Melody Li

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

Who do you think is more German?

This is a curious question to pose to far-right conservatives (particularly white ones), because your views on this matter seem to differ quite significantly from those of other people.

A: Both parents are white Germans. Born in the U.S., has zero interest in the German language or culture, and identifies as a leftist, white, transgender American woman. An atheist, by the way.

B: Mother is white German, father is Black South African. Born in Germany and raised by maternal grandparents. Loves both German and South African cultures but speaks only German. Identifies as South African-German. Politically indifferent. A Christian. A successful German language musician.

C: Mother is Japanese, father is white German. Born and raised in Germany by conservative parents. Deeply loves both German and Japanese culture and identifies as mixed race German. Generally holds conservative political views but hates far-right ideology. A successful businessman.

D: Both parents are white Russian. Born in Germany but raised in several different countries. Despite holding a German passport, considers himself an internationalist and stand with Palestinian. Speaks not very fluent German, by the way.

So, among these four people, who would you consider the most German?

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

What? This is total BS and blatant racism. If you’re referring to the beautiful girl in the original picture, she’s considered beautiful by East Asian beauty standards because she’s simply beautiful! There are plenty of other East Asian girls who look noticeably younger than their Western counterparts but are still considered unattractive by our beauty standards. Those two things can absolutely coexist. Geez.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

And are you trying to imply that there are far fewer pedophiles in the West (or wherever you’re from)? Why can’t you acknowledge that East Asian women in their 20s or even 30s can simply look younger than the average white or Latina woman wearing heavy makeup? Mind you, the girl on the right could look much younger without makeup.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@keyfipyIasimIar These aren't young students, just a group of middle-aged (or even older) ladies doing their square dancing (广场舞). 😂

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

Like it or not, “Chinese” can refer to both a nationality and an ethnic identity, depending on the context. Moreover, ethnicity is not determined by genetics alone; shared history, culture, language, and collective identity also play important roles. And the idea of a genetically pure, homogeneous Chinese ethnicity simply doesn’t hold up in the first place. Chinese identity has evolved over thousands of years through migration, cultural exchange, assimilation, and intermarriage.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

That’s not 100% true, but yes, it’s generally the case under the PRC’s current nationality policy. That said, there have still been a few cases of people with no Chinese parents (athletes and scientists, as far as I know) successfully obtaining Chinese nationality. The numbers are extremely small, of course.

But historically speaking, Chineseness has been more of a cultural concept. That’s what has traditionally bound the Han Chinese and other ethnic minorities together under a broader Chinese identity.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@srkntnyldz It's absolutely disgusting to the core!

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@NaomiSeibt @KinderheimRune Contrary to what you assume, as long as the children hold Chinese nationality, they are considered Chinese.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@Saitama_K777 这真的不是低级串吗？

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@ALSANAD_MESHARI Don’t tell me you’re a man. If you are, then going into your sister’s room and inspecting her belongings is very creepy!

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

It really bothers me whenever I see very conservative men, whether they’re from Turkey, Iran, or elsewhere, sharing videos of groups of women wearing Pilates clothes and doing Pilates in private spaces. What’s even worse is that these videos are usually secretly filmed without the women’s knowledge or consent. Before criticizing these women for whatever reason, shouldn’t you first consider whether it’s inappropriate to spread those videos in the first place?

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@kooshirecat_ I don’t believe this would be considered appropriate in any culture. It’s not just an East Asian issue.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@JackieSnowballs @qifuxiaopengyou @vbmxzz The auto-translation is off. 姐姐 doesn’t mean “old woman.” The comments could have come from a 13-year-old, after all. And “mama” is an expression of affection, not a reference to someone’s age.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@NSaiwoothi97310 这女孩是有多喜欢柚子啊？全程只关心“我的柚子肉呢”？😂😂😂

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

So Jensen Huang is an older man who cheated on his wife of more than 40 years. By Chinese cultural standards, that’s textbook 渣男 behavior. If it weren’t for the completely unsubstantiated Chinese spy allegations against his mistress, I suspect mainstream public opinion accross Chinese society would overwhelmingly side with Lori and condemn both Jensen and the other woman.

But those spy accusations have turned an otherwise straightforward affair controversy into something much uglier. Many Chinese people who would ordinarily have no sympathy for a cheating husband now find themselves defending Jensen to some extent—not because they approve of infidelity, but because the accusations have turned into a serious threat to Chinese immigrants and an ethnic insult against Chinese people more broadly.

It sickens me to see people use the “old white woman vs. young, beautiful Chinese girl” comparison to justify his affair. Imagine Lori were your own mother or grandmother. Would you still be joking about how perfectly reasonable it was for your father or grandfather to cheat on her with a younger woman? It’s immoral and disgusting. Yet because some people are defending Jensen against the spy accusations rather than simply endorsing his infidelity, I find it difficult to criticize them as harshly as I’d otherwise like to.

It also sickens me to see people casually invoke the old “yellow fever” trope, as if it weren’t inherently racist and sexist to reduce highly intelligent Chinese women to submissive sex objects for white men.

But what sickens me most is seeing people—especially some Chinese women themselves—play along with the Chinese spy meme while simultaneously sexually objectifying young Chinese women. As if these toxic stereotypes have no real-world consequences for Chinese women and other Chinese immigrants living overseas.

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@Dream1984Tube 这些政客们最擅长的就是编假故事给自己抬身价

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

As much as you hate your Chineseness, someone like you must make an excellent Chinese spy. You’d have a much better chance of infiltrating whatever you’re talking about than ordinary Chinese immigrants. After all, you’re smart enough to accuse everyone else first, right?

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@FabrizioFauno Am I the only one who thought this was Shakira at first glance?

[Melody Li @iToldUso2015]

@pobremillenial You just know Trump too well.