Maggie's Farm

Are people from India "Asian"?

Actually no. Totally different culture than "Asian" culture. They are from the "Asian" continent but they are not Asian. Any more than people in Turkey and the Middle East are "Asian." Are people from Israel "Asian"?

You know, there used to be a way we made a distinction. We called people from East Asia and Southeast Asia "Orientals." But somewhere along the line that became racist for reasons that escape me.

It was the British who called people from the Indian subcontinent "Asian" and now that convention has been imported into American race-categorization because it is convenient and beneficial for some. So, for example, a certain politician can claim on varying days she is "African American" or "Asian" whenever it benefits her to do so. (Frankly, she is neither.)

The reason (East) Asians are at the top of the heap is because of culture. Confucianism originated in China, but was widely emulated by other Asian societies which believed that the Han Chinese culture was the superior culture. Much of the history of the Khitan Empire (Great Liao) revolved around whether the Empire should be run based on Han Chinese Confucianism or traditional Khitan tribal beliefs. Similarly, much of Korean history revolved around whether the government and society should be based on Buddhism or Confucianism. Confucianism eventually won, being adopted by the last Joseon dynasty. It is still extremely strong in today's Korea in terms of how the society is structured and in rules of custom and behavior, although in many ways it is almost subconscious. It reflects in the way people relate to each other, and even in the language and hangeul writing system (you speak differently based on whether someone is of a higher or equal status to you; hangeul incorporates Confucian principles of light and dark). You see it in the flag, which reflects Confucian geomancy principles. I have been to Christian church services in Korea where the minister in his sermon will also refer to Confucius or Mencius to make his point.

Confucianism ranked being a scholar at the top of the class pyramid. Confucian governments in China, Korea, Vietnam, etc. recruited their ruling class from scholars. You had to pass an extremely difficult exam that was only given at irregular intervals. And you were tested on such things as your knowledge and understanding of the underlying meaning of classical Chinese poetry. And among other things you had to compose an essay in response to an abstract title usually picked by the king or emperor. Sometimes what the subject was was obvious, but sometimes they were cryptic. The title for example could be "Why Does the Butterfly Rest on the Bamboo?" You then had to compose a response around the title that followed a rigid format and demonstrated your knowledge of Confucian principles.

Sons from aristocratic or wealthy families studied and were tutored for years by other scholars just to be able to take that exam. That all has passed down to today's Asian cultures, where knowledge and education are viewed as the way to succeed.

In Korea the highest status in society is still reserved for university professors. If you watch Korean TV news, when they need a "talking head" on a political or social topic, they virtually always go to a university professor to get their opinion.