You All Look Alike! : International Blog Against Racism

[fickle]

So, shameful confession time.

I can't tell the difference between Chinese, South Korean, North Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese just by looking at people. I know the difference if I'm looking at a map, obviously, but people? No.

Likewise, I don't really expect white people to be able to tell the difference between Bengali, Indian, and Sri Lankan people. Not unless they've spent a significant amount of time in one of those countries.

See, I have a friend from Bangladesh who was insulted when someone mistook her for being from India. I get asked if I'm from India all the time, and I usually just laugh and say "No, Sri Lanka" because hey, at least they were on the right continent and that's something. But when I think about it, I wonder if maybe I should take it a little more seriously because the sentence "Oh, but they all look alike" sounds so ignorant to me.

At the same time, though, I think the idea of thinking everyone of a particular ethnicity looks alike is more insulting if you're failing to distinguish between individuals as opposed to knowing what country they come from. Consider the two scenarios:

Person A: Hi, Chamithri!
Person B: ...I'm not Chamithri. I'm Dilkushi.
Person A: Oh, sorry. It's just that you all look alike to me.

versus

Person A: Hi! Listen, I was wondering, I was thinking about going to India for the summer and do you know any good places to visit?
Person B: No, sorry, never been there.
Person A: But aren't you Indian?
Person B: No, I'm from Pakistan.
Person A: Oh, I'm sorry. Everyone from thereabouts just looks alike to me.

To me, the second one is a lot less offensive because the differences are subtle enough that I wouldn't expect them to be able to judge people's origins by their faces or skin color. The first one, however, is just plain rude because it means that not only are you not paying attention to the people you meet but you're also trying to brush it off by lumping everyone into a big mass of brown or black or yellow or whatever color.

If anyone ever said "All white people look the same to me", they'd be considered an idiot. If they said that they can't tell the difference between people from France, Germany and Italy based on appearance, it would probably be allowed to slide.

Moral of the post? Appearances can be deceptive, and of everyone on my flist, I know the ethnicities of only very few of you. If you want me to try to guess yours, leave me a comment daring me to guess, and I'll have a try. No getting offended if I get it wrong! XD

Comments

[homgsekrit.livejournal.com]

I think, maybe if you work with two people of of different ethnic descent that are from the same continent, or same area of the continent, you should attempt to learn the differences and be able to tell them apart. If they're your friends more so.

But real honest? People just look alike. Period. They really, really do. I was asked when I was younger if I was CHINESE. Not even CLOSE. Nothing against Asians, granted. I think they're gorgeous, but they do have similar features to Native Americans, which is where the mixup stemmed from, as I DO have Native American blood in me. Apparently a few people at my school thought I was French, also. x___X No idea where that one came from. My female boss thought me and my mother were Canadian just because of how we pronounce salmon. Some people think my father has Italian blood in him, and my boss from work actually thought my VERY WHITE LOOKING mother was MEXICAN. Because, well...there ARE people from the middle of Mexico that look like the winter Texans that come down here from CANADA, MINNESOTA, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN and so forth. All the way down to blond hair and blue eyes.

Hispanics (heck, this goes for Americans as well) look like a lot like everything. They can look Asian, Native, like they're from some exotic island, and even African American. With all of the mixing going on, the distinctive differences are softening, and in some cases, they didn't fully exist to begin with.

Personally, I don't think someone that can't tell the difference is an idiot or ignorant. I think people shouldn't even assume and just ASK.

Also, I won't be so cruel as to even ask you to guess with me. ANYONE would fail, unless you recall everything I've told you.

So....

Irish, Dutch, Native American (this includes tribes from the Northern part (one of my ancestors from my maternal side was on the Trail of Tears, in fact), and Central American part), Spaniard. There is suspected British roots, but I've not been able to trace it back or figure it out, really. And that possibility of Italian roots on my dad's side.

I.E. Fuck it all. Just call me American. ;D I was born here, raised here, I am FROM here, everything else SHOULD not matter.

[xinda.livejournal.com]

Irish, Dutch, Native American (this includes tribes from the Northern part (one of my ancestors from my maternal side was on the Trail of Tears, in fact), and Central American part), Spaniard. There is suspected British roots, but I've not been able to trace it back or figure it out, really. And that possibility of Italian roots on my dad's side.

*butts in, since I know you* Hey, I remembered ... hmm... half of it or so. Since, I knew the Native American part, just not anything of any specifics or what have you*)... and I don't recall Spaniard.

-- I wonder how many people have been mistaken to be Mexican (or any sort of Hispanic...) in Texas? *has been... a few times*

[homgsekrit.livejournal.com]

XD *snuggles you*

A lot of people. They think I'm MEXICAN.... Hispanic does NOT mean Mexican. That is very, very important to me. Nothing against Mexicans or their country, but my parents were born here, I was born here, I am AMERICAN. There isn't any ifs ands ors and or butts about it. It simply IS what it is. Assumptions in general are just aggravating sometimes. I like ALL of me, and most of me is from the Natives of America, and half of me is "white," so getting labeled as Mexican makes me want to gauge eyes out. It's completely neglecting EVERYTHING about me, including the fact I was born HERE.

And I'll stop there, because I'm ranting, and that's just annoying. XD

[xinda.livejournal.com]

*snugs*

*nods* Which is why I pointed out both as I've seen both being pointed out to those that... were neither.

As for the American thing, I've tried to point it out to people before (of course, with different situations, reasons blah blah and such blah blah *disclaimer inserted here*), but it just goes ignored so I've more or less stopped saying it anywhere but to my mom.

*pats* Don't blame you for ranting - not a bit. The overall topic can lead to ranting or just overall thoughts that could move beyond ranting. Especially with different situations and *blah,blah,blah* (not dismissing it, of course, just stopping before I go on)

[homgsekrit.livejournal.com]

*huggles* I hear you. It's just crazy. People don't seem to understand...if you're not going to differentiate between the fact Hispanic =/= Mexican, then stop trying to point out differences AT ALL. That's how I feel about it. Once I get singled out as being different and called Mexican, screw it, you just started me on giving you my entire family history, and a historical vocabulary lesson on the meaning of the word Hispanic, where it came from, and how to USE IT. In truth, that word doesn't really cover me, though. I'm a MUTT. So in all, I prefer American. It covers things better.

And you can definitely talk to me about the American thing. XD I won't ignore it. *DIES* Clearly. Also, trying to watch that Gay Bomb you posted. XD

[xinda.livejournal.com]

*snugs* Mmhmmm. I knew growing up, or at least real little, I lumped it together, because no one really made it a point to note any difference. Then, I was pointed out not to do that (etc). LOL!!! Actually, that does happen, doesn't it? When you do mention someone asking if you were Mexican - or speaking to you in Spanish - you do point out your history and such xDD You might want to just record it/type it out (something) and then anytime someone says it, hand it to them/play it for them ^_~ (<~light joke) And the word "mutt" usually does follow *smiles* :D

LoL ! Another person I can add to that list. YAY! The list has grown to... two people! ^_~ LOL! I... I... That thing.... It's so... just wow,