The AmeriCANS!

AMERICA AND THE AMERICANS!
Hidesato Sakakibara
June 1997
With the increasing internationalization and development of Asian economies, more and more Western firms are setting up shop in Asia, and along with them greater numbers of Westerners are going to live in Asia. Reversibly, however, many Asians are going abroad to the West for education and to settle down. This phenomena brings with it ever-increasing chances for Asians and Westerners to meet and possibly form relationships. Many of these Westerners will be Americans.

For many Asians, no Western country inspires as much awe and represents as much wealth as does the United States of America. America and Americans—their ideas and attitudes as regards to themselves and Asians, is the subject of this piece. If you are Asian, should you go to study in the US? What about living there? Is getting “married” to an American desirable? What about the REAL nature of the Americans? Is immigration difficult? So much has been written on Asians by Americans, but I see little on Americans by Asians. Hopefully through this essay your questions will be answered.

America, America, America. Most people in Asia see this country portrayed every day, either on television, in the movies, in trendy fashion magazines, what-have-you. And in many ways there is good reason this should be the case.

In this world, no country is richer than America. No country symbolizes freedom (including sexual freedom), upward mobility, and out-and-out openness as America. America is also perhaps the most militarily strong country in the world today, as well as the country best placed to export its brand of consumerism and capitalism to the rest of the world.

This writer has lived and traveled to many nations, but has found that the abundance of food in the US is unmatched anywhere else, including countries in Europe. In addition, the technological development, as well as extremely advanced and well-equipped universities make coming here for higher education an excellent idea.

And the people, the Americans, are in general a friendly bunch. There are many ethnic groups living here, especially in urban areas. In many cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, it is easy to forget that you are in the United States, what with the high influx of immigrants.

However, in this essay I will focus not only upon America but concentrate upon the AmeriCANS! The AmeriCANS! is a word that I have coined up to mean mainly WHITE, native-born Americans, the so-called majority of this country. (They are also the most likely to be the ones posted abroad by their companies for assignments in Asia.) I call them AmeriCANS! (pronounced AmeriCAN as in CAN opener) because of their CAN-DO attitude, one of the things I find so great about this country. You CAN do it! Want to change your job at the age of 50? You CAN! Change your religion? You CAN! Change your residence? You CAN! Go back to school at 70? You CAN! Divorce? Abortion? Face lift? CAN! CAN! CAN! You CAN do it, but you must take the initiative to try.

In other words, no sho ga nai, mai pen rai, 1 it can’t be helped so accept your lot in life “wimp” attitude. If something bothers you, then get off your duff and FIX IT! This sort of thinking is only now getting hold in many parts of Asia, and hence, Asia is now seeing many astronomical changes, partly due to this change in attitude.

The AmeriCANS!, because they CAN!

Getting In There
For most Asians contemplating living in the US the first and foremost barrier that must be overcome is immigration. The US is an open country of sorts, but beware of the many myths surrounding the United States concerning immigration and everything else.

Myth No. 1: The US is an easy country to move to.
Years ago, perhaps, but not anymore. In fact, the US is perhaps one of the more difficult western countries that you can consider putting down roots in. Getting a working visa (H-1) is a first step that many would consider to get into America. But most US firms no longer sponsor foreigners, unless they have some special skill that is acutely needed. Certain types of computer programming, an MBA (Master’s of Business Administration) or other higher degree, special culinary skills; these are what companies can sponsor you for.

Another way in is to find a sponsor and go directly for a permanent residency visa, known as a green card. As stated above, if you have skills that are recognized by the US government to be needed and in short supply, then the company can sponsor you directly for a green card. However, as with the H-1 visa, the sponsor has to prove to the labor bureau that YOU and only YOU can perform that function. For jobs that require extremely high technical skills, or skills related to a certain culture (foreign language teaching, ethnic cuisine, etc.), there usually is no trouble. However, the process in many cases can take up to three years, during which time you are not allowed to work in the US.

In addition, one thing that any to-be-newcomer should realize is that regardless of the official rules, everything is done on a case-by-case basis. You and your friend might both have more-or-less the same qualifications, but you may receive your green card far faster than he does. The best thing to do is to go to a good US immigration lawyer and have a preliminary interview to see exactly where you stand. Most lawyers will not charge for the initial interview.

