Wing Wing: Not Emulating Virtues nor Introspecting Oneself

Not Emulating Virtues nor Introspecting Oneself

Translated by Chen-t'ang 鎮棠, Edited by Karen L., Written by 翼雙飛 (Wing Wing)
Original: http://www.passiontimes.hk/article/09-12-2014/18788 

(Photo Source: Steve Harris via flickr)

Steven, a Shanghainese, went to Sydney, Australia to start his café this year earlier, and recently posted a hiring ad for barista on newspaper. Nilson, a Australian citizen who has lived in Sydney for 9 years, went to apply. Steven said he would not hire Nilson given the fact that Nilson is black.

Followed by media's spread, Australians started to boycott this café. There were some other friendly bosses who invited Nilson to work for them. It is learnt that the Fair Work Ombudsman's investigation is underway right now. And Steven's business was suspended a week later that incident.

I once wrote about this incident (translator's note: attached is the translated version for English readers). This article received a comment below that catches my attention:

"Weird enough. It seems like there's no Chinese be discriminated ever. Why is it a problem when Steven doesn't want to hire someone black? He is a boss. Surely he has to think for his business. As long as he doesn't disclose his opinion, it's fine. Overseas Chinese are often being discriminated, yet who pays attention?" (Translator's note: The source text is in Simplified Chinese)

Confucius once said this: "seeing a man of virtue, I try hard to become his equal; seeing a man without virtue, I examine myself to have not the same evil in me." In other words, we should improve ourselves and learn from good role models, rather being tainted in terms of bad habits and attitudes.

However this reader applied Confucius's words upside down as "seeing a man without virtue, I try to become his equal; seeing a man with virtue, I examine not".

For the first half of the altered version, proof is as such: the phenomenon that "overseas Chinese are often being discriminated" is certainly not a delighted issue, whereas he stands, in the point that "People do bad things. It's reasonable enough for me to act the same". Exactly the opposite of Confucius's moral philosophy as I mentioned earlier.

He then added, "what's wrong of Steven for not willing to hire black people? It's a must for a boss to value one's own business." As I mentioned there were café owners inviting Nilson to work there, I can't help but wonder if there's one and only one café in Australia and solely Steven alone as a boss in the whole nation to that reader's world view. Seeing no discrimination from others to Nilson, this reader rather made up an alibi for that Steven to justify what he have done, but not reflect upon his own attitude towards the issue. Above, it fills also the blank of proof of the second half.

Where does this reader come from? I mean, if one learns from the culture of his/her own country.

Imagine if the logic in argument exists as a normality in his nation, that land must have been hell. Elaboration will be that the more the nationals get exposed to other nation's unhealthy behaviours and attitudes, the higher the chance they will imitate them, while the good ones to them, fairly or even exceptionally, won't inspire a slight introspection, let alone to be treated as moral study object. Eventually, followed the plot, it's inevitable for the story to lead a complete dark page filled with despicable means. By that time, kindness and righteousness, what we regard as good qualities one should possess, can never be found from a single person.

Wing Wing: A New Immigrant Boss Who Discriminates Against Locals

A New Immigrant Boss Who Discriminates Against Locals

Translated by Chen-t'ang 鎮棠, Edited by Karen L., Written by 翼雙飛 (Wing Wing)
Original: http://www.passiontimes.hk/article/08-19-2014/18411 

According to a news report from Daily Mail UK 2 days ago, a newly immigrated Shanghainese, who referred himself as Steven, started his café business "Forbes and Burton" in Sydney, Australia, earlier this year. A while ago, he posted a hiring ad for a barista.

Nilson, a Brazilian-born Australian citizen who has lived in Sydney for nine years, came to apply for the job. Yet, in the job interview Steven told Nilson clearly that for the fact that Nilson is black, Steven would not use his talent here.

The owner also expressed his bias thought that white customers would not like coffee made by black people. Straight away, Nilson told everyone in the café what he just experienced. Feeling disappointed and disgraceful of that hypocrite owner, the customers came beside Nilson and comforted him. After that, they left the café right away with outrage, saying they would not patronise the shop anymore. One of the staffs even resigned immediately.

The issue haven't end yet. These people went on the café's Facebook page and called for a boycott. There are also replies from other cafés which invite Nilson to work for them.

What surprise me the most of this whole issue is this Chinese owner Steven. Becoming one of the citizens in this land of which hails civil rights, he hasn't suited himself in.

Steven the New Immigrant Boss (Photo source: Daily Mail UK)

Steven might have thought owning a café in Australia represents his diligence and perseverance. But above all, he has not been contemplating the opportunity given by the acceptance of many Australians before. What if the Australians discriminated against Steven as being yellow, and chose not to go to his shop? Unless they express clear offense, it's their own freedom to go elsewhere, however it had not been the case for Steven.

But look at what Steven do. Flagrantly, he discriminates. Rejecting an applicant because of one's race, he did not bother to come up with an excuse that sounds less unreasonable. 

No matter Steven is a white, a yellow or a black person, he shall not be discriminated based on his colour. And he himself shall not discriminate against others as the same ground. Australian law protects Steven from being discriminated of his race, but then he hasn't practised it putting aside his obligation and empathy.

It's known that to successfully secure an Australia visa, foreign businessmen need to run the business for two years just as Steven's case. Though it's fair enough if the Australian government deprives his application because of this issue since no society is willing to accept ungrateful new immigrants who trample on others' rights relentlessly rather than citizens whose conducts are in line with the country's standards.