Religion, spirituality, atheism, agnosticism, etc., are sensitive subjects. Wars have been fought and lives have been lost over lack of belief, too much belief, and having a subtle difference in respective beliefs. Mixed Asians are no different from the next person. We either believe, do not believe, or are searching for answers. Sometimes our experiences dictate the direction we will venture in regards to our personal belief system. Hapas have no issues in connecting with other Hapas. The commonality being of mixed Asian descent. Most of us embrace each other and are curious to listen to what our Hapa brothers and sisters have endured. This can most certainly be applied when we are speaking about our beliefs regardless whom we worship. Because we are mixed, we can look in the mirror and state, "our experiences gives us an advantage." The advantage being we can be more rational in thought in dealing with everything that encircles our society. Most notably, what I have been discussing. You may want to applaud or boo what you just read but before you decide to do either, answer the following questions and note how they can apply to you and others around you.
Why should it matter if I am religious, spiritual, a non-believer, or constantly searching for answers? Why should it matter what I advocate or do not advocate?
People can state "being the best individual you can be," but its meaning is pointless if it doesn't trickle down to one's belief system. Religious or spiritual. Atheist or agnostic. Beatles or Marklar. There are those who love to convey to others what is best for you and me. But only you and I know what is best for ourselves. If I do not have a religion, a religious zealot would deem my statement blasphemous! An atheist would like to know if I have a religion and if I do, what is wrong with my circuitry! Well, I connect my beliefs with a Bruce Lee mantra, "take what is useful and discard the rest." It doesn't matter what these people think. What matters is what I think. My side of the coin says, "It doesn't matter what I believe in. It matters what you believe in." Madonna of all people said it best when referring to Tom Cruise's advocation of Scientology . To paraphrase, "If it makes him happy, I could care less if he worshipped turtles." Is this part of what being one's own individual means? Is this part of the many steps of being the best possible individual one can be? Through trial and error, self-discovery, self-introspection, etc., collectively leading one to the path of nirvana? Or are we supposed to be C-3P0? The latter is a snore fest and the former, the possibilities are endless and exciting! Don’t follow the crowd, follow your heart!
Stating the overstated, Mixed Asians have an identity crisis. The same individuals (i.e. family, peers, shallow-minded people, etc.) who shunned us feel some kind of entitlement to say, "This is what you should believe in! Let God show you the way! God doesn’t love you because there is no God! Marklar is from Marklar!"
When one feels like the Tupac Shakur song, Me Against The World, you are only going to open up to your own thoughts, your emotions, and those individuals you can "truly" relate to and share the same sentiments with. The bottom line is no one is interested in having someone slam their beliefs down their throat, it's all about presentation. When a person has a strong belief system and is willing to exchange ideas with you in a thoughtful and considerate manner, by all means you should listen for they will do the same when you speak. They want to expand their boundaries of thought as you do! It's part of a lifelong learning process. This isn't "my beliefs are better than yours!" If one needs to relieve themselves, this is why the toilet was created. No one likes to be spoken to in a condescending manner. Every human being has dealt with these scenarios of high makamaka-ism. How do we react? Do I need to illustrate a visual? Of course not. Treating each other with respect does wonders and is an unspoken moral code. If I am engaged in a discussion with a Christian who tells me living the way of Christ is the only way to be the best individual you can be and my way is nonsense, I'm not going to care for this comment. Why? Because I never indicated my way is the best way for everyone. I said it is the best way for me. But if he says living the way of Christ is the best way for his achievement of the ultimate self and holds no prejudice towards what other people believe in, we can hang out, knock back a few adult beverages, and exchange ideas as they did back in ancient Greece. Sans the "you're correct again, Socrates."
If a drug addict worships the goddess Lucy In The Sky Of Diamonds, who teaches her followers to do drugs until their eyes bleed, I can't be positive but I think I am pretty sure the consensus will agree his way of life isn't the best way. But if the addict feels Lucy's teachings are the way, who are we to tell them he is wrong?
I know you can see this point is crystal clear. There are times we have a tendency to stroll around with horse blinders on or see things opaquely. There is a plethora of clichés and quotes one can use to ratify certain beliefs but the question is are you doing it because everyone is doing it? Or are you doing it because you believe in it? Whatever path you choose, do it on you own terms.
I Am What I Am, Period! by Frank Y Pak Agostinelli
I believe it's fair to say there are a group of words we use to describe us such as Amerasian, Blasian, Eurasian, Hapa, Spasian, and Mixed Asian. There are other words but I'm going to elaborate on the ones I hear on a regular basis, have tenure, and relate to me. Exclusively. Also keep in mind, this is coming from an American perspective. And for the ethnically challenged, American is not an ethnicity, it is a nationality. As for the crash test dummies eeeeerrrrr! names such as mixie and swirl, I like to state what I think of them in the words of Vladimir Lenin, they're "rubbish!" Mixie sounds childish, something that Grimace clone Barney and those creepy Teletubbies would push onto America's Mixed Asian youth forcing their parents to kick a size 12 into the 52 inch plasma and hit destructive system recovery on their children. Swirl sounds like some kind of ice cream combo (I'll take the vanilla with a peanut butter swirl please!). I like ice cream. A lot. Especially Ben and Jerry's and Haagen Dazs. Ice cream is so freakin' delicious! Uh-oh! Is there anything better than adding another stereotype to this growing "over-doing it with compliments" dumpster? Cue in dialogue exchange between a "swirl" and a non-swirl. While strolling by the local ice cream shop, Non-Swirl: Swirls look delicious! Swirl: What? The Baskin Robbins Blueberry Swirl? Yeah, those are scrumptious. Non-Swirl: Nooooo honey, you! You sexy swirl! Good Gawd! Onto to names of relevance.
