Naming the Crisis

From Wikipedia, on World War I:

Before World War II, the war was also known as The Great War, The World War, The War to End All Wars, The Kaiser’s War, The War of the Nations and The War in Europe. In France and Belgium it was sometimes referred to as La Guerre du Droit (the War for Justice) or La Guerre Pour la Civilisation / de Oorlog tot de Beschaving (the War to Preserve Civilization), especially on medals and commemorative monuments.

It’s not my idea, but who’s up for naming “the crisis” Depression II, and thus renaming The Great Depression to Depression I? At the very least, it will make for interesting discussion on the importance of language with regards to perception of major economic and political events, like that brought on by the technical difference between “depression” and “recession”.

Appearance and Nationality in Cuba

Funny I should post about race just before heading off to Cuba for the reading week holiday, since the trip gave me a look into the same issues from another angle. Staying at a resort alongside mostly elderly vacationers (whom I was very tempted to “type” in a particular way) drew some interesting comments. For example, the following exchange occurred when we struck up a conversation on our way to dinner.

CANADIAN SENIORS: “So, are you students?”

US: “Yep.”

CS: “Oh, where are you from? It must be Japan…wait, some of you are Chinese. Well?”

US: “Most of us are Chinese actually, one is Filipino.”

CS: “Oh, and he’s white!”

ME: “I’m Korean.”

CS: “Haha, he says he’s Korean!”

Discussing it after, we jokingly remarked that I didn’t “get a country” by dint of being white with no discernible accent. Similar exchanges occurred during the trip, mostly between the resort staff and our group. One of my friends was referred to as “Jackie Chan” repeatedly, and another staff member jumped into martial arts positions whenever we passed. She also told us that she knew everyone was Chinese except for myself and my Filipino friend. She knew this, she claimed, because of his eyes, which were different, as she demonstrated with the “slanty eye” gesture.

During much of the trip, I tried to claim I was Chinese by adoption, although this was mostly in an attempt to feign lack of understanding of languages other than Mandarin when we were being harangued by “tour guides” wanting tips. Just like my claiming to be Korean, nobody bought it.

I think the reaction from the tourists is particularly interesting because they were Canadians and knew we were as well (most if not all of those at the resort were from Canada). I wonder whether they would have asked similar questions if we had, for whatever reason, had the same conversation in Canada. As well, their insistence on knowing that people were Japanese got me thinking about this trend, which I’ve seen before. For whatever reason, in my experience it seems to have become unfashionable to ask people if they are Chinese. One of my friends mentioned that he thinks it’s because it’s no longer acceptable to “assume” anyone is Chinese, and that other well known countries (Korea, Japan) are more acceptable. Has anyone else noticed this? Why do you think this is?

Continuing Thoughts on Privilege

As a person with a Southern Ontario accent and white skin, when my answer to “Where are you from?” is Toronto (or Hamilton, perhaps, if the interlocutor is from Western Canada) nobody will respond, “no, I mean originally.”