What Mixie Movement? by Frank Y Pak Agostinelli
You Say You Wanna Revolution?
I was asked months ago if I knew of a mixie movement. I didn’t know one then and I don’t know of one now. I was befuddled that there would be such a thing. I have always viewed such institutions as a cloak for revolutionary mind-sets. These institutions are erected under the guise of a virtuous directive and the unification of alike people. The fact is there is no direction let alone a virtuous one. Efforts by these movements will always be palsied and remain in the fetal state. When a movement is created, it should be for the following reason: someone or some group of people are being held back from achievement. The last time I checked, I am a Mixed Asian and the only one who can keep Frank from achievement is Frank.
An individual who is mixed race (specifically minority/minority, minority/majority) will always have an identity crisis. This is a given and not to be redundant, "Who am I?" and "Where does someone like me fit in?" are part of the locution of a mixed race person. If a "group" is formed to create a net of unity, to help those who are mixed understand who they are as well as others around them, and most importantly be comfortable in the "skin I’m in," I am an advocate. When "movements" are created and are splish-splashed with nonsensical rhetoric, self-loathing, finger-pointing, very little relevancy, and complimenting each other's physical beauty, well colloquially speaking, "you don’t want me to go there!" Many of these movements will never accept a wide spectrum of perspectives especially when these individuals are fully equipped with the 2007 model of a one-track mind. Open-mindedness will always win this endless marathon called life. I compare objectivity to the Epcot Center exhibit of China. As you enter the room, along the wall flows a panoramic view of China that surrounds and engulfs your being. You see everything. Carpel tunnel vision leaves one in the bottomless cup of mumble, mumble, babble, babble. The self-appointed leaders of these movements lack leadership qualities, leadership skills, and emotional intelligence. Their existence is contingent on yes men. Anyone who pulls the leader’s hoe card will be outcast. So much for mixie unity.
Can't We All Get Along? Rodney King
Just because you and I are mixed does not mean we will engage in some kind of bonding ritual with the chorus "let me tell you something about my best friend," playing in the background. People for the most part have personalities. Different likes and dislikes, different religious/spiritual beliefs, different ways of dealing with similar situations, etc. In lay terms, not all Red Sox fans are buddy/buddy. Proper communication will bring differences together not to a level of tolerance but to a level of embracement. This of course depends if we are willing to listen, absorb, and understand. In addition, demographics must be taken into account. For example, the United States has many nuances in regional languages. Would one like to conduct a cross-cultural comparison of different countries who have populations of mixed race people?
What some mixed people fail to realize is we have at one time or another shunned both or more of our ethnicities. Eventually we sit down and have a long talk with ourselves. We learn about ourselves. We learn about our ethnicities, bad and good. We take the positives and incorporate those qualities into our being to become one of the many cogs that make the world go round. In other words, the more you learn about yourself, you will appreciate yourself and in turn appreciate others around
You’re White, You Wouldn’t Understand!
So-called mixie movements always fail to address the issue of mixed race Caucasians (Euro-mixes). They are mixed race too but do not fall into the paradigm of what is considered "mixed." It is shameful because some of these Euro-mixes have arguably more pride in their mixed background than their counterparts. Us. It also undermines what mixie movements allegedly represent: Unity Among Mixed Race People. It is preposterous to repeatedly and emphatically tell mixed race Caucasians they "don’t understand" when we ourselves are still in the process of understanding who we are. On a societal level of color, mixed race Caucasians have a cake walk when we speak of assimilation. This is where one of many problems lie. What is visual does not determine what is in the heart or the mind. I propose a couple of clichés, "don’t judge a book by its cover." What has been done to us on numerous occasions, some of us have been more than willingly to return the favor. "Two wrongs don’t make a right." Or make it right.
