Ride with the Devil gets an MSM preview—but what are ‘Asians’?

‘Asian’ just confuses people. Last time I looked, I am pretty sure I could not be confused for a Bangladeshi, a Thai, a Pakistani or an Asiatic Russian.
The only disappointment that I discovered with Ride is that the episodes are merely half-hour ones. I shouldn’t prejudge it on its length though: it looks bloody good. But I have become used to these sorts of dramas being hour-long ones.
The article indicates that the makers are keen to export it, so here’s hoping. I’ll be watching on Tuesday so I will let you know how it goes.

It is a pity, because I have no problem with oriental because it is the logical opposite of occidental, which I sometimes use to describe the west. There is a slight difference in New Zealand, too, because the term Asian–American has come to mean something quite positive, where Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc. cultures have found their commonalities vis-à-vis the American majority and see themselves as a singular movement. I cannot speak for southern Asians on that. I don’t know why, but we haven’t replicated that here: Koreans are Koreans, Chinese are Chinese, Japanese are Japanese.
I imagine the lack of integration, commonly blamed on us but I think can be apportioned equally (if not more) to the powers-that-be here, has prevented the same evolution here. And, as you know, I have had many stories to tell of that—not so much full-on discrimination, but certainly a difference in perception.
But for now, the term remains weird to me, as I still do not think of myself as an Asian and I am unsure whether any Chinese New Zealander does. The Herald interview indicates that Andy Wong thinks of himself in these terms, but I have a feeling that he was only being polite and answering the questions.

Zak, among the überlibs here, you’d be vilified in New Zealand for being American, but probably accepted as an ally on the War on Terror in Australia. I should let an Australian comment on the latter, but the anti-war stance of our government is rather strong and there is an associated anti-American (read: anti-Republican) sentiment, sadly.

I hope so. I would have expected some sort of trailer to have been aired or put on YouTube, but this is New Zealand, so don’t hold your breath. Maybe some Caleigh fans will excerpt her clips, and car nuts will show off their rice burners.