm banking my answers on. I think ending it at that instead of marching on forwards and throwing around xenophobia and everything else is muich better for your sanity.


Thats basically what i said, they werent expecting to see a white person or any other non-asian person. They arnt afraid of white people, well some are but the majoirty are just not used to our presence.

[Hira-Kata to Sawa]

Yeah, I didn't grow up around monkeys, so when I see them just sitting around in Japan I stare at them, too. Thank you Japan, for making me feel just like those monkeys.

Dance, foreign monkey, dance!

[Urban~Ninja]

Yeah, I didn't grow up around monkeys, so when I see them just sitting around in Japan I stare at them, too. Thank you Japan, for making me feel just like those monkeys.

Dance, foreign monkey, dance!

On the way home from Shibushi (Corner of Kagoshima-Ken) and actual Kagoshima City i saw monkeys dash across the street a few times, when i acted like it was amazing they family i was with were like "Happens alot on these roads" i was like "AMAZING!!! WOW!!!! AWWW CUTE!!!!"

[羽之助]

To the OP:

You say you were layed over in Tokyo for 11 hours during your flight to Shanghai? How long ago was this? Were you at Narita International Airport? If so, people from the airport usually don't go into the city of Narita, so that might have been a big surprise to the people living there. It's rather rural compared to the metropolis of Tokyo that it resides next to.

Now, if the people in the airport were freaking out, that would be cause for ridicule. "Oh, white people in an international airport, OH REALLY????"

[laggedreaction]

And Killer Queen was right...the hundreds of years of isolationism Japan experienced under the Tokugawa Shogunate has had an extrodinary affect on the Japanese culture. The isolation only ended when Admiral Perry came knocking with his black ships which really wasnt that long ago. Japan is still a 99% homogenious culture so seeing a foreigner to them is a big deal. :box:

You mean Commodore Perry? He was never an admiral.

[Urban~Ninja]

You mean Commodore Perry? He was never an admiral.

Hey lets not get stuck into fine details, the matter of the fact is that the main infomation, this is not a place for correct infomation though...damn kids trying to learn.

[steelegiraffe]

I have observed, when visiting relatives, that not much seems to go on there.

it's not that nothing happens, its that when they do happen its totally ghettofied.

i'm not sure if any of you have been to dayton lately, but there is an emerging "art" scene downtown with the aspirations of making dayton the "art" capital of ohio. it's actually pretty funny watching the beret-wearing-expresso-drinking-cigarette-smoking-skinny-scene kids getting harassed by thugs and drug dealers.
dayton is also pretty much a poor/working class city depending on which neighborhood you live in.

that being said, yes dayton does suck and i can't wait to move next year for college.

[atnak]

Its easy to say that if your on the winning side, hamster. Consider loosing a war to a given country plus the decimation of two cities and all inhabitants.

Definitely ain't this. I've found, at least with the Japanese I know, that they really couldn't care less about what happened during the war.

[grungy hamster]

it's not that nothing happens, its that when they do happen its totally ghettofied.

i'm not sure if any of you have been to dayton lately, but there is an emerging "art" scene downtown with the aspirations of making dayton the "art" capital of ohio. it's actually pretty funny watching the beret-wearing-expresso-drinking-cigarette-smoking-skinny-scene kids getting harassed by thugs and drug dealers.
dayton is also pretty much a poor/working class city depending on which neighborhood you live in.

that being said, yes dayton does suck and i can't wait to move next year for college.

We all know that Cinci is the art capital of Ohio. If they want the pomo stuff, they should go just north of OSU Campus on High street. Indeed, that is the place to be.

Also, they have a gallery hop the first saturday of every month in the Short North.

[Langosta]

Well I mean to begin with they're not used to seeing you right. Added to that your really tall, really tall people sometimes get shocked reactions. I'd probably be rather surprised to see a seven foot guy walk by me in the US.
Added to that if you're in a shop or something they're probably worried about how to help you because they'll assume you don't speak Japanese. It would be like you worked at a fast food restaurant and somebody came up and ordered in Russian or tried to piece together indecipherable English.
And then you might have a couple people who are afraid you're a criminal or into something else shady.
So yeah, they're not used to you, you've got some shocking characteristics (height) and they're not sure what to do around you.