Another way that has been used by many to get into the US is the student visa. This visa was extensively used by foreigners to get their foot into the US door. Once inside, many started looking for sponsors for their green cards. While studying, students were allowed to work part time. However, these rules have been changed drastically, and foreign students, as a rule, are no longer allowed to work in the US. Period.

Many students do continue to work illegally, but there is risk to this in that if you are caught by the INS working, there is a very real chance that you will be deported and not allowed to return for a period of ten years. Even if you have found a green card sponsor and are awaiting your permanent residency visa, if you work illegally you are considered out of status, and in almost all cases will be deported.

Obtaining the student visa has now become much more difficult, particularly for those in Japan. The US Embassies are said to be more biased toward those under the age of 30. People over 30 can and do obtain such visas, but must show hefty cash balances in their bank accounts, as well as, possibly, a letter from their employers stating that they definitely will return to their countries after finishing their education. This is especially so for those already with college degrees going to pursue English language education. Embassies are also said to favor men rather than women, as they believe that men have more at stake in terms of careers and families than women do.

Another way to get your green card is to make a hefty investment in a company that would employ American workers. However, such an investment usually entails huge sums (US$1 million or so) of money and is not a choice for the vast majority of those wishing to live in America.

Still another cheaper way is to buy a green card outright. The US government sells it in the form of an “investment” of which you get back almost nothing. The price? US$125,000. This is perfectly legal and you are assured of having your green card within seven weeks of submitting your banker’s check.

Lastly, one can always get “married” to someone willing to stay married to you for a period of at least two years. Legally, any marriage is legal if the intent of both parties is to want to be married. There is no mention of children, love, or sex. Although the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) is said to be cracking down on marriages of convenience (if these marriages are indeed for immigration purposes) this is still the method of choice for many people who cannot do any of the above methods.

Myth No. 2: The US is a liberal country and extremely gay-friendly.
Gay (denoting lesbigay) rights in the US are much stronger than in many parts of the world. It can be argued that gay rights in this century got its start in America. Few countries in Asia can match the amount of freedom that gay people experience in America. This is a fact.

However, this is more true for various parts of the nation rather than America as a whole. For example, Manhattan in New York City is liberal, as are certain parts of each city and state. However, most AmeriCANS! are, in the words of one friend, liberal on the surface but highly conservative on the inside.

The US as of this writing has no equal rights amendment for women and absolutely no form of gay marriage for same-gender spouses. The State of Hawaii is currently in the process of becoming the first state to allow same-gender marriages, but this is still a long-way off. And even if this is approved, most of the other states have already voted to block it, so that same-sex marriages in Hawaii will not be recognized elsewhere in the country.

America also does not have any laws to allow American citizens to sponsor their foreign gay spouses to live, as heterosexual couples are allowed to do. Many other nations, such as Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Canada, do allow such immigration. This is of extreme importance to gay Asians wishing to live in the US, as “marriage” is many times the only way a gay Asian can join his/her partner to live in America.

Although there are many grass roots movements to enable Americans to sponsor their foreign gay spouses, there is yet a long way to go toward getting any real legal change. Gay rights have come far but the vast majority of Americans do not seem too sympathetic. In addition, the increasing influence of the so-called “Christian right” as well as other “morally correct” organizations such as the “Promise Keepers” are putting pressure on gay rights activists.

Myth No. 3: America is the land of opportunity.
True and false. Once you have your green card you are able to get any job. The standard of living in the US is perhaps one of the highest in the world, especially in the suburbs where most of the AmeriCANS! live. However, despite all the hoopla about how the US economy is robustly growing, good, high-paying full-time jobs (with benefits) are not so easy to come by. Many if not most of the help-wanted ads in the newspapers are by recruitment agencies, and it is no secret that many of these jobs simply don’t exist. Also note that due to various factors, strong competition with newly industrializing countries for one, that the standard of living has fallen considerably, especially in the cities.

In addition, America is by far one of the most heavily taxed countries in the world, a reason why many rich Hong Kong Chinese opted for Canadian citizenship over that of the US by a margin of 500-to-1. (The fact that the Canadian government sells its permanent residency visa for as little as US$3,000 also helps.)

