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Q: What constitutes a hate crime in China?
A Canadian buddy of mine was leaving a crowded club last night to go home. Alone. On his way past the bar, he was out-of-the-blue intimidated and shoved by a Chinese man half his size. Now, my buddy, despite being built like a fireplug standing about 6 feet tall, is a docile, easy-going bloke. A bass player in a band I gig with. He ignored the "aggression" with nary a word and continued on to the exit door and out to the pavement. When he reached the outdoors, he was followed by the dude that pushed him and about five other Chinese guys. They proceeded to pummel my friend while shouting racial epithets such as - and I translate - "fucking foreigner", "white motherfucker", and a host of other nasties involving farm animal descriptions in a most despicable way.
My friend didn't fight back, got away, and went home to nurse his wounds, which weren't serious. But they could have been. Knife in that soft spot of a belly, for example?
He told me the story this morning. Hate crime? Or just some Chinese dudes having a go at a guy bigger than them?
Forgivable? Laughable? Just another BCD moment? Or a TIC apology?
Is there a law against racial prejudice in China? And hate crimes in general?
I'm steaming. He's a good guy. Doesn't deserve this shit.
Don't count on help from a corrupt legal system in a country that is not fond of its own ethnic minorities.
No one deserves that. You can always try to report it to the police, I would think nothing good would come from it, but also most likely nothing bad.
Red_Fox:
I don't get it. I just don't get it.
The police? Scando, that might work where you or I are from, but here? No one wants the police in on the "action". It will always be my fault, your fault or my buddy's fault.
Anyway, thanks for the comment.
mArtiAn:
He should report it whether he expects to be treated fairly or not.
That clearly sounds racially motivated, not just some piss-heads picking on a big guy because they out-number him. Unfortunately I think this kind of behaviour's likely to get worse before it gets better. Having said that though, I don't think such instances of racial violence will ever reach the proportions of that back home in England for example, the reason being that the foreign influence in Chna has clearly been beneficial to the country and only poses a cultural threat rather than an economic one, whereas back home most racially motivated acts of violence stem from the threat of losing ones job to some 'outsider', and such cowardice as you describe only has true reign to flourish with a certain amount of support behind it, spoken or unspoken, from the general populace. I think the general populace in China are actually pretty supportive of their new house guests so it's not something I concern myself with.
Scandinavian:
the fact you get a down vote for this comment just proves it's racially motivated
This is why I steer clear of local clubs and bars, had a similar thing happen to a buddy of mine. Chinese men + alcohol + someone or something they don't understand (like a foreigner) = watch out.
They're very territorial, sure your buddy wasn't hitting on some of "their" ladies at the club?
Anyways, this is why if and whenever I party, which isn't often, it's at a KTV with friends. The privacy and security of your own room to party in separates you and your buddies from the rif-raf. I'm referring to the big-boy KTV's usually found in upscale hotels, not the cheap kiddie KTV's that all the teenagers go to.
mArtiAn:
I wondered the same thing about the guy maybe hitting on the wrong girl. I have a friend who got attacked by about five or six young lads because he'd been hitting on one of their girls. Funny thing is this guy is hard as nails, he just didn't feel threatened by the situation and didn't want to get kicked out of China for beating up some kids, so when they laid into him he just started giggling.
Red_Fox:
Yeah, I'm not good in bars coz I don't like to get my ass whupped by local boys who can't handle their likker, are chickenshit without their mates, and would never ever dare to take me on one-on-one.
My friend isn't the type to go looking for a fight nor is he a lady's man. He lives with a woman so I don't think he was messing with any mafia moll. Just minding his own biznis. An easy target for some assholes who thought it would be fun to kick some peckerwood ass? Maybe. Or maybe a hate crime.
Hate crimes will probably never be a thing in China.
In the law, I mean.
I feel sorry for your friend's experience. I hope his wounds heal soon.
Red_Fox:
Yeah, thanks, OC. His wounds were superficial: bruises for the most part and a stunned psyche and sense of reality.
Fortunately, he had the sense not to fight back for two main reasons: One, he didn't want to damage his hands and fingers since he is a musician, and two, if he had fought back, someone would have summoned the police, and he might have been arrested for being a foreigner protecting himself and inflicting damage on his attackers.
Crazy world, eh?
Being a foreigner constitutes as a hate crime. Being Japanese is the worst hate-crime imaginable. How dare he show up and be diferent than them?
If it were me (and it has been a couple times), I'd fight back. Normally I'm pretty docile as well, but why didn't he fight back? Those guys are human trash, and deserve to be put where they belong -- along the river banks, on the ground, hanging from trees, etc.
I hate people -- no matter the color of their skin -- who hate others for being different to the point where they'll engage in physical violence based on it. It's fucked up.
Robk:
I agree,
Perhaps because he was a lone he didn't want to risk it. I mean he didn't even do anything and the guy multiplied into five before he got out the door. Imagine if he fought back, all of the sudden it is 30-40 people.
Some rules of thumb, never go to a bar or club alone (without foreign buddies) without knowing the staff, manager , regulars and bouncers there VERY well.
When Chinese men get drunk, they all of the sudden think they are Kung Fu masters and remember everything everyone has ever done to China. They are the defenders of their "flowers" and even sometimes beat them up after talking to foreigners.
Maybe it's a hate crime, maybe it's a face thing but like someone said above, if you don't want to deal with this kind of stuff, then don't hang out in lowlife bars at 3:00 in the morning.
Thee are those who look for fights at clubs regardless of what race the other person is. Chinese fighting Chinese often too. Being an outsider and a center of attention from the local girls makes you an easy target. Being a foreigner, you have to be aware of these possibilities if you go to the bar.
sounds familiar. Anyway Chinese fight like pussies, so he could have a little bit fun.
95% of all Chinese men are absolute cowards. Even when drunk, they will not take you alone (without a huge weapon advantage). Assume every Chinese male is about to jump in against you, because they most likely will if your fight lasts longer than the "shocked and can't move or think phase" for spectators.
If you get into a fight, no grappling or holding the guy or anything, KO quickly and get out of there. I suggest if you continue living in China, invest in going to the gym and maybe taking fight classes that are designed for powerful blows and multiple opponents like Muay Thai.
I think your friend probably did the right thing if the guys were all weak, or he could have led them to a more isolated place and take them on. Five drunk Chinese guys is equal to like 1-2 drunk Canadians haha.
Oh and another thing, if some guy is acting aggressive against you. Don't argue with him and then leave him be and stay in the club thinking it is over. Chinese are very emotional and they are not going to let it go so easily. He is calling up buddies and they are planning to jump you at some point. If you get in an arguement and you are alone, get out fast or just save some time and KO him on the spot lol.
