The Voice of Lisa Chan Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or color of your skin? Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten? Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Do you or did you ever wish that you were another race other than your own? Urban Mozaik Magazine asks these questions of our readers and this is what Lisa had to say... Name: Lisa Chan Age: 32 Occupation: Freelance Writer/Editor Birth Place: Bremerton, WA Residence: Seattle, WA Mothers BirthPlace: California Maternal Grandmothers Birth Place: California Maternal Grandfathers Birth Place: Illinois Fathers Birthplace: Illinois Paternal Grandmothers Birth Place: Colorado Paternal Grandfathers Birth Place: Colorado Do you feel that new immigrants to North America should assimilate into the mainstream? If mainstream is defined as what is displayed in popular T.V. culture, then No. If by mainstream you mean that immigrants should learn passable English, join a community of their choice, achieve gainful and non-exploitive employment... then Yes. I have found that the children of first generation immigrants who attend public school will have no choice but to become Americanized through peer socialization. The parents and extended family have difficult decisions to make about acculturation. I know several second generation Chinese immigrants who wish their parents had been more diligent about heritage and language education. Those who have had the fortune of becoming bi-lingual, visiting family overseas, found community of their own ethnicity, and had strong parenting and extended family involvement generally seem to be more secure and successful. Would your parents object to you dating or marrying a person who was of a different race than you? While my own parents seemed to never date outside of their own race, they were interested in mixed cultures. My grandfather was a naval engineer and was stationed in Guam. My mother grew up traveling in Asia and returned to the U.S. when she was 15. My father's parents moved to Alaska when he was a young boy to build a church/school and minister to Aleutian Native Americans. Several joined their churches, and my father grew up with many friends his own age from the villages. Coincidentally, my brother married a lady of Aleutian heritage. I married a first generation Cantonese immigrant from Hong Kong. My mother passed away before my marriage. But, I believe that our entire family (on both sides) is accepting of our choices. What do you think of affirmative action and racial quotas in the workplace? I think it is still a very controversial issue. In my home state integration busing has caused politically charged debates and rifts. Some see it as a form of reverse racism. Some believe that there is no such thing as reverse racism. I don't have a child in school, and work for myself. So, I feel undereducated about the issue and do not have a solid current opinion. What do you think of signs on businesses that don't have any English on them? I think that perhaps the products being sold don't pertain to me. I don't worry about it, and it doesn't offend me. I spend a lot of time in the International District of my city. Signs that have no English are rare, but they do exist. Some of the business owners have shops that cater to a certain ethnic clientèle. How many Caucasian or only-English speaking people are going to care if there's a sale on dried scallop and feel cheated that they weren't made aware? If it's easier to put the sign up in Chinese, more people in the neighborhood can read Chinese than English, then it makes sense that the sign should be in Chinese. English is a secondary concern in that kind of situation. However, in my opinion, a business should always have an English version of it's operating name posted visibly for the safety of the community, and to ease the work of social services like police and fire. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race or the color of your skin? Tell us about it. Probably. Not everyone in my husband's family has been thrilled that I didn't speak Cantonese fluently. I have been insulted as a 'race traitor'. My own in-laws have intimated that I am lazy because I don't share a similar lifestyle pace or work ethic with them. Sometimes, people stop and stare or make rude remarks at us as a couple. However, I have never been physically threatened. Has anything, relating to race, happened lately that really bothered you? No. What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Where were you when you ate it? Scorpion. I was vacationing in Beijing. I often eat chicken feet, pigs ears, tripe, tendon, jellyfish, and re-hydrated seafoods of all kinds. I will try anything once. What is your favorite ethnic food? I love daikon cake. It's white radish, grated, mixed with Chinese sausage, dried scallop, spice, and then fried like a pancake. I especially love anything with dried scallop in it. Where do you live and where have you traveled where the culture was the most different from your own? I live in the Pacific Northwest, USA. I have spent a month in Hong Kong and Beijing. I have also traveled to Europe and Australia. Do you feel that you are in touch with your culture of origin? No. I have Irish, German, and Dutch ancestry. I have only visited Germany and Holland for a few days. My grandparents and parents are completely Americanized. I am more in touch with the cultural origin of my husband's family and am aware of and practice more Cantonese traditions than any other. Have you ever traveled back to the homeland(s) of your ancestors? Why not, if you haven't? Yes. I have been to Germany and Holland. I didn't feel a connection to either of those cultures. What percentage of your friends are able to speak a language other than English? More than half. In brief, describe your idea of a perfect world. In my perfect world, everyone would respect each other's cultural differences and show basic courtesy. There would be a climate of sharing. Everyone would have a choice of ethnicity that was not based on the color of one's skin but on the content of one's heart, character, and country of origin. Do you or did you ever wish that you were of another race? If so, why? The only time I have ever wished to be another race was when I felt that it would be beneficial to the happiness of my marriage and relations. Do you feel uncomfortable if you are a minority in a room full of people who are all of one race? I do. While I am generally accepting and accepted by my relations, it can be uncomfortable at times to be the only Caucasian in the room. There are language barriers and sometimes minor misunderstandings about roles and etiquette. Are you physically attracted to people of a different race? If so, why do you think you are? I am attracted to the character of a person, not the color of their skin. I particularly admire the family education that my husband's family enjoys and perpetuates. I chose my partner for his values. His race was inconsequential. I also feel that my own family education contributed to my ability to be able to see beyond race and remain open to other ethnicities and cultures. My parents never gave me any reason to believe that peoples of other races (or their cultures) were anything to feel threatened by. How did you feel about responding to this questionnaire? It was challenging, but a wonderful exercise. 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