Foreign stereotypes about your country - Page 9

Originally Posted by Étienne

You said that France "had given ample proof" that it is weak militarily in the 20th century. This is simply ill-informed. France suffered a crushing defeat in 1940. That much is evident, even if, of course, the picture is more complex when you read carefully what really happened. Apart from that, it won the first world war, the war in Poland in the 1920's was a success, as were most colonial wars on a military basis (all except Indochina). That's hardly a dismal record. To say nothing, of course, of the oddity of reducing 1,500 years of history to the last 100.

Originally Posted by clee1982

it's going to get dilutted each generation, it's difference between ethinicity and identity. Though in English you can't really make the distinction between Chinese as race/ethinicity or just cultural identity easily in one word where as there are subtle difference when you said it in Chinese. I don't think people in Taiwan would disagree with you they're culturally chinese, whether they like it or not. Though most will tend to correct you when you call them Chinese in English because it is identified as someone coming from mainland China. This is not necessarily anti-China, it's just you want people to know you're from Taiwan not from China. Of course you can always go to a lenghy explanation of how things come and go about, whether you came after 1949 or 300 years, or simply aboriginal blah blah, but to say things in one word Taiwanese is a lot simplier than "yeah I am Chinese, but blah blah blah" It's a bit like American of XYZ origin will not call themselves anything other than American by 2nd generation, anything else is cultural heritage, not national identity. Of course the situation in Taiwan is different both culturally and historically, but there are some simliarities to draw there.

Originally Posted by Mr. White

So many French don't feel that the US "bailed them out."

Originally Posted by Mr. White

Sorry, thought I covered the "why they exist" angle. The US needs its internal propaganda machine to push the idea that WWII and the Vietnam War were about "saving France."

Originally Posted by herzzreh

Thanks for an awesome explanation!

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Originally Posted by clee1982

What's the stereotypes for Taiwanese I can't think of any to be honest with you (at least in America or Europe, there are certainly plenty in Mainland and other parts of Asia about how Taiwanese are).

Originally Posted by LawrenceMD

people who are into cycling both hate taiwan and love taiwan because 97% of all bikes come out of that small island - from $100 wallmart huffys to $10,000 Colnagos.

So right now any bike or its accessories (especially carbon fiber stuff) is assumed to be from taiwan. that small island is solely responsible for lowering the price of carbon fiber bike frames/accessories for the mass market.

(in the early 2000 late 1990's) made in taiwan bike was assumed to be of lower quality... now taiwan produces the expensive stuff as well... mainland china carbon fiber frames are now the "of lower quality" kind of stereotype.