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I suspect a lot of the "racism" folks hear when they are here is more from the use of race as an identifier. Here we use someone's race as a descriptive term and it's not racist since it is to describe that particular person and not their group. "Oh, when you get your paint at the hardware store be sure to ask for the old Portuguese guy instead of the Japanese guy since he knows the old recipe for this color" or "oh, the Japanese dental technician is my favorite, she's my neighbor's daughter", etc. They aren't using the race as a generic pigeon hole or to describe some sort of derogatory trait.
Sometimes, though, race is used to describe the entire group, but usually it isn't for anything derogatory. Japanese are known for having a very clean and tidy yard, Filipinos frequently have decorative concrete fences, haoles sunburn easily and usually speak louder than other groups of folks, Portuguese bake nice bread and make great soup, Chinese folks are great at saving money and working in a hui, etc. Most of these are true for the race as a group although they may not be true for the specific individual. Is this racist? Yes it is. Is it hurtful and derogatory? No, it's not. It's Hawaii, it's how we do things here and no, we don't care how they do it on the mainland and we don't want to change.
The children will learn what they live. Lets encourage to live side by side and to help each other as neighbors no matter what we look,sound or live like.None of us will live forever so lets do it right!
I suspect a lot of the "racism" folks hear when they are here is more from the use of race as an identifier. Here we use someone's race as a descriptive term and it's not racist since it is to describe that particular person and not their group. "Oh, when you get your paint at the hardware store be sure to ask for the old Portuguese guy instead of the Japanese guy since he knows the old recipe for this color" or "oh, the Japanese dental technician is my favorite, she's my neighbor's daughter", etc. They aren't using the race as a generic pigeon hole or to describe some sort of derogatory trait.
Sometimes, though, race is used to describe the entire group, but usually it isn't for anything derogatory. Japanese are known for having a very clean and tidy yard, Filipinos frequently have decorative concrete fences, haoles sunburn easily and usually speak louder than other groups of folks, Portuguese bake nice bread and make great soup, Chinese folks are great at saving money and working in a hui, etc. Most of these are true for the race as a group although they may not be true for the specific individual. Is this racist? Yes it is. Is it hurtful and derogatory? No, it's not. It's Hawaii, it's how we do things here and no, we don't care how they do it on the mainland and we don't want to change.
I suspect a lot of the "racism" folks hear when they are here is more from the use of race as an identifier. Here we use someone's race as a descriptive term and it's not racist since it is to describe that particular person and not their group. "Oh, when you get your paint at the hardware store be sure to ask for the old Portuguese guy instead of the Japanese guy since he knows the old recipe for this color" or "oh, the Japanese dental technician is my favorite, she's my neighbor's daughter", etc. They aren't using the race as a generic pigeon hole or to describe some sort of derogatory trait.
Sometimes, though, race is used to describe the entire group, but usually it isn't for anything derogatory. Japanese are known for having a very clean and tidy yard, Filipinos frequently have decorative concrete fences, haoles sunburn easily and usually speak louder than other groups of folks, Portuguese bake nice bread and make great soup, Chinese folks are great at saving money and working in a hui, etc. Most of these are true for the race as a group although they may not be true for the specific individual. Is this racist? Yes it is. Is it hurtful and derogatory? No, it's not. It's Hawaii, it's how we do things here and no, we don't care how they do it on the mainland and we don't want to change.
I think that's how it is most places in the world. Like in the Caribbean there is a stereotype is that "Chinees" own stores... And they do, because their culture made them very entrepreneurial. Nothing wrong that.
In mainstream American culture, mild stereotyping like that is taboo, yet there is a lot of serious racism right under the surface and most people seem to not understand racism-- for example Dr. Laura attacked her black caller for not wanting to be called the "N word" by whites. She apparently couldn't comprehend that the intent and context is what makes it racist, all she could focus on was that "blacks use the N word". Or look at how much irrational hatred there is for Barack Obama, because he's half black and has a Muslim name, and possibly because he's from Hawaii.
Every time I read the tittle of this thread, somehow my brain reads "time to adopt *A* caucasian".
This caucasian, haole, fair girl, whatever you want to call me, is ready and willing to be adopted. I'm sure I'll love living on Kauai with you, mommy!
has anyone here ever heard anyone say "F***ing African American" or "F***ing Caucasian?" because I sure haven't
No, here in Hawaii it would be f'ing Popolo, f'ing Haole, f'ing Portagee, f'ing Kanaka and f'ing WHATEVER the person happens to be- this is NOT to be confused with Popolo, Haole, Portagee, Kanaka, etc.
The "f'ing is only included when the particular PERSON has drawn the ire of the speaker. We use racial backgrounds as an identifier- as has been explained ad nauseum. This is how we address each other here (btw- even Haoles use this system if they are kamaaina)- even when we love the person dearly.
You (general you) are looking for reasons to be offended - if you have been addressed as an "f'ing" whatever- it is because YOU have pizzed somebody off, not because your race has pizzed off that particular person. If you are constantly addressed as "f'ing" then perhaps you should take a look in the mirror.
Last edited by melaniej65; 08-20-2010 at 07:19 PM..
Location: Was in Western New York but now in Hilo Hawaii
1,234 posts, read 4,591,717 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by melaniej65
No, here in Hawaii it would be f'ing Popolo, f'ing Haole, f'ing Portagee, f'ing Kanaka and f'ing WHATEVER the person happens to be- this is NOT to be confused with Popolo, Haole, Portagee, Kanaka, etc.
The "f'ing is only included when the particular PERSON has drawn the ire of the speaker. We use racial backgrounds as an identifier- as has been explained ad nauseum. This is how we address each other here (btw- even Haoles use this system if they are kamaaina)- even when we love the person dearly.
You (general you) are looking for reasons to be offended - if you have been addressed as an "f'ing" whatever- it is because YOU have pizzed somebody off, not because your race has pizzed off that particular person. If you are constantly addressed as "f'ing" then perhaps you should take a look in the mirror.
Above quote was posted just TODAY in Austin forum. As you can see standard American english can also hurt. It's not about a word.. it's how people intend to use it.
I actually registered just because of this post. I've lived in Austin for 12 years and there are plenty of places you hear you 'shouldn't go'. Usually, if you ask why, the person doesn't know; they just heard it from someone else and repeated it. Like many cities, once you've been around long enough, you can look back on how 'those places' have moved and shifted with time, the economy, natural disasters, etc. It's life, and it's universal, we got similar warnings in various ways when we went to London and later to Paris.
For myself, in relation to the OP, I really don't mind for the simple fact that (as has been said) the word 'haole' is part of the islands' history - a very turbulent and complicated history. When I toured the Royal Palace with an *amazing* docent, and saw the sheer amount of events contained in a relatively small region, I was absolutely overwhelmed. It's also really important to note that we're not talking about very old events; the US is comparatively young as it is, and Hawaii's experiences are quite recent in that light.
Anyway, that might not make much sense, but I've been lurking for a while, harboring an obsession with Hawaii and thought I'd speak up.
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Yup, it's everywhere
