tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post4444034165672163599..comments2023-10-09T13:33:24.033-07:00Comments on Aussie Pete: 'Ang Mo' in Singapore and 'Lao Wai' or 'Gweilo' in China - Offensive to Westerners?Aussie Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04893185575367843149noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-28398924057882838772015-09-17T09:50:42.095-07:002015-09-17T09:50:42.095-07:00Hi @mastador - u can just call me Pete. That's...Hi @mastador - u can just call me Pete. That's my name regardless of my race or color (which just don't matter)! Cheers bro. :)<br />Aussie Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893185575367843149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-8543569005168971802015-09-14T00:09:00.594-07:002015-09-14T00:09:00.594-07:00So, you don't mind being called white but you ...So, you don't mind being called white but you mind being called red haired? <br /><br />Weird. <br /><br />Or is it just that you don't like being called whatever it is in another language?mastodorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02298521343941888367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-85318609909691463772015-08-30T22:16:19.458-07:002015-08-30T22:16:19.458-07:00An old thread, but would like to comment.
I'm...An old thread, but would like to comment.<br /><br />I'm Caucasian (Australian) and have been living in Singapore for the past 3 years.<br />At first I accepted Ang Mo as a cute, catch-all phrase that co-workers would use for me, and to their credit, was never used as a derogatory term.<br /><br />But now I'm becoming less tolerant of it. Whilst I do have a red beard, the hair on my head is brown :)<br />Technicalities aside, if I were to pick a race-specific generalisation and apply it to every person of that race, perhaps the reception would not be like my happy-smiling-angmo-accepting response.<br /><br />If I were to refer to my Asian friends in Australia as "slope-eyes" or "slopes" I'm sure I would be seen as a fogie, left-over from the 50's when the White Australia Policy was in effect and people were checking under their beds for "Yellow Peril".<br /><br />And that's the problem I have with it.<br /><br />Referring to me as Ang Mo is offensive to me, it's an archaic term used when there was a societal acceptance of simple identification of who-belongs and who doesn't.<br /><br />Singapore, like Australia, was built with the sweat and blood of immigrants. Terms used to divide or class whole groups of those immigrants just isn't right in where we have come in today's society.<br /><br />With Singapore housing and space limited and a population growing, discord towards foreign workers is increasing. More Chinese/Singaporean and Malay/Singapore locals are using the figurehead of the fat Ang Mo as an icon to their distaste of "Foreign Talent". Although Cauacasians receive less vitriol than some other imported foreign workers who may work in construction and similar jobs - I guess the white man brings money..<br /><br />So the term Ang Mo is old. It makes Singapore seem like it's stuck about 50 years back..<br /><br />My 2 cents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-52169659473068001072012-02-28T19:51:30.626-08:002012-02-28T19:51:30.626-08:00I spent a lot of time in Singapore when I worked f...I spent a lot of time in Singapore when I worked for Motorola. Our plant was in Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 3. Given the chance I would be happy to return and work again as an Ang Mo in Ang Mo Kio. God bless everyone in Singapore. Hope things are going well.Bill Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600131543846491228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-11154557535935112112010-10-11T08:34:21.280-07:002010-10-11T08:34:21.280-07:00Hi Aussie Pete- You wrote that Ang Mo, Lao Wai an...Hi Aussie Pete- You wrote that Ang Mo, Lao Wai and Gweilo are "politically incorrect" in Australia and that using this while playing sport would result in suspension and counseling. Can you please elaborate on this more and provide the background as to why this is the case in Australia? How did these chinese terms ascribed to Whites become politically incorrect and offensive in Australia? I live in the U.S and I can't even foresee the day when gweilo or ang mo would be considered racially offensive amongst White Americans much less now. Considering the historical racism which Chinese and other Asians have had to endure in Australia for so long I would think that White Australians would take epithets such as ang mo and gweilo with stride. Gweilo and ang mo can be used neutrally as opposed to other slurs such as honky, cracker, whitey or even gubby which are generally used to offend Whites. Now what I would like to know is whether a Black or any other racial minority in Australia would be suspended in a sporting competition for using the more offensive terms against Whites such as honky, cracker, whitey, gubby, etc? Btw you've got a really cool blog going on here:)balisong5https://www.blogger.com/profile/09031131908634730909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-10000822051705176662009-01-06T19:17:00.000-08:002009-01-06T19:17:00.000-08:00Hi Chris - mate, thankyou so much for this very we...Hi Chris - mate, thankyou so much for this very well thought out and clear comment. I think what you have said is very true.Aussie Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893185575367843149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-36219002085266173712009-01-06T10:19:00.000-08:002009-01-06T10:19:00.000-08:00The literal translation of "ang mo" should imply t...The literal translation of "ang mo" should imply that it is not offensive by nature - typically this term on its own is neutral. My reading of your explanation is that the term is pejorative only because of the actions of some people (e.g. spitting while using the term) or unkind adjectives placed either in front of behind (e.g. si ang mor, ang mor kow). So on its own I cannot see how it can be construed as insulting, but I can understand why over time, if the term starts becoming associated with negative adjectives/emotions/connotations, that it would naturally evolve into an offensive term. This is due more to racist elements in society rather than racist connotations contained in the term itself, of which there are none in modern times.<BR/><BR/>On its on it should be seen as a neutral term because it is prevalent and ingrained into the local vocabulary. The proper term 'caucasian' just does not roll off the tongue as easily, mainly because there is no no top-of-mind recall for the correct word.<BR/><BR/>I also think that by acknowledging one's ang-mohness, the person has a better chance at forming a rapport with the locals. That's not a bad thing in a society where friendships and relationships matter more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-90449927421928976682008-05-20T22:56:00.000-07:002008-05-20T22:56:00.000-07:00Haha - see, and I am not offended at all by your c...Haha - see, and I am not offended at all by your comment. :D<BR/><BR/>I live in the 'heartlands' and it is very, very common there... I'm one of the few 'ang mo's' around...Aussie Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893185575367843149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-27582214546220984552008-05-19T20:26:00.000-07:002008-05-19T20:26:00.000-07:00Interesting article. Never expected an 'ang mo' to...Interesting article. Never expected an 'ang mo' to know so much about the subject. You must have done quite a bit of research. Thanks. I never thought of the term 'ang mo' in any negative way. But I guess it could sound really bad when you add something in front or behind it. Right now it's just a catch-all term used to refer to white people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-66192378773492867812008-05-15T23:46:00.000-07:002008-05-15T23:46:00.000-07:00Like I said - very common to hear this in Singapor...Like I said - very common to hear this in Singapore... if it's used in a non-offensive way, I have no problems. I have been the recipient of someone 'spitting' it at me once (while talking in mandarin) and giving me the 'up and down' look... she didn't know that I understand some Chinese, so I responded with a disparaging remark about her weight and also something about a female dog, if I recall correctly... :D Probably very inappropriate of me, but I was having 'one of those days'...<BR/><BR/>The term is inherent in the culture here and therefore acceptable at the moment... would not be PC in many western countries.Aussie Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893185575367843149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-87776342094872442152008-05-15T23:41:00.000-07:002008-05-15T23:41:00.000-07:00don't let it bother me.don't let it bother me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734902152162231132.post-54248072872694190082008-05-15T10:02:00.000-07:002008-05-15T10:02:00.000-07:00'ang mo' is common in Singapore. i was told as a c...'ang mo' is common in Singapore. i was told as a child that it was the right thing to call white foreigners. Is it offensive to them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com