Dividends in the US are subject to double taxation. Also, unspent wealth remaining in the estate of a US citizen at death is subject to an additional confiscatory levy of up to 55%.

Taxes on capital gains are just as bad. The current lifetime rate on short-term gains within the US is almost 76%. The US Congress is currently debating some tax reductions, but these are meager and even if enacted will not change much for the majority of US nationals.

A very important point for Asians with assets abroad is that the United States imposes taxes extraterritorially on the basis of citizenship (including green card holders), with special confiscatory rates imposed on financial earnings outside the US. The Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) provisions of US law subject Americans who earn a dollar from the sale of long-term foreign securities to tax rates of 200% or more. Quite a contrast to the zero rate in Hong Kong.2 In addition, most if not all off-shore investment funds, those funds with the best yields, are closed to Americans and residents of the US due to pressure from the US government.

These above reasons have prompted thousands of the more wealthy of the United States to find abode elsewhere (Argentina and New Zealand are amongst the most popular), and the number is growing. In response, the US government has made the transfer of large sums of money as well as the renunciation of US citizenship increasingly difficult. This problem with taxes is one good reason to seriously reconsider living in the United States, especially if you are a high-net-worth (US$600,000 or more) individual.

Asian readers should not take this number lightly and pertaining only to the “very rich.” With skyrocketing prices of housing in many Asian cities today, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Singapore, your small condominium could very well put you into that bracket. Once you fall into that bracket, you are considered a “millionaire” by the US government and are liable to all kinds of taxes and regulations. So beware.

Myth No. 4: The US is an internationally-minded nation.
This has been widely held to be true for one reason: the high influx of immigrants living in the United States. America may have many different ethnic groups, and the support services (including foreign language media, shops, etc.) that cater to their needs are vast indeed. However, AmeriCANS! in themselves are, for the most part, very insular, provincial, and perhaps the most strongly nationalistic people on the face of the earth. They may chomp on Mexican burritos while sipping Vietnamese 333 beer, handle chopsticks with more accuracy than a surgeon his scalpel, and slap on the latest creams and ointments from France and elsewhere, but for the most part they like to meet only other AmeriCANS!, listen to only American music, read American literature, and.... be only American.

For example, the variety of foreign CDs that can be found at most of the major CD stores in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and other cities in Asia, including the music of other Asian countries, South America, the Middle East, etc., is not to be found in the US (with the exception of a few “ethnic” CDs). In short, America, although having the goods of the globe, is as international as a rock.

Another good example is the acute shortage of international news in the media in the US. A few well-known papers and certain cable news channels may carry some news, but those Asians wishing to receive the same coverage of the globe as they did while in Asia had better plan to use the Internet for all their foreign news needs. Only about one quarter of the amount of global news that is covered in well-renown newspapers such as Britain’s Financial Times, Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shinbun, or Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, to name a few, is to be found in American papers. As for news on television, almost all news shows wrap up international news in one minute. Again, AmeriCANS! only really care about America, and not much else unless it effects them directly.

On Dealing With AmeriCANS!
AmeriCANS! may denounce their government, decry the eroding state of their cities, and question their nation’s involvement in overseas wars. However, no AmeriCAN! questions the moral or cultural superiority of the United States, and to think anything differently will only set you, the Asian, up for hour after hour of being lectured (which the AmeriCANS! call debating) until you finally give in and admit “Yes, you are right.”

AmeriCANS! in general (there are always the exceptions) have a very strong need to believe that they are right, and that their counterpart believes that they are correct as well. Debating (discussing) is fine for the first few minutes, but the AmeriCAN! will fully expect that his Asian counterpart will finally “open his eyes and see the light.” This is especially true when opinions regarding the United States are the topic. After all, if America, as most AmeriCANS! see it, is the best place to live on the planet, then how could they possibly be wrong?

This idea is backed up more-or-less by the media, which continue to trumpet the virtues of living in the United States. Perhaps for this reason most major newspapers and news bureaus as a rule hire few minorities in their editorial departments. An AmeriCAN! will gladly maintain the so-called ”national party line”, whereas minorities and foreigners may very well resist. On a more personal note, relationships in which the Asian side does not eventually agree usually do not blossom.

