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Wow. This is a truly horrifying attempt to normalize racism. "If you don't like it, just go home." He's been there for a decade. The author likely sees Japa
by wheels 7y ago
Wow. This is a truly horrifying attempt to normalize racism. "If you don't like it, just go home." He's been there for a decade. The author likely sees Japan as his home.
The social mechanics of Japan are certainly quirky by western standards, but that doesn't mean that some things aren't universally unacceptable. You might as well say, "If you don't like persecution of gays, stay out of Nigeria." "If you think women should be able to drive, stay out of Saudi Arabia." (recently changed)
As a traveler, and someone that's been to almost 50 countries, I tend to keep my head down and not make waves when I'm out of my the cultures where I feel at home. But that doesn't mean that I can't write about injustices. That's what you're literally saying the author is not entitled to do. After a decade in said country.
- ng12 7y ago> "If you don't like persecution of gays, stay out of Nigeria." "If you think women should be able to drive, stay out of Saudi Arabia." (recently changed) I mean... yes? I cannot recommend living in either country as a member of one of those groups. Nor can I really understand the egocentric view that if you voluntarily choose to move to a new country that country's culture should change as to be comfortable for you.
- theroo 7y agoWe should let people that brave it, comment on it without being told they shouldn’t be there by people who aren’t there. Commenting on it is critical. Commentary can spark a change in ideas and attitudes for the better. HN crowd always go to the pragmatic. But what about big ideas? Big change? Can we support people that are pursuing that without zooming immediately into technicalities? Probably not. But I hope.
- ng12 7y agoIt is definitely acceptable to comment on his experience -- and I think it was a fascinating read -- but I'm mostly reacting to the idea that accepting it as a facet of Japanese society is normalizing racism.
- barry-cotter 7y agoYou are using the word literally wrong, and I neither said nor implied he wasn’t entitled to do anything. I said being him must be unpleasant, to spend so long obsessing over tiny slights. If your travels have left you an American cultural imperialist that’s cool. I’m personally comfortable with a great deal more diversity on the basis that foreign intervention is usually a total clusterfuck but if you think Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya or other American imperial adventures are successes we’re all entitled to our own opinions, if not our own facts.
- ddiq 7y agoMy travels have left me as an anti American cultural imperialist. Liberal capitalism destroys cultural diversity and replaces unique traditions with cheap mass product.