#are there problems linked to xenophobia? absolutely

[marybeatriceofmodena]

Translator from Québec here. Here is the terminology file for "dumpling", on the OQLF: https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/fiche-gdt/fiche/26522955/jiaozi

And I will also add. You would not believe the amount of times I have to explain to anglophone public servants that yes. Francophone folks are entitled to receive information about their benefits in their language. Because yeah, guess what, not everyone in Canada speaks English.

And there are people who are actually shocked of that. And then they proceed to complain about having to take French classes.

Accidentally called dumplings "Peking ravioli" in front of my New Jersey coworkers and I had to frantically explain that this wasn't some insane form of esoteric Italo-Chinese racism, that's just what they're called in Boston. Had to take a picture of a menu to prove it.

[beomiracles]

(in response to the xenophobia towards America thing) I feel like the main reason people can get away with their xenophobia when it’s against Americans is because America is a multiracial and a multicultural country. while other places tend to be homogeneous, America’s very diverse so they feel like they can get away with it, because it won’t feel like they’re targeting one race or one culture of people; because in America, you have everyone. absolutely does not justify it though, but I feel like that’s the reasoning behind it in my opinion. Especially as a black American, it does rub me in the wrong way when ppl speak badly about Americans because the culture that they’ll talk down upon, is the same culture that they’ll steal from us while disrespecting us. I feel like ppl forget native Americans and African-Americans exist

oh definitely, I think a lot of people feel their take becomes more "vague" if they target a country like America, but even if you do not specify race or ethnicity, you're still dragging a whole country and its people through the mud, thus indirectly targeting a variety of cultures and ethnicities. I also think xenophobia, when it is targeted to a country like America, who people already have a lot of prejudices about, makes people feel in a way 'justified' for speaking the way they do. they are not.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has a speech called "The Danger Of A Single Story" and it targets the way people think about other people, as well as xenophobia and racism. she talks a lot about prejudices we have against each other and how they are formed. it's such a good speech and I really urge people who haven't heard or read it to take the time out of their day to do so, I'll link it on this post.

she makes several good points about not only American culture, but African and Mexican, as well as how people are affected by the environment around them, for example:

"I recently spoke at a university where a student told me that it was such a shame that Nigerian men were physical abusers like the father character in my novel. I told him that I had just read a novel called “American Psycho” and that it was such a shame that young Americans were serial murderers. Now, obviously, I said this in a fit of mild irritation. But it would never have occurred to me to think that just because I had read a novel in which a character was a serial killer that he was somehow representative of all Americans."

or:

I’ve always felt that it is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and that person. The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.

People are very quick to judge and to make assumptions about things they only have one side of. People also disregard facts or points that do not work in favour of the picture they already have created in their minds which ultimately adds fuel to existing harmful stereotypes, and it's becoming an increasing problem all around the world, especially as social media feeds us with one sided perspectives and misconceptions.

Link to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's speech