Many AmeriCANS! constantly say that Asians are too quiet and that we do not express our own opinions as much as they would like us to. This does not mean that they want to know our opinions on politics, social affairs, etc. What it does mean is that we should be more open about agreeing with them on their opinions on these topics. Sure, they want to know what restaurants we want to eat at, what our hobbies are, and what kind of men we like. But if our opinions differ from theirs on the heavy stuff, then watch out.

Case in point. One Asian acquaintance made the dreadful mistake of remarking to one of his AmeriCAN! friends that in many ways discrimination in US was as bad as anywhere else. He then received a close-to 50 minute lecture detailing point-by-point exactly why he was wrong and how the US was better to every place else in every way. Such an experience is not atypical.

I did it MY WAY.
As strongly as the AmeriCAN! believes in his country and opinions, he also firmly believes in the espousal of “my rights.” Most AmeriCANS! are taught from an early age both at school and at home that they must exercise their rights, and by not doing so would mean the loss of their rights and privileges. This strong placing of one’s rights in the AmeriCANS!’ hierarchy of needs helps many of them to strive further and to achieve more. Perhaps this is one reason why AmeriCANS! are amongst the people willing to go where no one has ever dared go, and to do what no one has ever dared to do. This stress of an individual’s rights may also be a reason, along with their extremely advanced higher educational and research facilities, why AmeriCANS! hold a large portion of awards for science, medicine, journalism, inventions, etc. In that sense they are truly great.

However, this constant defending of “my rights” at the expense of interpersonal and group harmony can be trying for many-an-Asian, especially those who are involved in romantic relationships with AmeriCANS! To be fair, this usually is not much of a problem with younger AmeriCANS! However, those that are older (30+) are usually coarse defenders of their “territory”.

As is the case with most East-West relationships, Asians with AmeriCAN! partners are usually younger than their Western spouses, and are, with the possible exception of the bedroom, expected to play the role of the traditional “wife.” Thus, when an AmeriCAN! and an Asian, let’s say Thai, settle down together, no matter what is said at the outset, it will be an American house. This is true whether the couple lives in New York, Bangkok, or elsewhere. The Asian, while his rights are also superficially carefully preserved, will be expected to bend the way of his AmeriCAN! “husband.” In addition, the language of the house will almost always be standard American English.

It is true that many AmeriCANS! are increasingly learning Asian languages. Not just Japanese and Mandarin, but Thai, Korean and even Vietnamese are among languages now studied in the US. Many intermediate (junior high) schools now offer Asian languages as part of the curriculum. In addition, I have met more than a few AmeriCANS! who know good Japanese, Thai, and even Indonesian while living in Asia. This is especially true in Japan, where resident Westerners are nowadays required to know standard Japanese in order to get any job other than teaching English or English-language proofreading. But these AmeriCANS! are still the exception to the rule, especially for those that are middle-aged (40+).

With few exceptions Asians will be expected to learn English totally fluently whereas the AmeriCAN! may only take a stab at learning his counterpart’s language and culture. This is true even if the AmeriCAN! is living in Asia, and this stems from their inert belief that their culture (including language) is superior, is international, and is all one “really needs to know”.

This is extremely interesting in that most AmeriCANS! believe that they are quite the opposite, that they are over-respectful of those other than themselves as well as other cultures. This is true, but again only superficially. As noted earlier, reading a book on Thai etiquette is quite different than actually practicing what is written in its pages. The AmeriCAN! will be only too glad to do the former (and will be the first in telling the world loud and clear that he is doing so), but few will take up the challenge to do the latter.

And this is where a great many problems in Asian-AmeriCAN! relationships (both heterosexual as well as homosexual) begin. With vastly different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, miscommunication takes a toll on many such relationships. As hard as it may be for the AmeriCAN! to learn an Asian tongue, it is just as hard for many Asians to learn English. And not only are we expected to learn English 100%, but we are also expected to learn all the cultural applications, body language, etc. that goes into being a totally fluent American English speaker...and learn it fast.

If this were the case when the Asian is in the United States, then this is understandable (although not reasonable). But when this is the case even if the Asian-AmeriCAN! couple resides in Asia, then is this not a sign of a feeling of cultural superiority on the part of the AmeriCAN!?

