International News, part un

Here at Matcha Monkey, I've been wanting to introduce a new feature for a while, inspired by the Daily Show's (or maybe it was the Colbert Report?) "Un-American News." Although I live in Japan and can't speak Japanese, it turns out I'm not bad at French. Occasionally I take breaks from staring at the wall to read Le Monde online. As you can imagine with a French newspaper sometimes the stories are nothing short of absurd. Last fall when all the rioting was occurring for example, Le Monde ran a story about how the American news media was grossly over-reacting to the riots. It went something along the lines of this: "Those Americans...All it takes is some burning cars and a few people hanging out in the streets and the next thing you know they have graphs and experts to analyze it all." Since nothing exciting has been happening in my life recently, I've decided to bring you a translated excerpt from Le Monde. This one isn't very funny, but I thought it was interesting. So to the 2 people (on a good day) who read this blog besides me, enjoy.
---------------

En 2005, les opinions racistes ont gagné du terrain en France

Le sondage réalisé par l'institut CSA (sur un échantillon représentatif de 1 011 personnes interrogées en face à face du 17 au 22 novembre 2005) montre une banalisation du racisme. Un Français sur trois se déclare raciste, ce qui marque une augmentation de 8 % par rapport à 2004. Et, sans doute plus inquiétant encore, 63 % estiment personnellement que "certains comportements peuvent justifier des réactions racistes". En 2005, on assiste "incontestablement à la levée d'un tabou", s'alarme la CNCDH.

La banalisation du racisme se reflète aussi dans une "démobilisation sensible" des individus dans la lutte contre le racisme. Ils ne sont notamment plus que 32 % (-18 points) à se dire prêt à signaler un comportement raciste à la police. On assiste à "une vraie tendance au repli sur soi, à une indifférence croissante face aux manifestations de racisme, dans lesquelles viennent se combiner des peurs (tendance anxiogène) et des craintes d'une communautarisation ", relève le rapport qui note un doublement des personnes citant les "Français" comme victime du racisme.

Aussi cette banalisation du racisme va-t-elle de pair, sur fond d'un malaise économique et social croissant, avec une progression des préjugés xénophobes. Une majorité de Français (56 % soit + 18 % par rapport à 2004) estiment ainsi que le nombre d'étrangers est trop important. La radicalisation s'exprime tout autant en ce qui concerne le nombre d'immigrés, jugés à 55 % (+9 points) trop important.

Aussi observe-t-on, un net recul (-11 points) de ceux qui considèrent que les travailleurs immigrés "sont en France chez eux puisqu'ils contribuent à l'économie française". Et plus encore de ceux qui soutiennent que "la présence d'immigrés est nécessaire pour assurer certaines professions". Les avis sur cette question n'ont d'ailleurs jamais été aussi partagés (48 % contre 49 %). Alors qu'en 2004, dans un contexte marqué par de nombreuses agressions racistes et antisémites, l'attitude était plutôt à l'indignation, au soutien aux victimes des violences et des discriminations, et à la demande de sanctions accrues contre les auteurs de ces actes, en 2005, ce sont les immigrés qui sont perçus comme une menace.

Taken from Le Monde, 3.21.2006

In 2005, racist opinions gained ground in France

The poll conducted by the CSA institute (from a representative sample of 1 011 people interviewed in person from November 17th to 22nd, 2005) shows that racism is becoming more common-place. One French person in three describes himself as racist, an 8% increase from 2004. And, without a doubt even more worrisome, 63% agree that "certain behaviors can justify racist reactions." In 2005, we are witnessing "an incontestable lifting of a taboo" warns the CNCDH.

The spread of racism is also reflected in a "demobilization of sensitivity" of individuals in the fight against racism. Notably, not more than 32% (down 18 points) said they were ready to report racist behavior to the police. We are witnessing "a real tendency to keep to oneself, a growing indifference regarding signs of racism, in which are combined fears (anxious tendencies) and fears of a communautarization," revealed the report, which also noted a doubling of people citing "the French" as victims of racism.

Also, this spread of racism, founded on growing economic and social problems, goes along with an increase in xenophobic prejudices. A majority of French people (56%, an 18% increase over 2004) think that the number of foreigners is too large. This radicalization is also shown by reaction to the number of immigrants, which was judged by 55% (up 9 points) to be too many.

There was also a decrease (of 11 points) in those who considered immigrants workers to be "at home in France because they are contributing to the French economy." And even more so with those who agreed that "the presence of immigrants is necessary to assure certain jobs." The opinions on this question have never been so split (48% to 49%). Whereas in 2004, in a context marked by numerous racist and anti-Semitic attacks, the attitude was one more of indignation, supporting the victims of this violence and discrimination, demanding increased sanctions against the perpetrators of these acts, in 2005, it is the immigrants who are viewed as a threat.

