Asians, & the West

 

 

My class today was about Asian Journalistic Values, and those of the Western ones.

 It got me thinking (putting aside Journalism) that Asian values, and the Western values are playing a social tug of war.

 

So far, the West has a big lead.

We were doing a list of pros, and cons for Press Freedom in Singapore.

 The lecturer listed the value of “democracy” as one of the pros.

 
I disagree with this.

 

What is it about Democracy that denotes such positive way of thinking? And what is it with the globalized world that makes Democracy, the ’supposedly’ western model, the RIGHT way to how a government should practice?

 
With various Asian countries, facing tremendously different traditional/cultural/political values than those of the west, why is there such pressure to conform to the concept of Democracy?

If democracy is the best system of how a government should act, why are India, and Indonesia still facing social stigma?

And why is it that whatever the westerns do reflect such ‘modern’ touch, that we, as society, deem it to be correct, and appropriate?

 

Asia as the biggest continent, has failed to spread its influence around the world.

 

With our long-standing of history, and rich civilization, we have failed to stand to our grounds, and roots.

 Instead, we have bowed down to the western ideology, either by social pressure, or globalization. 

 
What makes it even worse is that, those countries that are against the west ideology are categorized as backward, and un-modern.

 

Does the concept of Modernism, mean democracy?

 Can undemocratic countries, be modern?

 Do we have to be ‘west’ to be modern?

 If so, are Asians, Asians?

 

 

One bold move was made by the Malaysian government that I think needs to be praised.

 There was one advertisement of Toyota, with the face of Brad Pitt in it, being circulated worldwide.

 It was just another one of those advertisements that are so common in Asia, with the faces of foreigners (usually Caucasians) on them.

 

Malaysian Information Minister, Zainuddin Maidin, said that the poster was “an insult to Asians”, which he later added “Aren’t our own people handsome enough?”

 
Many people, including Asians, reacted negatively, saying that the Minister overreacted.

 
But to me, he did not.

 
Why is it, that when the west gives something to us, they don’t need to conform to our society?

But when we put something out there, we have to conform to the western society to be accepted?

 

 The Minister was simply stating a fact, which seemed ‘inconvenient’ for Asians to digest.

Because, if you notice, the west (American Media that is), has been portraying Asians to be less desirable than those of Caucasians.

 Especially, Asian Men.

 For decades, the American entertainment media have defined the Asian to the rest of the world. Sometimes, offensive portrayals of Asians have traditionally been the norm in the American Media, same goes to Afro-Americans, or Negros, before.

 In decades, Americans have viewed Asian immigrants as “taking” from the country, without giving anything back.

 Asian racial features, usually Men, are depicted as usually obese, round faced, and typically unattractive. Asian names, accents, mannerisms are also depicted as inherently comic, or sinister. And they are used to entertain the western media for cheap laughs.

 Asian male sexuality is also portrayed to be inferior. Asian men are usually depicted as threatening individuals, or lacking any romance at all. Often, they are never positively paired with women of any race properly.

 

The list may go on.

I am not a racist, and I am not against the idea of Democracy, and I am sure many of you do not agree with me.

 

 

My question is, are we deluded, or are we simply, modern, so to speak?