Terrorfied they are. Maybe not all of them but if somebody is terrorfied next to them they'll join in.

[Eddie Echoplex]

Wait a minute, Tokyo, being the big-ass metropolis that it is, shouldn't the citizens be accostumed to foreigners?.

[Niff]

They are.. sort of. Doesn't stop a pair or twelve of eyes being glued on you every moment, though.

[The Republic]

Giraffe, ur graduating next year? Same here. What high school? I would have gone to Oakwood High, had I stayed in Dayton...

To the guy that adressed me (cant read his japanese name)- This layover was last spring break (over a year ago). And the people in the Airport werent that surprised, but when i stepped out of the port it was a different story. To answer your question, I think it was Narita Airport (not sure though). 2 of my friends and I decided to go see a japanese homestay kid who stayed with my family in 1992-1993 back when Ilived in oakland. I was like 4 or 5 then. Im 17 now, so I got in touch with her and we went to her house in kind of a suburb area and she has a family and kids and everything now, (she was high school age back in early 90s when she and the others stayed with my family). Anyways, we had lunch there then, then left and decided to walk (we were iun a plane for 10 hrs) to this beach area she told us about. That was when we got seriously awed/frightened/amazed/wtf looks from people. Maybe we were doing something wrong, or maybe it was just my schwarzenegar build!:liar:

hope that answers your question...

[羽之助]

Well, if your plane didn't hurtle between skyscrapers on its way down to Haneda Airport, then yeah, you landed at Narita. If you went out there, you're in a relatively small town of 100 000 people who don't see that much in the way of foreigners because they usually just go straight to the airport and stay there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narita

So it's not like he was in metro Tokyo. He was in the exact opposite.

[steelegiraffe]

i will actually be graduating from mound street academy, a new charter school designed to stop kids from dropping out, seeing as that was where i was heading until last christmas. i spent most of my high school years at stivers though.

[The Republic]

yeah, i recall stivers, at least the name. Never heard of mounds, though. Have you ever been into Oakwood? its where I used to live...

im just not sure though if it was narita, as i was sleeping until landing (so i wouldn't have been able to see any skyscrapers). One thing i remember about the area we walked through to get to the beach area was an upscale district with a "sailor moon" dedicated park. I think the area was called azuba.

[steelegiraffe]

mound street aswell as many other programs were needed to keep young people in school.i think the graduation rate at most of dayton's public high schools is like 50 something percent.
stivers was alright, it really gets to much credit though.
ive been to oakwood many a time, but i fail to see what is so great about it(i mean there is a police officer on like every street.)
the police in oakwood will also stop anyone who is driving a car older than five years, or someone who isn't white, and proceed to question them.
but i have some friends who live in oakwood so there is atleast a few hip people there.lol
dayton will always be my home seeing as i've lived here all my life, so in atleast some small way i will always love it.
have a good stroll memory lane there republic? ha
but anywayz, back to topic.

[The Republic]

good stroll down memory lane, it was. some people i still know from oakwood are trevor browning, grant morriss, AJ leland...

ring any bells?

but yeah, bakc on topic, which i think is pretty well dead by now since my question has been answered.

[The Republic]

-thread closed-

[kilreli]

bah, dayton sucks :(
true that. ill take cleveland any day. more specifically cleveland heights. the little italy/Coventry area is awesome...well..i liked it. i think there is a japanese restraunt on coventry. imma try to get a job there when i get back to the states. if they say im not qualified, ill be like, "why?" and they will kinda studder, then ill say in japanese, "cause im not japanese?"
and if they still say no, ill cough and say, "gaijin smash" once (well...hoping that they did live in japan at one time), as a warning. and if they are ballsy...................:karate: .....i will lay down the law

[kilreli]

oh yeah...to somehow put the ohio conversation on subject...uh...commedore perry came to japan with the black ships, and fought a battle on lake erie, which it the lake right above ohio. yosh. he even fought in those little ass ships too. he wins in america with little boats and junk, but then brings the rapage to japan.:gangster:

[羽之助]

How Japanese is the Japanese restaurant?

Like a franchise run by white people? Or by Koreans who know that people can't tell the difference?

I applied for a Japanese restaurant once and didn't get it because my Japanese wasn't good enough - and since most of the chefs came straight from Japan and didn't speak much English, that was a good reason. You gotta be able to communicate. When I came back from exchange, I got hired on.