Life in a Bubble

I enjoy silence. In general, I find people who talk a lot and noisy situations tiring. I need a lot of time alone to recharge. Over the past 3 years in Japan, I've realized that this is one of the reasons I enjoy living abroad so much--it is incredibly easy to just tune everything out and live in your head. It's like having the ability to put the world on mute, and project onto people what you want them to be saying, thinking, and feeling, instead of what they actually are. I've found I have a much more positive view of humanity this way.

When I first came to Japan, I didn't understand Japanese, so even if I wanted to listen to people's conversations, I couldn't. For their part, seeing that I was white, most people assumed that I wouldn't understand them and didn't bother me by engaging in conversation. The talking going on around me was just background noise. Now of course I can understand more, but not so much that I can't willfully tune everything out.

anytime I go back home, I am jarred by all the talking going on around me. It happens as soon as I reach the departure gate for a US-bound flight. All the polite, quiet Japanese people are rudely and suddenly replaced by loud, chatty Americans who will share every detail of their life with a stranger. This being Japan, I usual have to deal with not just regular loud Americans, but rather loud military Americans. The last time I was waiting for a flight home, I was treated to conversations about such things as cheating on wives and the difficulty of picking up a Japanese chick. I remembered why I enjoyed the non-understanding silence of Japan; it allowed me to assume the best of people.

The silence can get to me though. Sometimes, when I go days without meaningful interaction with my co-workers, I begin to feel like I don't exist. I'm like a ghost moving through the world of the living. I can see, touch and hear them, but my presence goes unnoticed.

Things I like about Japan, continued

...Adding to the list of things I like about Japan, at #7, Japanese salons.

This weekend I got straight perm in my curly hair. Getting a haircut in Japan is one of the things that makes me appreciate the attention to detail that the Japanese have. A typical haircut will last 2-3 hours and include a massage, all for around $40. My perm took longer and was a bit more expensive, but still. Ever since I got my hair cut back home over Chistmas break, I have an even higher appreciation for Japanese salons.

------------------

Although I love Japanese salons, I don't like some of the prep work involved in going to one--things like memorizong how to say "Please don't thin my hair" or finding a picture of the cut I want because I can' relate it to them in Japanese. So, while I was home (in the US) I decided to get a long over-due haircut simply because it would be easier there.

I called up a place I used to go to somewhat frequently when I was living at home. Just a standard, mid-range salon. I noticed things had changed as soon as I walked through the door. I was the youngest person there by about 30 years, and the only one whose hair wasn't in some form of gray, permed 'fro. I was a little concerned--when I used to go there, there were usually other young customers as well as young hairdressers. I reminded myself that it was the middle of the day and as such the clientele was more likely to be composed of retired people than of younger, working-age people.

I decided not to worry about it, sat down, and began flipping through a copy of Vogue. Lost in glossy pictures of beautiful people, I didn't notice my hairdresser as he approached. He was close enough to startle me when he started to speak.

"Hi my name's Leo and I'll be cutting your hair today."

Leo stood just a few inches taller than me. My eyes immediately focused on his hair--a medium-length strawberry blonde mullet. As my eyes scanned down, I noticed he was wearing a pair of acid wash jeans. I wanted to run. Anyone who cannot properly style his own hair should not be let near mine. But I decided this would be rude and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I followed him to his station in the back corner of the salon. The girl whose hair he had just cut was leaving. Her hair looked ok and she seemed pleased, so I started to relax a little.

"How would you like your hair cut today?"

I noted a slight mid-western accent. My hair is curly and notoriously difficult to style. What I wanted was a simple trim in the back and something more interesting in the front. Some people might use the term "layers" to describe what I wanted, but I specifically avoided this phraseology as apparently "layers" means "the Jennifer Aniston haircut" in haircutter speak. There's nothing wrong with Jennifer Aniston's hair-au contraire-but having curly hair means that anything cut too short or too layer-y will make me look like a lion with an enormous brown mane. So I told him vaguely what I wanted without using the l-word.

As he washed and cut my hair, we engaged in the usual salon conversation. Things were going relatively well. Then while styling my hair, Leo delivered two successive blows.

"You look dorky with that middle part. Let's part it on the side."

Did a middle-aged man sporting a mullet and acid washed jeans just refer to my appearance as "dorky"? A new all-time low.

After getting rid of the offending part, he stepped aside so that I could see myself in the mirror for the first time.

"I've given you some layers in the front. Now you'll look just like Jennifer Aniston."

My face contorted and a single tear rolled down my cheek. The mane was already beginning to form. I'm pretty sure Jennifer Aniston doesn't have a mane.

"That's a really popular haircut now."

Yes, if by now you mean 1995.

-------------

And so the moral of this story is, don't take the easy road. Even if it means learning a few new words, it's better to have your hair done by a 25 year-old Japanese girl than a 40 year-old American man.