What is Asian?

How can we create the "Others"? How can we create an identity insofar by which it allows for identification and shared resources? Culture which is defined as simply having traditions, rituals and rites in by which allows for a common identity. Very often language is used as a marker by which separates the line "Us" and the "Others". And in doing so, when we speak a different language, we are able to identify with each other and the various nuances by which we can separate "Us" from the "Others".

The process of separating "Us" from the "Others" is two fold. 1) by a formalized process- by which the heightened experience of a rites and rituals gives us a shared common identity- a blip from the mundane. 2) the informalized process, by which education and other forms of socialization process is used to enculture common identity markers by which to identify "Us" versus the "Others".

Traditional shared experiences is used insofar to ensure a common bond by which the blip in the mundane of each person's life is to ensure that each person is expected to remember the reason for it's existence in the first place. In the second, common socialization process, where we are able to identify different aspects of life by different methods ensures that the "Others" is kept from "Us". This is to ensure a common shared identity and insofar to ensure that resources are kept within a common identity and ensure it's continuation.

Likewise then, in the first, the rituals and rites is ensure that the actor is able in a self-directed manner by which is to the interest of the community. This means that rites is to mark various passages of life by which to ensure that more responsibility and hence more meaning is imbued, to ensure that who, why and when you are here.

In the second, this is to crystallized and operationalized the first. It is not enough simply to ensure to hold in the heart, it must have permeance. It's permeance comes from shared resources and comes from ensuring the continuation of the community in the first place. This is done by education and everyday life- which is distinctive from the "Others". Hence this is to a function of social, economic and political environment.

Only community members can participate in the first insofar to ensure a common of shared memory and history.

In the second, the continuation of a community can and might not need the first insofar, not because of it is exogenous but rather, increasing the resources meant as well, to strengthen the identity. This is done so by increasing the appeal of the identity insofar that having common identity means having access to more resources. This means that we can speak the same language but it doesn't mean that we are from the same community- this means that you can behave exactly like someone of the same community but it still doesn't mean that we come from a common identity. Ultimately the socialization and educational process is to ensure the continued existence of the community independent of the identity itself.

But the question beckons then how can we identity with each other while not sharing common bond? This is simply done by having the lowest common denominator in by which resources are shared. This means that the more we share, the more we identify with each other, but it doesn't mean that we have a form of social connection. This means that the "por soi" or for itself ensures the "en soi" or "in itself" exist insofar that people who speaks the language are in spirit carrying on the tradition.

The "spirit" is in the methods of everyday life. Take for example, why Asians prefer rice over say pasta or steak. We really don't need to feel Asian in order to prefer rice, we simply eat it without questioning but somehow we just prefer it over something else. Why- the "in itself" is at play. In this case, they will start correlating it to the height, the weight and health and nutritional value and start a "for itself" process all over again. Why we eat "rice" is so that we can become "more Asian". It becomes an absolute tautological argument.

Hence when we have more people eating rice, it increases and quickens the socialization and enculturation process simply increasing the amount of shared resources shared among those that they identify with.

Therefore we create an "Others" simply by eating "rice" simply because the "spirit" is in the act of eating it in the first place. Anyone who does not eat is not "Others", anyone who refuses to acknowledge that eating rice is "Asian" is then an "others". This is simply because you are not "promoting" the identity.

But the question beckons and the eternal question continues there: What is Asian?

Gotcha.