What would you have done?

[happygrump]

The other night a buddy of mine and I were out getting some parts for his car at the local Canadian Tire. As we were leaving, there were a couple of people standing by the exit door, one of which was chatting on her cellphone. They were Asian (Chinese, I'm assuming, though I can't really be sure).

My buddy started saying things like, "F*ckin ch*nks, come to our country, take our f*ckin jobs... why don't they just go the f*ck home?" and stuff along those lines. It wasn't directed at them - they probably didn't hear it - but just as a general comment.

This is not like my buddy at all. As a matter of fact it was completely out of character.

At first I was simply dumbfounded (not hard, I grant you) and was about to say something, but I didn't. Racism was not reasoned into him, therefore it can't be reasoned out of him.

Still, I think I should have said something, but I don't know what. Any suggestions?

 

[pool]

Unfortunately, I've been in this position many times.

depending on your relationship to the person ...

Either counteract his reasoning ... ie we all contribute to the economy etc ... point out that they took nobody's job and it's a free country.

To some degree of diplomacy [depending on relationship] suggest that he should ask himself why he feels the need to blame others for his shortcomings.

ignore it coz you'd be waisting your breath ( this is the most likely, but how you feel it should be approached does depend a lot on the overall character of the other person - some people just say stuff without any real malicious intent - it's part of their brainwashing ) ...

or just growl ... which doesn't do much, but he should get the point.

 

[The Truman Show]

Sounds like you don't know your buddy as well as you thought you did ...

 

[to-guy69]

The funny is, all of us are immigrants one way or another to Canada...apart from the natives.

 

[Asterix]

Missed your chance. You should have called him on it right then and asked him what the hell he was talking about. If he got pissed or defensive so be it. Like The Truman Show said, it doesn't sound lke he was all that good a friend of yours in the first place.

 

[Mouchancer]

Lucky S.O.B your buddy.........

Cause if this ch**k here heard him make those comments and/or if it was directed towards me I promise you that he would get jumped in an instant. Us ch**ks make up a big part of the city true enough while alot are immigrants/fobs whatever you wanna call them there are many 2nd and even 3rd generation chinese canadians living in our diverse multicultural city. My parents came to this great country over 30 years ago for a better life.The struggles and racism,the hardships they had to endure, to make comments about ch**ks and immigrants I cannot help but be offended . Just a word of wise to you buddy think twice before commenting because there are many asians living in the city who will not tolerate his crap.

 

[stang]

The funny is, all of us are immigrants one way or another to Canada...apart from the natives.

and ironically some say the "natives" originally crossed over from Asia.

 

[pool]

Some people think if they were born here they aren't immigrants. Which of course technically they are not, but it is just that; a technicality.

We are all descended from immigrants.

 

[pool]

Cause if this ch**k here heard him make those comments and/or if it was directed towards me I promise you that he would get jumped in an instant.

No offence, and I understand your anger/frustration [as much as I'm able], but that type of attitude just exasperates the situation. More than likely, although it might make some think twice, it may only enforce/ add to any stereotyping : (

 

[Berlin]

actually i was told by a bunch of scooter boys:"go back to where you came from" in 2001. is it possible that your friend is one of those kids???

We Canadians pride ourselves in our multi cultralism , among other beautiful things. Yet racism is still very much alive and well in our country. I'll tell you one thing beefy, sometimes people just like mouthing racists remarks for fun, ignorant ones scold to blame, and some are just pure farking racists.

Be proud of your roots ( I am assuming a lot here ) , Canada, although far from perfect, is still a great country for all cultures. I hope those remarks you mentioned didn't get to you, beefy.

 

[Berlin]

Missed your chance. You should have called him on it right then and asked him what the hell he was talking about. If he got pissed or defensive so be it. Like The Truman Show said, it doesn't sound lke he was all that good a friend of yours in the first place.

Ditto.

 

[Asterix]

and ironically some say the "natives" originally crossed over from Asia.

Pretty much accepted by most scientists in the field that Asians did come to the Americas first over an ice bridge via Alaska. You could also track the origin of migration of the human species all the way back to Africa if you like. We are effectively all immigrants (and all related as well, though we choose to pretend otherwise). For anyone to claim a land as more their home then those who have fairly followed is ludicrous.

 

[pool]

Be proud of your roots

Absolutely, but I feel that some people get this mixed up with "racial superiority". I suppose that would be defined under racism, but it seems to have a dimension of it's own and can be quite sickening.

It also seems that it's a very grey area in regard to positive recognition of someone's race vs accepting them as just part of the human race.

 

[Berlin]

Indeed.

 

[hjwolf69]

... Still, I think I should have said something, but I don't know what. Any suggestions?

you still can do something ... you can ask him if he is a racist ... no one likes to admit they are a racist ... probably won't change his stripes, but he will probably keep it to himself next time ...

 

[pool]

I don't believe I've ever met anyone who is completely non racist. It just seems more like varying degrees, and some people are in the least racist camp, while others are very racist - I could be wrong - it would be nice to be wrong.

 

[C Dick]

Sometimes what appears to be racism isn't really, it is more just the form that someone's hatred takes at a given time. There are certainly some people in Toronto who are racist, but I think there are a lot of people who are more generally hateful: they see people at the store who are Asian, so they use racial slurs. Then they see well dressed men so they question their sexual orientation, then they go home and go onto Terb and call people shills or whores. It is not that they are particularly racist or homophobic or anything, they just hate everyone and use whatever slur seems to fit.

 

[xarir]

I would have responded immediately. Racism of any kind has no place in our society; it doesn't matter who it's directed against. It's possible your buddy had a recent bad experience with ethnic people, but that still doesn't justify his comments.

I would have asked this guy what exactly it is that makes this country more his than anyone else's. These people on the phone could well have been 2nd or 3rd or 4th generation Canadians. What is it then that makes your buddy more Canadian then them?

You didn't take the opportunity to ask him then which was too bad, but this doesn't preclude you from bringing it up again. You can just tell him point blank, "You know, when we were at the Tire you mentioned as we were walking out ..."

Final point - just what could be more Canadian than going to Canadian Tire? You & your buddy did it and phone people did it too. Who's more Canadian?

 

[SlitherySOB]

I would have called him racist. Say it sorta covertly, no malice or pride in your voice. People, with a few exceptions, hate admitting they are racist. And I hate to say it, but people are racist/prejudice in some miniscule degree. I feel like a hypocrite, but I don't like a certain religion. Mainly, because I was born into it and had a very bad experience with it. Now, if you are of that religion, I won't hate you automatically. But I may feel a bit disgusted. And I hate myself for being that way, but it's honest.

 

[trek5]

your buddy is only voicing what the majority of canadians think with this huge influx of asians invading my country . yet those with a fetish for asian chicks dont seem to mind as long as you dont marry one .