Not too many people announce themselves as Amerasian. Proudly. I understand. There is an unfair and unkind stigma attached to the name. I remember when I was a kid in California (that was a looooong time ago) watching TV and these commercials would come up about helping Amerasian kids overseas. The commercial was very sad. The horny, eeeeerrrrr! heroic American GI promised the docile and submissive Asian woman a better life and pledged his everlasting love. Unfortunately the woman didn't know, everlasting meant until he went back to the States without her. I'm not throwing every American serviceman under the bus because there are many who kept their promise and their love everlasting. I was lucky. Elizabeth Kim wasn't. As xenophobic as America wishes they could be (and America can't be), Asian countries have scoreboard because they were and still are to some degree. I remember my father telling me the story of my mother ready to throw blows with another Korean woman in her village when this woman ushered her kids away from me. We were doing what most kids do at age three, playing and not asking what our respective ethnicity is. She berated her fellow villager, "What's wrong?! You think you're better because your kids are full Korean?! They're kids!" It went something to that effect. I have to keep it PG-13. Anyway according to definitions, I am an Amerasian. Proudly. Some people make the mistake of thinking Amerasian means you are American and Asian. It has evolved in some circles to embody this but I refer strictly to the old school term. Being redundant because it is necessary, American is not an ethnicity. Period.
Eurasian cannot be used for all part Asians because not all of us are of mixed European descent. That is why there is Blasian and Spasian plus other versions to represent Asian, Black, and Hispanic mixes. The "true" Eurasians are in Central Asia not the United States. The use is vernacular. What makes things worse, I get pissed off when Blasians and Spasians feel shunned by the Eurasians. I said it, I wrote it, and stand by it. When I find out or someone intimates to me they are or know someone is of part Asian ethnicity and you or they are part Black, Native American, Hispanic, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Etruscan, Sumerian, Martian, etc., you’re still my part Asian brother and sister. You’re down with me. We are in no position to take runs at each other based on our collective and respective ethnic mixes. Now if a Spasian doesn't like a certain Eurasian because this individual’s personality rubs them the wrong way such as an overzealous David Beckham fan, that’s a different story. Just don't throw racial epithets at each other. As far as my mix tape goes, I am of European descent, Irish and Italian. I am of Asian descent, South Korean. I am Eurasian. Period.
Hapa has been embraced but not by all. Some pundits will say it was stolen from the Hawai'ian language. The same pundits will state they understand language evolves, but. But what? Humor me will ya? (The word silly evolved from blessed to innocent to compassion to weak to foolish. Semantic drift, if you will.) I expressed my sentiments last year. I still feel the same but I have added a new angle, start charging a rental fee with an option to buy. There are a lot of countries who borrow (maybe metaphorically stole?) words from the English language. Well, it's time for them to scratch that check. In addition, the English language is the Great American Melting Pot of many languages that we borrowed from. I wonder what the etymological deficit is? I wish not to pay such a heavy tariff! This would be intolerable! Hey if there is a need to go back to writing in the sand, pressing shapes into mud, drawing on cave walls, reading the cracks on tortoise shells, etc., or communicating with grunts and hisses like a turtle, count me out. I'm a bit twisted, I enjoy my lyrical freedom. I enjoy listening to the lessons Chuck D. taught me through his songs. I enjoy reading Carl Jung's elaboration on archetypes. I enjoy speaking to the younger cats in locution they understand and the intellects in locution they understand. Before I go off into the forest with this one, the evolved definition of Hapa means I am Hapa. Period.
Now everyone who is part Asian can relate to Mixed Asian. Hell, there is a fine website titled MixedAsians.com. And of course there is this primo site titled AsiansOfMixedRace.com. Did you honestly believe I would not plug my own site, on my own site? I have never heard anyone having a dispute with the use of these words. If there is a problem, there has to be something better to do with one's time like basket weaving, drawing stick figures, or working on that New Year's resolution for the 7th year in a row. It is not necessary to break down the logistics. It is what it is. There can be no mistake what Mixed Asian stands for, what Mixed Asian means, and what Mixed Asian conveys. I am a Mixed Asian. Period.
We as a society do place too much emphasis at times on categories, titles, names, status, etc. In an attempt to stand out from the crowd, some of us over do it and appear quite moronic. Honestly expressing yourself is the best way but no matter how you choose to gloss yourself remember underneath it all, you're a human being, and so am I. Period.
