What do you believe concerning...?

Question

Yesterday... at an antiques fair, I met a man dealing in Asian artifacts and antiques who said...

"I don't like the Asians, I just sell these things, I find the Asian culture to be historically barbaric as they raped women and children and invaded villages and murdered people for land."

When I left, I was reeling, confused and wondering if anyone else feels the way he does about this? I did not engage him or argue with him because to me at least, he was ignorant and shortsided, a racist, an oppurtunist and completely missinformed...

What about American occupation in Vietnam?
What about our modern wars?
What about what you did to the American Indians?

Do Americans even know their own history of violence and murder? Or do we just believe that our cause is greater and therefore that makes us somehow better?

It is amazing to me how people believe what they do so emphatically, without realizing the truth. What do you think of this guy and his beliefs?

Answer 1

I hate to even admit this, but years ago I used to be biased against Asians, mainly because I felt they were pushy and didn't seem to have any problem getting into my "personal bubble." Then I had the wonderful opportunity of teaching at a Job Corps site for eight years where we had a large population of Asian students. I learned through my Asian students that they don't mean to be pushy or crowd others, but that the population is so huge that they had to move in close proximity of others and the pushiness was simply a strategy for survival. Those Asian students were the hardest working young people with whom I have ever worked and they appreciated everything they received!

The man you mentioned is absolutely ignorant to the cultures and history of Asians. He is obviously turning a blind eye to his own culture. After all, it was the American pioneers who came up with the "scalping" of Indians as a means to show how many Indians they slew throughout their hunts. Natives get blamed for it but that was a European thing. Boycott his store and try to share what knowledge you have of him with would-be shoppers by writing a letter to your local newspaper's Editor's column. The man shouldn't be making a living off those towards whom he holds in such contempt!

This is a very thought provoking question! Have a glorious day! Annie

Answer 2

Um. Many cultures started like this. Like, all of them. I don't know a single primitive culture that didn't.

Either Asian culture is the only one he's studied, or he's employing the age-old technique of willful ignorance to support his prejudice.

Answer 3

I believe this is what is happening with our society, so many people are caught up with all the religious killings of the past, and they are blind to the violence they themselves have contributed to, denial seems to be the answer nowadays for the total western population.

Answer 4

Was he American?
There you go!
He probably belonged to the 45% who voted for Bush!