Hate Debate

Every once in a while, someone visits BWG and comments either that I'm a racist or that I hate Hong Kongers.

Methinks a few folks are oversensitive.

The race card is about the stupidest play anyone could make. Let's see ...

· married to a Chinese woman;

· living in a city of 6.8 million, more than 99% of whom aren't Caucasian;

· enjoy most aspects of Hong Kong and Chinese culture;

· learning Cantonese;

· practice Tai Chi ...

View large image Were I racist, my hatred for the "yellow people" would preclude any of those. Chinese skin comes in varying shades of tan: some are so dark they could pass for well-bronzed South Pacific islanders, while others are so pale they rival my whiteness. If I hated pale Chinese, by default I'd have to hate myself.

I don't hate Hong Kongers; I dislike people of reasonable intelligence who do stupid things out of selfishness, such as litterbugs, queue-jumpers and those with atrocious personal hygiene. They're easy to find in any major metropolis.

Over the years, my observations of Hong Kong life have melded into a Western viewpoint tempered by a local's perspective. Some behaviours still jar; others no longer faze me.

Most good-natured Hong Kongers who've written say how much they enjoy BWG and are the first to laugh at the wisecracks. Even expatriate Hong Kongers have pointed out the accuracy of these musings and say that despite being reminded of annoyances, they feel homesick.

In more than six years, hate mail from Chinese people has been minimal; most times a knee-jerk reaction precipitated by their own issues, rather than by anything inflammatory written here.

Secure folks with a good sense of humour are quick to see past the tongue-in-cheek snark and know without doubt I love my adopted home.

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