On 05/30/2010 09:19 PM, John W. wrote:
> On May 29, 9:30 am, mtfes...@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
>> Scott Reynolds<scottr...@gmail.com>  wrote:
>>> Hello, Nishikura-san,
>>> As you may have gathered from the response you received so far,
>>> "haafu" is not considered by many English speakers to be an acceptable
>>> word to use when referring to children who have one Japanese and one
>>> non-Japanese parent. In fact, along with "mixed-race," which you also
>>> use in your post, many people find the word "haafu" pretty insulting.
>>> (This may be more the case for the parents than for the kids
>>> themselves, but there it is.)
>>
>> Basically, the last sentence is correct; I hate the word, but it doesn't
>> bother my kids at all.
>>
> I never thought of it as being in any way negative, but then I'm
> raising my kid in the US, so maybe that's the difference. I figure
> that since he is half Japanese it's relatively appropriate; I just
> don't see why it's insulting. My only complaint is that haafu reminds
> me of 'new haafu' and I'd prefer that association not exist.

It bothers me A LOT, but I have a note from my parents.  I'm part Seneca 
(Iroquois / Algonquin) which meant absolutely nothing on the East Coast 
where I was born, but seemed to be Dreadfully Important in Minnesota 
where I grew up, thanks to the Sioux (who seem to screw up everything 
they ever try).  My immediate family all have light skin, blue eyes, and 
blond hair, but I have some cousins who look like they're on day release 
from the Reservation.

-- 
CL