ignorance is a bliss

or is it i wonder? my boyfriend pointed out the other day that i am acutely aware of my race, or suffice to say that i am racially-conscious, which i am not going to deny. he ended the comment by saying he wasn't insinuating i'm a racist. i don't think i am. it's just that whenever he and i go inside an establishment and i notice that i am one of the three people there out of, say, 50 that is of color i quickly mention the fact without any maliciousness behind it. i am a minority, and i'm not pointing out the obvious to solicit any pity or otherwise indifference. i am just being observant.


two weeks ago, there was a booth right outside the door of my class that read "diversity convention." three students were manning this little nook. as i passed by, the girl stopped me and asked if i wanted to sign up for it. "i'm all for diversity," i thought. so why not? but even before i could get up-close to this little compartment of theirs, the girl proceeded to explain that the convention is giving out free lunch and that she's sure they will be serving rice! I KNOW! i just about nun-chucked her with my bag! but recognizing i wasn't in the philippines anymore, i politely said "no, thanks" and walked away. i narrated the story to john as soon as i was outside the edifice. he calmed me down by explaining to me that there are people out there that are "naive" and are not meaning to hurt anyone by their ignorant comments. i shouldn't be mad at them, but to empathize.


i have been called a chinese (by a guy who wanted to teach me how to play pool), a japanese (by a new work employee) and a korean (by someone who is now a good friend of mine). people don't have to be specific about a person's ethnicity. i would have been more content if i was referred to as "asian." if you don't know what kind of "asian" a person is, leaving it as is is a safe bet.