Excuse us, please
Yet most AmeriCANS! expect to be entirely excused from learning the language and the customs of the nations that they adopt as their homes, however permanent. They may indulge in some of the finer arts of that particular country, such as pottery, painting, or even an occasional locally-made CD, but it stops there. Another problem compounding this is that many AmeriCANS! don’t like it when other AmeriCANS! get too greatly absorbed in another country’s language and culture, thus influencing their few fellow countrymen that chose to do so, albeit subtly, to abandon their new course.

AmeriCANS! may gripe about how they are not accepted in Asian society, yet forget that the first step to being accepted is to show cultural and linguistic affinity. How can they be accepted in Hong Kong or Japan when they can’t even speak the local lingo? I hear other Asians complain about this all the time, very often leading to a dissolution of the ”marriage”, because they could no longer stand being forced to become an AmeriCAN!

This is even more frustrating in that most AmeriCANS! will almost always verbally agree that all cultures should be respected. Thus when first dating an AmeriCAN! the Asian will be led to believe that any union with his prospective mate will be on a 50-50 basis. In fact, the AmeriCAN! may believe it as well. But it is only after the “marriage” (living together) that the real nature of the relationship becomes evident. The AmeriCAN!, who may have truly believed that he was going to live in a “multicultural” household, will soon revert to his own ways of living. The Asian will not have this choice, for if he does indeed return to living in a totally “Chinese” manner, for example, there is a strong possibility that the relationship will come to a close.

What? Me?
Another thing about most AmeriCANS! is that although they will be the first to recognize that there is racial discrimination in the US, they, with the exception of a few sociology majors, will be the least likely to want to discuss the problems. In part this is understandable. America is still, despite what the anti-immigration zealots would have everyone believe, BY and FOR the AmeriCANS! Period. Despite the massive immigration waves by Asians and Hispanics, as well as the huge African-American population, America’s systems, from government and big business to the military, are still run, owned and controlled by AmeriCANS! And they plan to keep it this way.

In recent years Asians have made a very strong impact in science and education as well as in medicine in the US. One major reason for this is that most Asian nations emphasize science and math in greater depth than the US education system does. Yet, despite all the Asian science and math geniuses that live in the US, and despite the fact that most make good incomes working for private companies, few manage to climb the corporate ladder as quickly and as surely as their AmeriCAN! counterparts. To be sure, the really gifted Asians are offered money and prestigious titles at their places of employment, but few have been able to become upper managers, much less join the Boards of Directors at their firms.

In politics as well, few minority elected leaders exist except in heavily minority-denominated voting districts. America is for the AmeriCANS! where real money and, in particular, power are concerned, and all Asians, before relocating to the US, should be aware of this fact.

This is not so unusual as this is the case in most if not all other countries. But AmeriCANS! seldom discuss or even acknowledge this fact. They have had the “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave” motto drummed into them in their schools, and few can muster up the courage to even think that their nation is anything less than a land that is equal and free for all. And this is understandable as well, because AmeriCANS! rarely encounter any real discrimination (with the exception of women, which have to deal with sex discrimination), so they naturally think that what they enjoy is enjoyed by all.

Two to Tango
Regarding AmeriCANS!’ attitude toward Asians, not all the fault lies with the AmeriCAN!, however. We Asians bear a great part of the blame here. Firstly, many Asians are also linguistically, culturally and racially arrogant. Many like to think that the fast economic growth that Asia is undergoing is due mainly to their unique skills as entrepreneurs and love of hard work, and not thanks to incentives from capitalism. After all, until the 1970s most of Asia was a swamp, and many parts still are. If we are all so good at business, then why wasn’t Asia rich before? Colonialism is only part of the answer. Socialism, Communism, damned Cultural Revolutions, wars, corruption, closed-mindedness, and boggled development plans are the real answer. In short, although we were partly hampered by colonialism, we, for the most part, retarded our own development.

In addition, too many Asians are fast to give in to the expectations of the AmeriCANS! for us to be passive. In Asia in particular, too many of us see a white man or woman and immediately think of him/her as a “guest”, despite the fact that that “guest” may have been living in Asia since before the time some of us were born. This is true even if we know that they have been in our country for a long time. Although this sentiment is changing, it is still the norm. Thus, upon seeing our “guests” we tend to pamper them.

