Calvin

As I said, today it is an advantage. I do not think it is demeaning or objectifying if the media glamorizes the look of Eurasians. As we say here in America, ” go for it !” “have at it !”. It’s actually a very powerful tool for expressing other causes.

I remember in science class at school studying about hybrid species. What stood out in my mind is when one breeds with another it can produce a superior hybrid, better than the parents but the best of both combined. I’m not saying Eurasians are superior, but it does make you wonder.

We should indeed celebrate the mixed heritages – look at Obama, look at Tiger Woods, etc. the list goes on and on. We should capture this complex history and honor it to the highest degree.

Thanks for listening,
Bianca

I guess Mousharilla describes the ideal way to handle one’s identity. But probably that’s not within reach of each and everyone of all those who are involved. Because an individual only has limited means to neutralize the perception of a minority by the majority. And usually subgroups in society have or develop prejudices and stereotypes about each other. Some of them mild and positive, but often also negative and aggressive ones.

Looking around in my own society I can observe this phenomenon. Maybe there are some similarities to what is the positionn of Chinese-Indonesians.

Of course the present mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen,probably one of the best in history, is and considers himself to be a real Dutchman. But there is always the connotation `Jewish`. Which means he is perceived of belonging to a subgroup who is different because of their religion, some of their habits and the special relationship with Israel. A group moreover which has a relatively strong position in commerce and dominates literature, art and the intellectual scene.

Their successes in the past has contributed to anti Semitism and even in Germany in the Nazi epoch, led to the Shoah.

And the mayor Rotterdam is of Moroccan origin. Also a subgroup that seems to be quite different. A different religion, several different habits and a special relation to the country they originated from. Obviously the mayor himself is a successful Dutchman, but in the papers, on TV, he is always reminded of his descent. In this case meaning he belongs to a minority group whose members are perceived as causing a lot of trouble. As most of them belong to the lowest strata in socio-economic sense, it is not amazing that this is rather factual and not mere perception. So, for Dutchmen of Moroccan descent therefore it is hard to identify themselves with a Dutch society that time after time rejects them.

My point is that it is not always up to the individual to define his-her own identity. Often the majority in society puts one in the position of being “different”, ” strange” or even “dangerous”. That´s the start of discrimination and of a vicious circle as the victims often have no option but to seek “shelter” in their own group. That only add to their oddness and visibility as being “others” and can easily fuel fuel the prejudices and stereotypes.

“It is not easy to be green”(Kermit the Frog, Sesame Street).

Di satu bagian situ menulis: “Orang Indo di Indonesia, generasi yg hilang?” Dari pengalaman saya mengedit artikel Eropa-Indonesia di Wiki Indonesia, masalah terbesar adalah kesulitan dalam mendefinisi “siapakah orang Indo”. Orang ras campuran eropa? Orang eropa setengah, seperempat, seperdelapan? Orang yang menjalankan kultur eropa, meskipun fenotipenya melayu/cina sekali? Kesulitan ini muncul akibat definisi “Europeanen” dalam UU Administrasi 1852. Definisi Indo sekarang (oleh orang Indonesia) adalah orang Indonesia yang punya campuran Eropa kuat (racially based), tapi orang Indo di Belanda mengaitkannya juga dengan kultur (racially and culturally based). Itulah kenapa gerakan Indo 3.0 di Belanda cukup kuat, sbg bentuk penguatan identitas. Di Indonesia, walaupun ada kesan orang memperhatikan penampakan (fenotipe), masyarakat sebenarnya tidak membedakan orang begitu ybs. memperlihatkan perilaku yg “common”. Paling2 dibilang “bule” (kalau fenotipenya caucasian), tapi perlakuan yang diberikan thd-nya tidak berbeda dg terhadap orang lain.

Industri hiburan memang punya keanehan. Jangan terlalu mengacu pada industri itu. Menyesatkan.

I understand having pride in knowing, understanding, and being able to practice cultural traditions. I get that having something in common with random strangers is a powerful feeling.. I just don’t get the way some people cling on to their cultural identity to the point that it looks like they have nothing else to hold on to. As if that was the only way to define themselves.

I’ve said this many times – I’m just as happy to be called ‘Indonesian’ and that’s enough for me. I don’t mind if no one bothers mentioning the country and call me ‘Asian’. Hell, I’m happy enough to be called an earthling. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean I don’t like being called Indonesian – I just don’t think its all that important.

Not to be self-centered, but when it comes to defining yourself – you are who you think you are. Be whoever you want to be.

As for saying mixed races are ‘exotic’ and ‘beautiful’ and stuff.. Well to be honest.. Does it really matter? For the people who get labeled that – good for you! I mean, compliments are always nice, and no one is immune to it. And for the ones who think they deserve the label – you deserve it then. Why care what other people say?

Ya lu taulah pendapat gw Vin

indo people makes the diverse in this country become more than just a myth, and we should celebrate it more.i never found disturbing discrimination in my life before, and it always fun to tell people that i am indonesian rather than ‘i am bataknese’ ‘i am chinese’ whatsoever, since being Indonesian is the idea of which my main identity is made.