[Urban~Ninja]

-thread closed-


Nice try but i have managed to post after your magic spell!

[羽之助]

糸開け！ Thread-open!

[The Republic]

Damn...FOiled Again!!

Oh well... Kilreli, your in Japan right now (it looks like your a highschooler too, if i can tell correctly from your avatar (and if that is you))? Do you observe anything in the way of young people (japanese natives included) getting a job there? Is there like any age restriction???

[Audobahn]

I said im american because that explained my hypothesis about the xenophobia coming from WW2. After all, the Japanese did fight the U.S. in WW2, right?
your joking right?

[羽之助]

Damn...FOiled Again!!

Oh well... Kilreli, your in Japan right now (it looks like your a highschooler too, if i can tell correctly from your avatar (and if that is you))? Do you observe anything in the way of young people (japanese natives included) getting a job there? Is there like any age restriction???

I'd say visa restriction rather than age restriction.

[Killaz666]

I live in a suburb of Columbus called Westerville. I've resided in and around Columbus my whole life. My Dad's Dad's side resides in Dayton.


Every forum I go to I find some one who lives close to me. I live in Dublin.

[Urban~Ninja]

Damn...FOiled Again!!

Oh well... Kilreli, your in Japan right now (it looks like your a highschooler too, if i can tell correctly from your avatar (and if that is you))? Do you observe anything in the way of young people (japanese natives included) getting a job there? Is there like any age restriction???

Most high schools have a rule that the kids arnt allowed part time jobs...like they would have time for one anyway.

[The Republic]

You mean in Japan or America. Im assuming America...

[Danistar]

You mean in Japan or America. Im assuming America...
Why would you assume he means America when the topic was kids getting jobs in Japan?

[Urban~Ninja]

You mean in Japan or America. Im assuming America...

Your shitting me right?

Im talking about Japanese kids, these kids have hardly any free time to themselves, so that would basically equal no job in the first place BUT most High Schools have a rule of NO JOBS thought i would make that clear. The only ones who do work are the ones who help out at family owned shops on sundays (Their only free day in a week, and even then they have Home Work).

[The Republic]

Holy god im sorry. I meant to say im assumiong Japan. That was a blatant mistake on my part for which I will fully feel the two posts worth of guilt...

sorry i meant Japan i just mistyped.

[Urban~Ninja]

Holy god im sorry. I meant to say im assumiong Japan. That was a blatant mistake on my part for which I will fully feel the two posts worth of guilt...

sorry i meant Japan i just mistyped.

Yeah, i see, but i think you should read over your posts, you seem to make alot of errors.

[Danistar]

Lol it's not really a big deal, it's just a typo.

[The Republic]

yeah i make lots of mistakes because im used to typing fast and abbreviated on counterstrike servers (iceworld, between rounds if you know what im talking about.) so yeah

[kilreli]

How Japanese is the Japanese restaurant?

Like a franchise run by white people? Or by Koreans who know that people can't tell the difference?

I applied for a Japanese restaurant once and didn't get it because my Japanese wasn't good enough - and since most of the chefs came straight from Japan and didn't speak much English, that was a good reason. You gotta be able to communicate. When I came back from exchange, I got hired on.

i have no idea. to tell the truth, i never went inside. there was always somewher else to go to or eat at. :duh:

[Niff]

(iceworld, between rounds if you know what im talking about.)

Man, I love iceworld.

Anyway.. I think it's usually private schools with the "lol no jobs use all your free time for study" rule. At the public schools I've visited some people have jobs after school, but it's frowned upon.

[Urban~Ninja]

I was going to apply to a nearby Japanese restraunt because every time i go there the Staff strugge with english, so i think i would have a shot.

Then i remember i work at Pizza Hut *cries* such a horrible place.

[hanacker]

Why are Americans frightened by groups of large black guys? Is it because of WW2? What is the cause of their xenophobia?

[Urban~Ninja]

Why are Americans frightened by groups of large black guys? Is it because of WW2? What is the cause of their xenophobia?

Zing.....:bored:

Not all americans are afraid of groups of black men, if i saw a group of large black men in business suits i wouldnt be afraid, but if i saw a group of black men with guns coming out of the pockets/pants, dressed in throw backs and doo rags with one of them with those teeth bling and one with brass knuckles on aswell as another seeming to be smoking a joint i might be inclined to watch my back.

