Couldn’t Japanese people who discriminate against foreigners make the same argument about culture? The sign could be used to exclude based on assumptions of culture.
Yes, absolutely. In fact I believe that is exactly why they are doing it. When non-Japanese people come in, they don’t understand the unwritten cultural rules and expectations, they don’t have a great grasp of the language… it can be a challenge to serve people like that when everyone else just conforms implicitly. And when those people are a microscopic part of the population, that makes every interaction with them a rare and negative experience that makes the annoyance of it seem all the worse because you are never used to it. And the value of each interaction for that restaurant owner’s annoyance is a single meal served, so it isn’t worth it to them from that perspective.
I’m not saying I don’t understand that perspective. I do, 100%. But that’s not the only perspective here. The foreigner has a perspective and an experience too. That mindset of the restaurant owner, of protecting your personal comfort for one interaction, is a common one. That means that it’s not just this restaurant for this foreigner that they’re not welcome. It means that the would-be patron is denied in numerous interactions, services, and maybe even a livlihood. As are every other foreigner. Your personal comfort over one interaction shouldn’t outweigh that.
Think about Jim Crow laws. Why were they wrong? “Oh so you can’t eat at this diner. Big deal. He has a right to not serve you if he doesn’t want to.” For you it is just this diner, and you are choosing for yourself who to serve. For the black community, it was every diner, every bus, ever water fountain, redlined neighborhoods, sundown towns… it creates a cultural class system, a constant obstacle to participate in and succeed in society, and systematically holds one group down while proping up the class in power. The inequality is a problem, no matter your personal choice about your own business.
Again, I can understand why it may be a personal challenge for them and how they would rather just avoid that entirely. But it is still xenophobic/racist and still effects the object of their prejudice far greater than themselves. I don’t think it is right. And I think, if and when their demographics start to become less homogenous, there will be a major civil rights movement in Japan similar to the US’s and it will be a struggle. I’d rather see those in their culture start to recognize their xenophobia now, and begin to make efforts to correct it before the problem is bigger than it needs to be when that time comes.
Couldn’t Japanese people who discriminate against foreigners make the same argument about culture? The sign could be used to exclude based on assumptions of culture.
Yes, absolutely. In fact I believe that is exactly why they are doing it. When non-Japanese people come in, they don’t understand the unwritten cultural rules and expectations, they don’t have a great grasp of the language… it can be a challenge to serve people like that when everyone else just conforms implicitly. And when those people are a microscopic part of the population, that makes every interaction with them a rare and negative experience that makes the annoyance of it seem all the worse because you are never used to it. And the value of each interaction for that restaurant owner’s annoyance is a single meal served, so it isn’t worth it to them from that perspective.
I’m not saying I don’t understand that perspective. I do, 100%. But that’s not the only perspective here. The foreigner has a perspective and an experience too. That mindset of the restaurant owner, of protecting your personal comfort for one interaction, is a common one. That means that it’s not just this restaurant for this foreigner that they’re not welcome. It means that the would-be patron is denied in numerous interactions, services, and maybe even a livlihood. As are every other foreigner. Your personal comfort over one interaction shouldn’t outweigh that.
Think about Jim Crow laws. Why were they wrong? “Oh so you can’t eat at this diner. Big deal. He has a right to not serve you if he doesn’t want to.” For you it is just this diner, and you are choosing for yourself who to serve. For the black community, it was every diner, every bus, ever water fountain, redlined neighborhoods, sundown towns… it creates a cultural class system, a constant obstacle to participate in and succeed in society, and systematically holds one group down while proping up the class in power. The inequality is a problem, no matter your personal choice about your own business.
Again, I can understand why it may be a personal challenge for them and how they would rather just avoid that entirely. But it is still xenophobic/racist and still effects the object of their prejudice far greater than themselves. I don’t think it is right. And I think, if and when their demographics start to become less homogenous, there will be a major civil rights movement in Japan similar to the US’s and it will be a struggle. I’d rather see those in their culture start to recognize their xenophobia now, and begin to make efforts to correct it before the problem is bigger than it needs to be when that time comes.