User blog comment:KatDWolf/I wonder..../@comment-2004850-20100516201542

I've heard that, in schools, kids can tease foreigners as well (though, on the flip-side, there's "OMG foreigners! so cool!". While racism does exist in the West and we may not hear about it much, if at all, in Japan, I think some people tend to forget that Japan is very homogeneous. We've got about every race on the planet living in the US, while they're mostly Japanese. Race issues aren't going to be as big. The roles of women definitely can be irksome. I have no problem with women who want to be housewives, but there should be an equal opportunity for women to be whatever else. Same for men--a man shouldn't be discriminated against for staying home while their wife works.

It's a bit ironic sometimes, that others criticize how Americans use stereotypes and then stereotype all Americans as arrogant, loud, and rude (and that we all are ignorant of the world around us and use stereotypes!). It used to bother me a bit, knowing that people were hating me without even meeting me. But, it dawned on me that a lot of great people were/are Americans and that people who are willing to judge an entire nation based on a stupid stereotype aren't worth my time (unless it's chiding them for using the stereotype). I understand using stereotypes to joke around, but that's all they should be: a joke. I remember a French exchange student was doing the program at my school; apparently, he told some classmates that both countries had these different views, but the people weren't that different in the end. Exchange students are great because they can experience another culture and bring it back home with them.

I'm lucky enough that the school system around here is very nice, including the various AP programs we have. Unlike some other schools, the classes also focus on faults of the US in history, while world history is divided into two courses (US history and the world history classes are mandatory as well). I still do research on my own, but I have faith in the teachers. I've heard others haven't been so lucky...

Ah, Vietnam...Yeah, their situation isn't so great either. How is Mongolia doing, anyway? I know there really hasn't been much on him/her, but issues there could also restrict using the character.

Cool! I'll make a post on the Holland talk page. It would be fun, though all dependent on whether or not he's discontinued the human names or has time. Romanized human names are difficult to work with...If Hernandez was the original and used in Japan, I could see some reasoning for it. We also have to consider the backlash, though...Eventually, if it becomes clear that Himaruya has not intention to do anything with the names, it might be in the Wikia's best interest to use the country names and note the human name. Much like what the articles do now, just flipped. The naming debates wouldn't be as huge and the characters are referred to by their country nowadays, anyway.