This strip was based (mostly) on a recent experience. I was in a pizza shop with my son and there was a kid there with his dad. As we're figuring our what we wanted the kid walks right up to me and asks, "Are you Japanese American or Chinese American?" I was stunned. Not offended or anything, just completely caught by surprise. His dad was mortified. I was thrilled that the kid tacked on the "American" part. Then he said something that totally wasn't Japanese and told me it meant something like "Good morning." I politely thanked him and said "Good Morning" back is English so as not to make him feel bad.And of course I got a kick out of the fact that I was in a pizza joint owned by a Greek guy that was right next door to a Japanese restaurant when this happened.
lol awesome. and i totally use ong bad as a verb too!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to why you didn't feel the need to correct him.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd either correct him or (in an ideal world) punch him in the face. Then again, I use the word Oriental too... (I'm in Europe!)
I don't ever want to discourage a kid from "reaching out culturally" as you put it. If he was sincere, good for him.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I find it a bit annoying that you constantly make Simon the "bad and agressive Asian". It feels too much like black-and-white morality with a strawman argument.
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