Then again in Australia youve got everyone of every culture, even though we arnt as accepting as we state (White Australian Policy, Wiki it).

Japanese people arnt afraid, its more that their surprised and usually its justified when they dont see as many white people as we do Asian people in Aus/USA, this is mostly the case in smaller cities or towns.

[Niff]

The most flamingly racist people come from the most multi-cultural societies.. kinda funny, really.

[Urban~Ninja]

The most flamingly racist people come from the most multi-cultural societies.. kinda funny, really.

Its true, just look at Australia, Cronulla Riots, Pauline Hanson, White Australia Policy etc

I think there is no one who is completely unracist, its impossible, no matter how hard you try you will always have that slight bit of you. Hell im Irish and Japanese, im from two nationalities that get the shit ragged on them, my friends will say something about Irish Drunks or Potatoes etc and i wont take offence, i just find it easier to see it as what it is a joke and not meant to be taken seriously.

Though i do get angry when people call me a mut or call my mum a half breed and stuff i think thats stepping over the line a bit.

[羽之助]

That's something I really don't get. Why do they call your mother a "half-breed"?
Edit: idiotic spelling mistake

[Urban~Ninja]

That's something I really don't get. Why do they call your mother and "half-breed"?

I assume you mean why do they call my mother a half breed?
Well its because she is Half Japanese and Half Anglo Saxon. She grew up in a small town in south QLD, so she was picked on alot for being part Asian and My uncle stood up for Her and my Aunt, and i dunno i just get pissed when somebody takes a shot at my mum, specially becaue all my friends say she is really nice and cool and its true, she is a great parent.

There are really only a few people who take shots at my mixed blood, and i think they are the scum and when they say something about my mum i get uber pissed.

I get called a Mut because well im, 1/4 Japanese, 1/8 French-Canadian, 1/4 Scottish (Originally Irish) and the rest is pure Irish blood.

And alot of the kids i go to school with are all 100% something, and there are a few like me who are of multiple nationalities and i dont know why but they give us shit about it, i dont really care, unless as i said they take a shot at my mother.

In short me and my brother are a crazy mix, but i wouldnt change it.

[atnak]

Its true, just look at Australia, Cronulla Riots, Pauline Hanson, White Australia Policy etc

Lol, the White Australia Policy was aages ago (relatively speaking). Australia only became the "multi-national" country it is now long after that policy was abolished and immigration restrictions laxed to cure Australia's population shortage.

Pauline Hanson is just one person and the media headlined her and her party way too much. The redneck yobbos that supported the One Nation party are a very small minority (some supported the One Nation for other reasons, such as imagining the party would improve the country's economy or some such).

Of course, there're some suburbs in Australia that Aussies aren't very proud of, but overall it's a country that's very tolerant of other races. There's racism in society, but only because there can be. Japan on the other hand, might have less visible racism, but then, its people grow up pretty isolated from daily interactions with other races.

From talking to Japanese friends, I've now got the impression that the Japanese are MUCH LESS tolerant (or closed-minded) of other races (especially towards other Asian countries) than say the average American or Australian. (But I'm generalizing.)

[Danistar]

yeah i make lots of mistakes because im used to typing fast and abbreviated on counterstrike servers (iceworld, between rounds if you know what im talking about.) so yeah
Unfortunately, I have to deal with that every time I play CS. I think I'm the only one on CS who can type between rounds with good spelling and grammar. And I usually get called a "faget"(sic) for doing it. Anyway, I won't go any more off-topic with that.


Why are Americans frightened by groups of large black guys? Is it because of WW2? What is the cause of their xenophobia?

Americans were attacked by large groups of black guys during WW2? I'm afraid you've lost me. And regardless, I'm an American, I live in L.A., and I see/hang out with large groups of black guys all the time, and I'm not frightened. So your "all" statement is unjustified.

[hanacker]

Americans were attacked by large groups of black guys during WW2? I'm afraid you've lost me. And regardless, I'm an American, I live in L.A., and I see/hang out with large groups of black guys all the time, and I'm not frightened. So your "all" statement is unjustified.