The future of mixed race people is quite simple, the world has been mixed for centuries! Take a look at the continent of Asia and if you know your history of Russia, there is no need for me to elaborate. I will never understand the urgency of these movements which over a period of time resemble something of that of a country club. Many young mixed race people are searching for answers and will continue to throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, they may ask the wrong people who will misguide these budding life scientists. They won’t hold their best interest at heart and will tell them what they want to hear in the hopes of creating a group of Dorothys following the Yellow Brick Road in the hopes the Wizard of Oz will take them home. In case you forgot, the Wizard left Dorothy behind.
|
|
Hwa-Byung by Frank Y Pak Agostinelli
Serenity now, the infamous line from the Jerry Seinfeld Show. Under no circumstances let anyone or anything get to you. Instead of flipping out, serenity now. How long can serenity now go on before there are serious problems? Is serenity now nothing but a façade, hiding the true emotions within? The DSM-IV brings to attention the Korean folk syndrome known as hwa-byung, which literally translates into English as anger syndrome and it is attributed to the suppression of anger. In the paragraphs that follow the focus will be on historical facts pertinent to the causes of hwa-byung, the symptoms and the victim, the middle-aged Korean woman.
Earth, water, wood, metal and fire according to Traditional Chinese Medicine are the five governing bodies of the universe. An imbalance in any of the elements will result in sickness and disease. The fire element is excessive in hwa-byung. Koreans commonly describe anger as fire and believe if anger is suppressed for a long time, a group of symptoms will develop. Sometimes the term wool hwa-byung is used, in which wool means dense, thick or pent-up. Many patients relate their condition to the psychology of haan, a traditional culturally determined emotional state. Because of Korea’s history, the region had a penchant for frequent wars, political and social upheavals, Destruction, suffering, personal loss and unbearable pain have been the norm for many Koreans who have experienced deep feelings of haan and felt trapped as well as victimized.
The epigastrium according to Korean folklore is also known as the gate of life. It is the center of the body and produces vital energy. The suppressed anger pushing up in the chest results in the diagnosis of hwa-byung. These episodes cause the victim, hurt, damaging, boiling, exploding sensations inside the chest and body. A plethora of symptoms include, insomnia, fatigue, panic, fear of impending death, dysphoric affect to name a few. Victims tend to be middle-aged women of low social class. External events (e.g. spousal infidelity, in-law troubles, etc.) seem to be the cause for women. Three criteria must be reached before a diagnosis can be made; coping strategies, somatic symptoms and lamentation. In a nutshell, she is aggravated with the ongoing situation but accepts it as fate placing “family first.” Due to Confucian values, she believes it is a woman’s virtue to deal with abuse. She eventually decides it cannot be her fate. This cyclic process manifests into the characteristic tight, stuffy feeling that consolidates into the epigastric mass. The twist with lamenting and sighing deals with the patient’s talkativeness. Speaking about her problems give hope the woman’s situation may improve.
Confucius had and still has an impact on Korea. His ideas on family relations fall into the realm of collectivism. His ideas on women fall into the class of subservience. A Korean wife would be doing her Confucian duty by suppressing her real emotions in the name of the family thus neglecting her own needs. Robert Maslow once said, “No human has to be a victim of circumstance. You have the freedom to transcend them.” Regardless of race, we as human beings have incredible cognitive skills at our disposal. It is good to have beliefs though one should not let their beliefs run or ruin their lives.
It's All In The Mix
Mixology 101 sounds like an extra credit course showing wanna be djs how to transform on the 1200s. Add ethnic to the equation and you know it does not have anything to do with turntable trickery. Ethnic Mixology 101 is just of one the many designs on One Hapa Family. Alice Tea, a contributor to AsiansOfMixedRace.com recently opened her store on CaféPress.com. There is a healthy assortment of shirts to choose from for adults, kids and toddlers. In addition, there are many gifts that will pique your interest. The stuff is tight and the price is right! Show some mixed race pride whether you are hanging with friends or behind the wheels of steel. Visit the One Hapa Family store at CaféPress.com.
|
