Current mood:	annoyed
Current music:	HELLO - Pierrot
Entry tags:	chinese, cultures, idiots, rants

Sinocentrism at its worst
For those of you who have been reading my journal for some time, I think you'd remember those few rants about some Sinocentric people in my social circle. These friends of friends are typical Chinese-educated traditionalists with backward ideas on social and political issues, are pro-China and anti-Japan but think Japanese AV idols are hot and drive supped up Hondas and Toyotas. Oh and they just enjoy making fun of my love for J-rock music, among other insufferable things.

Well, today I had the misfortune to spend lunchtime with them. If I knew these idiots would be there, I wouldn't have gone. Seriously. They had nothing better to say other than stupid stuff and to show off photos from their China trip, which they just got back from last week. Yadda yadda they went on and on about beautiful China and beautiful Chinese girls. ~_~

The purpose of this post is to point out an unforgettable (but decidedly daft) opinion from one of the guys, who gushed about historical sites and the extensive Chinese empire of bygone days:

You notice, we were never a "bowing" culture. People bow to show respect and awe for superiors, but only like a servant bowing to his lord. Bowing is for lowly serfs. Ordinary Chinese people don't bow to each other. I mean, not to every Tom, Dick and Harry they meet. Not like the Japanese or Koreans, who bow to everyone, regardless of status. That kind of mentality has been in practice for so many centuries. I think it began when they were lowly ancient states, in comparison to the Chinese empire. Chinese contributed so much to Japan and Korea, like our language and traditions. Japan even paid tribute to us in the old days. That shows we're actually a more sophisticated and confident race. We don't bow every second or grovel at people's feet but walk and talk with confidence. I'm definitely proud to be Chinese in that sense.

(Bear in mind the guy didn't use those exact words. I'm interpreting from his Manglish usage, which was a mishmash of broken English and Hokkien.)

Soooo... what the friggin nut is that all about?!

THAT is a sad lot of distorted and outrageous trash. The fool had the gall to speak them out. I felt sooo embarrassed listening to him, but his two other equally stupid friends agree with him. Please read up on actual Asian history and cultures before you speak, you peabrain. "Bowing" is about being respectful AND courteous, not being inferior. The way he put it, made it sound a lot like as if Chinese people are arrogant and impolite who refuse to give in to a simple bow, although he meant it the other way round. Stupid huh?

The other two guys couldn't stop talking about "hot authentic Chinese girls" and the clubbing scene in Shanghai. They described everything in such a show-offish, we-are-so-elite manner that it was seriously intolerable. Our other lunch companions looked like they could punch them in the face or something. Well, it ain't my idea to invite those primates along and put us through an ordeal over pizza! It's a wonder I didn’t suffer from indigestion after lunch.

Fuktards. I seriously wonder what people learnt at those independent Chinese schools? Was their education really that nationalistic? Most of my Chinese friends were from national Malay/English-medium schools like myself, so I don't really know. I think it's high time I find out, so at least I know where these fools stand.

Hah! Chinese lent its language and culture to its neighbors eh? Now, I don't think the fools would fancy having nationalistic Koreans hear a word of that! They'll probably get shredded to pieces for daring to suggest that the Chinese had anything to do with the 5000 years of unique Korean culture. I guess they have yet to encounter a first-hand experience with true "Korean Pride" and its intensity. :P