I never said "all". My point was that in some situations (especially alone at night), some Americans get a bit nervous walking around groups of large guys (black guys in particular but any large guys will do). Thus it doesn't seem much of a mystery as to why Japanese people would also be intimidated by large guys (particularly guys from a culture that's stereotypically "dangerous").

[Urban~Ninja]

TEXT

Well it depends, Australia's White Policy wasnt completely removed until the 1970, so for Australia to have a policy making it hard for people of non-white heritage to live here from 1880-1970 (est) its a fairly long and recent time in world history.

Australia isnt hateful racist, its more non-understanding racist, there is alot of uneducated people in Australia who think the reason they are stupid, is well because, and i quote (from a stupid kid in Grade 12 2005, Sydney Grammar [not my school] ) "The Asians took all my chances", which is BS as we know.

Also if you look at the suburbs alot of them are race dominated.
St Ives - Jewish Population.
Chatswood - Asian (mostly Korean, Chinese)
Parramata - Italian and Vietnamese (sp?)
Cronulla - Lebonese (until recently) and White]
Hornsby - Lebonese (based on the apartment building population)
Pymble/Turramurra - White
Maquarie - White

Basically you can find that system in any major city though.

I have friends who are very strict on the rule that they would preffer to date inside there race (Asian mostly but some white guys) and though thats not full blown racisim, its still not accepting.

Australia is probably one of the least racist major countries, but we still have it, no matter how much we try to deny it.

Greatest Example of how racist we were, Stolen Generation (We thought it would help at first, then we just became assholes about it) and just our general attitudes toward the Native Australians.

[stsparky]

... Greatest Example of how racist we were, Stolen Generation (We thought it would help at first, then we just became assholes about it) and just our general attitudes toward the Native Australians.

I'd not take anyone being racist with my daughter. Her Asian side will be more evident as she grows. Have to admit that the Colombian baby down the street looks more Japanese than little Satomi right now. She looks very Anglo right now.

[Urban~Ninja]

I'd not take anyone being racist with my daughter. Her Asian side will be more evident as she grows. Have to admit that the Colombian baby down the street looks more Japanese than little Satomi right now. She looks very Anglo right now.

She will eventually look more Asian, old pictures of my mum when she was like 4 and 5 she just looked like a regular white kid with black hair and slightly darker skin but by 16 you could tell she was Part Asian, though since she speant most of her life between 18-28 at the beach she actually looks Indonesian, well atleast when we are in Bali all the people ask what village she is from and what her Indonesian name is thinking that she is from Bali. (Baliness are probably one of the darker Asian races)

[羽之助]

1/8 French-Canadian, 1/4 Scottish (Originally Irish)

EXCELLENT.

I am mostly French, the rest is Irish-Scottish (McDonald), and my father says there is a little bit of Greek thrown in, and though I don't really believe him, it would help explain where the hair comes from.

In my town, though small, most of the people I remember being in school growing up had parents of totally different ethnic backgrounds. Even the two Asian students were Chinese/Anglo and Korean/Burman, of all things. Plus, we lived right next to Quebec during the neverending referendums, so you had kids with names like Clouthier and Lapierre loudly vocalizing their distaste of all things Quebec.

In fact, it was the 'pure' people that we distrusted. 100% German? What the hell?

Different, eh.

You know, I'm thinking of making a presentation for the 'international' segment of my job, where I calculate how much of a percentage Ainu/Korean/Chinese/Indonesian/English everyone is. Yeah, English. Will Adams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Adams)' genes are floating around EVERYWHERE. Probably.

[Steve]

Its true, just look at Australia, Cronulla Riots, Pauline Hanson, White Australia Policy etc

Just add Rove Mcanus(sp?) to that list. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rove_McManus#Criticism

Also if you look at the suburbs alot of them are race dominated.
St Ives - Jewish Population.
Chatswood - Asian (mostly Korean, Chinese)
Parramata - Italian and Vietnamese (sp?)
Cronulla - Lebonese (until recently) and White]
Hornsby - Lebonese (based on the apartment building population)
Pymble/Turramurra - White
Maquarie - White

Cabramatta - Vietnamese/Chinese/Laos/Cambodian
Dee Why - Tongan/Vietnamese/Chinese
City - Hong Kong/Korean interntional students (nah, just kidding)