Naturally this is not always the case, and there are certain instances where being white can be a liability. For example, using Thailand again, many Thais see Westerners (and increasingly Japanese) as rich, be they highly-paid corporate expatriates or poor English teachers barely eking out a living. Thus, many Westerners also face the problem of paying higher rents than a Thai would, or else of having a greater chance of being targeted for robbery. After all, since “they are all rich, they can afford it”.

The AmeriCAN!, in most cases having been pampered from the day he sets foot on Asian soil, comes to expect such treatment as part of “Asian culture,” not realizing that this is reserved for Western ”guests.” As I stated at the start of this essay, many Westerners are going to and living in Asia, with many of them settling down there for the long term. This is increasingly so due to the acute shortage of skilled labor, managerial in particular, that exists in most Asian countries, as well as to the declining state of many Western economies. Thus it is time that we stopped this “guest” attitude and started treating them and expecting from them as equals. A revolutionary thought, to be sure, but something that will be needed in this ever-globalizing world of ours.

Just friends
AmeriCANS! are friendly. They are in general open, generous, and the first to come with hand extended to a newcomer. They lack the strong distinctions of “class” and mix and mingle with others regardless of educational background. For Asian immigrants to the US, they can be extremely supportive and help us feel wanted.

Most gay Asians will find that, after coming to the US and getting into circulation that they will be able to easily make friends initially with the AmeriCANS! However, aside from people with whom they will work with, gay Asians will realize that most if not all of their AmeriCAN! friends are, be they single or attached, in some way “rice queens,” having an interest in Asian men, cultures, languages, etc.

AmeriCANS! are friendly, but most of that is only on the surface. They are very quick to strike up a conversation and minimal friendships but are also quick to terminate relationships when the need arises, or, as is more commonly known as “easy-come-easy-go”. For longer-term friendships AmeriCANS! prefer other AmeriCANS!, or, at the very least, other Westerners.

Asian college students will have somewhat less of a problem mixing with AmeriCANS! Many at America’s universities believe that college is a time to meet people different than themselves, and a time for learning outside as well as inside the classroom.

It is upon graduation that things usually change, however. Most AmeriCANS! working at corporations are rather cliquish, especially so as they climb the promotional ladder. This may not be the case at Asian firms in the US. But the Asian who may have had many AmeriCAN! friends while at school will find it harder to mix later on with those that are not interested in Asia or Asians in some way. As is often the case, his college buddies will more-or-less fade away. In their place he will find new friends, other Asians as well as AmeriCANS! with a deep interest in them and their cultures.

Again, this is not totally the fault of the AmeriCANS! For linguistic, cultural and other purposes they find it easier to mix with their own kind, in the same way Asians find it easier on the whole to mix with other Asians, Hispanics with other Hispanics, and Africans with other Africans. However Asians planning to go to the US and blend into a giant “melting pot” had better rethink their expectations. The United States, although trumpeted by the AmeriCANS! as a great “melting pot” is more of a “tossed salad,” and if this bothers you then perhaps you should reconsider your plans to live there.

So, should you move to the US?
Sure, if there is a real reason for you to be there. If you have a firm offer for a good job, or your spouse must be in the US and you want to join him/her, or you want to get a good higher education, or you are infatuated with US culture and its peoples and systems, then absolutely. But for heaven’s sake don’t go there only for the men. Even if you are a bona-fide potato queen, that is perhaps the worst reason you can have to move to the US. If white men is what you are after, than many other countries, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand may make far better choices for many of the reasons stated above.

America is truly a land filled with opportunities, but it is a very difficult, competitive nation in which to live in, its cities are less than clean, and its crime rate, although falling in recent years, is still high. In addition, racial discrimination is alive and well, albeit subtly. Only you can tell if the move is right for you. Also, only you can tell if building a hearth with an AmeriCAN! is what you really want. Many have happily done so. Perhaps it is for you.

Notes
1 Sho ga nai, Japanese for “It can’t be helped.” Mai pen rai is the Thai equivalent.
2 Strategic Investment, July 23, 1997, Volume 12, Number 7, Agora Publishing, Baltimore, US.