Do we understand the ORIENTAL mind, and what FACE is?

Question

The Orientals, like Korea, believ in SAVING FACE. If someone
disrespects them, they have to do something to regain their honor.\
They often fought duels to the DEATH over FACE!
Do we realize we are FORCING confrontations with other
countries by making DEMANDS?
When will the WEST learn we cannot talk to the LEADERS of
other countries like they are children?

Anthony Silva
Great Legislator

Answer 1

I agree with Frank - he seems to know what he is talking about.

Plus like he mentioned, only in America 'Oriental' is a racist term - the rest of the world, including England, where the term originated, does use it without any problems. Even the Webster dictionary has the same thoughts........

Answer 2

I am an American, but raised in Asia, and presently live in China. Face is the amount of respect that is paid to a person but in China face is more westernized today. We accept things with greater tolerance than previously. If I offer you a gift, and I want to show utmost politeness, then I must offer it by holding it in both hands....with a short bow...Japanese pay great attention to bows...but in China, it is now a little excessive. We use a lot of hand gestures too, but sadly this custom is becoming less common. By clenching my right fist and covering it with my left palm, we express sincere gratitude. The only place we kowtow is in a temple (I am Buddhist) and when we light joss sticks we may either simply bow our heads or for extreme supplication, we kneel and touch our head to the floor....we are paying face. To lose face means to be shamed in front of others. Previously, for the Lunar New year, all employees of a company were invited to a dinner, and the first course is usually steamed chicken....and if the head pointed to a person (chosen previously by the boss) it meant that he would be fired...but now the head is not served or the head points to the boss....to prevent loss of face. Japanese customs are different from Chinese (in reality most Chinese dislike Japanese because of the atrocities of World War II), but honor or face is still very important to them. A student that fails an examination may commit suicide for being a disgrace to his family. Enough about culture. American and other 'Western Countries' have a superior attitude, and while I am white, I see it too. They don't understand that countries have to solve their own problems. As we have the illegal Mexican problem in America, both the Mexicans need to solve their own thing with their country and government and the Americans need to understand that they are becoming more racist...but it is a problem that needs addressed and the people need to be returned home before a serious turmoil erupts. I agree that the US dictates policies, but it shouldn't and we have seen proof-positive that other nations do well without the US...Panama is a good example. Cuba, though it could be more prosperous by trade with the US didn't collapse. Vietnam and Laos would have been better off without US involvement. Look at the Hmong....we virtually abandoned them...and the killing fields of Cambodia might have been prevented....There's too much. Also to correct some of the other respondents, Asian or Oriental are both 'politically' correct. While most races of Asians prefer to be identified by national origin, both are OK.

Answer 3

The term "oriental" is not political, or socially correct. You mean Asians.

And I am not too sure about what else you mean in your post. The "face" thing works in their culture, but may not mean anything to the Western culture

Answer 4

DO we understand that the term "ORIENTALS" is offensive to ASIANS? Orientals refers to objects, things. Asians do not like that term. Now you have 10Billion ASIANS wanting to save face from you!!!
P.S. Nutso North Korean guy just wants money from the US. It's a shakedown.

Answer 5

well isn't that the Western face that u r describing, as the rest of the world sees it???--arrogant, insensitive, bully, selfish, no morals, no respect for women, partisan, and will do nything for money????
in brief--a people with no culture, no values, no ethics??

the point is not how u treat the asian leaders, the point is why do u do it. no??