That's not my name!

What I found interesting about the Chinese culture is that most Chinese citizens choose to go by an American name or at least have an American name ready on standby. My autobiography correspondent started off her paper to me by saying

 "My name is Liu Di. And I also have an English name-Taylor."

Liu Di, or Taylor, claims that the Chinese choose an English name to make communication with non-Chinese people much easier, considering many non-Chinese speaking people find the names very hard to pronounce. In some families, names- both English and Chinese- are given to the child at birth. In other case's, like Taylor's, the person chooses the name of someone they admire, a similar name or simply a name they are fond of. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2014-10/29/content_18806030_4.htm

 Other Chinese citizens seem to despise the fact that they choose English names. A blogger on one forum said:

"Choosing English names can be dated back to when Overseas Chinese were enslaved by English man and had no choice but to adopt Western names. We are the Jews of Asia, persecuted because of our race, envied and despised because of our successes despite the obstacles laid against us."

In my opinion, I don't think it is a big deal for Chinese to have Western names. What do you think? Should English people have Chinese names for 'ease of communication?' Why not? I could get used to going by the name 克洛伊. I don't think that this shows a sign of inferiority to translate your name, it is just for the soul purpose of simplicity. It doesn't seem to bother Taylor, and considering all of her friends go by their English names as well, I don't think it is a discrimination against the Chinese. It is their choice after all, whether or not to pick an American name. 

Common Chinese Words

Sources:

"Why Do Chinese Choose 'weird' English Names?" [4]- Chinadaily.com.cn. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

Autobiography Correspondent: Liu Di

Face-to-Face

All of the stories from the Face to Face website were interesting and influential to me. All of the interviewed seemed to have their rights violated and an invasion of their privacy. I thought it was chilling that multiple people said it was amazing how much the government knew about them and that they were racist against them just because of how their name is pronounced. All of the stories had hints of fear and invasion in them and make me feel embarrassed to be a 'white person.' Kinya's father was discriminated against just for being involved in Martial Arts and Kiyo had heard diary read by an FBI agent which seems completely unnecessary that the children had no sugar coating during the entire aftermath, they were harassed and they had nothing to do with the attacks. "You're a good family" is what the last FBI agent said to Kiyo's mother which disgusts me that they just left after destroying their home and without any explanation. Sayema Hameed had a good interview were she addressed that terrorists feel like they have nothing left to live for and she seemed to have a deeper understanding for them which is admirable and makes her a bigger person than myself because she feels sympathy and understanding for the terrorists and wants to take a different approach to stopping terrorism other than just killing them. Muhammad El Nasla- "We're not all terrorist's.." "I am not a terrorist I am an Arab American. All of these stories were effective and persuasive and even though it hurts to listen to these stories it is important in order to keep the past from repeating itself.