Difference between culture and race

Now many people use these 2 terms interchangeably. They don't mean the same thing at all. For example I am one of the very many few individuals in this earth that is both Indian and Chinese by race. So by Malaysian law, I am listed as Indian because my father was an Indian and our Government despite being independent for 50 years still insists on race segregation and therefore require us to have a race but didn't have the foresight for people with dual races. That is one of the ways to maintain control.

Screw that shit for a while....I wanted to discuss culture and race.

So you would think that being of both of the oldest and established civilizations in the history of the world would render having "culture" up the wazoo! Well unfortunately I only adopt a part of the Indian and Chinese culture. Mainly in our cultural celebrations. Being a Christian, I don't celebrate religious holidays like Diwali or Wesak or Thaipusam. I do celebrate Chinese New Year which is a cultural holiday. And due to the vast cultural and ethnic diversity in India, we are confused as to when is the Indian new year.

Even though I am of both races, there are many things culturally, I won't be accustomed to. For example, my culture is now Malaysian where we visit people of different race and religion during the holidays. Only the current government thinks we don't and would like to keep it that way. Divide and conquer.

If you are in India or China, that doesn't happen very much. People still stick to their own. Here is a list of "cultural" things people do in China and India where I wouldn't be caught dead doing.

1. Spitting wantonly.
When you walk in China, you have to be careful not to step on spit! People, young, old, frail, strong, female, male, foetus will just spit wherever they want, whenever they want. Spittle may consist of phlegm or just spit bubbles. Sometimes different colours as dependant on what was eaten by the spitter.

2. Kids urinating wantonly.
Kids with well dressed parents, will pee wherever they want. This includes on the pavement, in front of luxury malls, in front of your shoes, in front of your office, anywhere but the urinal. Even when they are in the toilet, they will pee anywhere. Small puddles of water on the pedestrian pavement may be some kid's pee. No disposition whatsoever. Need to go, stop, pull down pants and pee. Thank goodness this is restricted to kids. Adults will pee behind buildings, parking lots, quiet lanes.

3. Taking a dump like a farm animal
Why I am comparing to farm animals is because I haven't seen other animals take a dump. There is a saying in China, if you need to find the toilet, just follow the smell. While most of Beijing was cleaned up for the 2008 Olympics, it's only at the Central Business District. I went into one of the toilets and it looked as if someone's ass exploded!! Crap was EVERYWHERE!!! I had to stand in front and pee in.

4. Everyone can see you when you pee
I am not sure about this but for some reason, the toilet doors are designed in such a way that when men pee, people outside can see you. I am at loss of words here.

5. The cow is sacred
Now I am not one to diss anyone's religion but there has to be a line drawn to how much we want to respect the cow. If she sits on the highway, all traffic comes to a stand still.
"Your honour, I am sorry I am 2 hours late. Her most holiness "A-Random-Cow" was taking a nap."

6. Movies are too DAMN long
Indians need two things in life. Cricket and Bollywood movies. I don't understand both. How do you have a game that can go on for days?!?!?!

Mother: Where have you been? You have been away for 5 days!! Not a call or a tweet!
Son: Cricket game. India beat Pakistan
Mother: Oh praise the Random Cow. Then it's alright. Have you eaten?

Movies are just as bad. Not only it's long, it's not realistic. How often do you see whole villages or random crowd just break into the same song and same dance steps? Also where is the music coming from??? Notice also after all the fighting, there is no blood and not even a bruise....I can't figure this out.

7. Diarrhea
Some people get offended by this. But you gotta admit, 9 out of 10 tourist get this. In fact we are told not to drink the tap water or even use it to rinse or brush your teeth. We have to use bottled water and I am too afraid to ask where that came from.

8. There is shit smell everywhere
I don't know if cow dung is sacred but you can smell it almost anywhere. So much that it's part of the environment.....like fresh air.

I know I am going to get a lot of rebuke from this but you know it's true. While I am still very proud of my race, it doesn't mean I have to follow everything in its culture. I am first a Malaysian by birth and by culture, then Chindian.

Suck on that!