What do people think about ethnic GLOs

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by SOPi_Jawbreaker

I don't really know much about the whole Asian parents wanting tradition and rebelling against that (my parents sent me to public school ). But I did want to add another reason onto what L.O.C.K. had said (and you yourself even sort of referenced it by saying "They do make a committment to better the community as a whole, however"). A lot of the Asian Greeks I know (and I would imagine this would probably also apply to Latino/a and African-American GLO's) joined their orgs because it afforded them opportunities to become more involved in the Asian-American community on their campus and/or the Asian-American community in general. It's kinda like joining the Asian-American Students Association or the Chinese Students Association when there exists an Undergraduate Student Association. The Undergraduate Student Association, like NPC/NIC GLO's, may not be the right fit for someone who wants to be part of something that has a particular cultural focus and works on issues specific to that culture. I don't see ethnic GLO's becoming obsolete with more cross-cultural/multi-cultural interaction and mixing. Instead, I think the future holds more intermingling in orgs. Just like how there's more minorities in NPC/NIC orgs and how there's black students (of African-American and Carribean heritage) joining Latino/a GLO's, I think in the future there will be more non-Asian students joining Asian GLO's because they have an interest in the culture and in the political issues and because they feel a fit. And I think there will continue to be more minorities joining NPC/NIC orgs, and I don't think that will make any type of GLO obsolete because they offer different things.

But the Asian communities are so vast and diverse that it would be impossible to learn about them as a whole and help them. African-Americans have a common history and culture (though things are now changing, with immigrants from various African countries), Asians do not.

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

But the Asian communities are so vast and diverse that it would be impossible to learn about them as a whole and help them. African-Americans have a common history and culture (though things are now changing, with immigrants from various African countries), Asians do not.

While the whole big category of "ASIAN" encompasses so many things that it would be impossible to learn everything about Asia and Asian culture, I do feel that being in an Asian GLO, there is a great deal of learning about each other's cultures. Plus, even if one doesn't learn the whole entirety of Asian-ness, one can still become educated about Asian-specific issues and get involved. For example, one of my sisters is really into activisim. For her last two years at Penn State, she petitioned and successfully got the administration to add an Asian-American studies class. Many of our other sisters as well as other students (Asian-American and non-Asian-American, Asian GLO members and unaffiliated students) helped her get signatures, line up faculty supporters, spread the word about Asian-American studies, etc.

For two years, the administration had rejected her petitions, saying that there was already Asian studies. Finally, she was able to get through to them that Asian-American studies is very different from Asian studies and to convince them of the importance of bringing Asian-American studies to Penn State.

I don't think that she would have gotten the same kind of support if she had been in a NPC GLO. Not saying that they would have been unsupportive, but it would have been something that most of them probably would not feel a personal connection to and would not be able to fully understand why it's so important and would not be able to have that same level of such passion for bringing this class to PSU.

FYI for those that don't know the difference: Asian studies deals with culture and history of countries in Asia. Asian-American studies deals with the mixed/blended culture of Asian-Americans, the struggles to assimilate, the history of discriminatory laws, and famous cases of anti-Asian violence in American history. Asian-American studies is a part of the history of the United States of America, just like how the history of discrimination and violence against African-Americans is a part of US history and needs to taught and remembered.

[Taualumna]

I don't think that she would have gotten the same kind of support if she had been in a NPC GLO. Not saying that they would have been unsupportive, but it would have been something that most of them probably would not feel a personal connection to and would not be able to fully understand why it's so important and would not be able to have that same level of such passion for bringing this class to PSU.

She didn't need to be in an Asian GLO to do that. She could have done that in an Asian club (unless all the Asian clubs at her school are very foreign student oriented).

Sorry, I'm more interested in Asian histories/cultures in Asia than Asian history in this part of the world....

[L.O.C.K.]

Taualumna,

Your comments are typical of many people, Greek or not, in the U.S. who have a very hard time comprehending Asian AMERICAN.

People love the "Asian cultures" as in the food, the kimonos, the Geisha girls, etc., but when it comes to the oppression that has faced many Asian Americans, things such as Executive Order 9066, The 1924 Immigration Act, the riots, etc., people don't pay attention.

THAT is why there is a need for Asian AMERICAN Greek organizations. Sure, we focus on Asian culture and things in ASIA, but our membership is primarily Asian AMERICAN, and most members have had a VERY different experience than people growing up overseas.

aurorablue and SOPi_Jawbreaker hit things right on the head, and made excellent points.

If you are "more interested in Asian histories/cultures in Asia than Asian history in this part of the world", then that's fine, but over here in the USA it is Asian AMERICAN history, so get it right please.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by L.O.C.K.

Taualumna,

Your comments are typical of many people, Greek or not, in the U.S. who have a very hard time comprehending Asian AMERICAN.

People love the "Asian cultures" as in the food, the kimonos, the Geisha girls, etc., but when it comes to the oppression that has faced many Asian Americans, things such as Executive Order 9066, The 1924 Immigration Act, the riots, etc., people don't pay attention.

THAT is why there is a need for Asian AMERICAN Greek organizations. Sure, we focus on Asian culture and things in ASIA, but our membership is primarily Asian AMERICAN, and most members have had a VERY different experience than people growing up overseas.

aurorablue and SOPi_Jawbreaker hit things right on the head, and made excellent points.

If you are "more interested in Asian histories/cultures in Asia than Asian history in this part of the world", then that's fine, but over here in the USA it is Asian AMERICAN history, so get it right please.

L.O.C.K. if you didn't already realize, I'm CBC (Canadian Born Chinese).--and you STILL haven't answered my comment about Chinese prefering "tradition."

Originally Posted by L.O.C.K.

Taualumna,

Your comments are typical of many people, Greek or not, in the U.S. who have a very hard time comprehending Asian AMERICAN.

People love the "Asian cultures" as in the food, the kimonos, the Geisha girls, etc., but when it comes to the oppression that has faced many Asian Americans, things such as Executive Order 9066, The 1924 Immigration Act, the riots, etc., people don't pay attention.

THAT is why there is a need for Asian AMERICAN Greek organizations. Sure, we focus on Asian culture and things in ASIA, but our membership is primarily Asian AMERICAN, and most members have had a VERY different experience than people growing up overseas.

aurorablue and SOPi_Jawbreaker hit things right on the head, and made excellent points.

If you are "more interested in Asian histories/cultures in Asia than Asian history in this part of the world", then that's fine, but over here in the USA it is Asian AMERICAN history, so get it right please.

Um, I don't think any of us here are surprised at all if taualumna has a hard time comprehending what it means to be Asian-American. She is Canadian, after all.

And I have to respectfully disagree with your Asian-American label for GLOs. IMO, Asian-interest seems more appropriate.