Argumentative Dialogue

Misael Argueta

Professor Maritza Fonseca

CAS 115

26 September 2013

Argumentative Dialogue

The conversation takes place in a radio talk show in Los Angeles, California on September 25th 2013.

Radio Host John : Welcome ladies and gentlemen to 99.8, and you’re listening to WXY radio. My name is John and today we have with us two very special guests. With me today, I have Alejandro Lee, author of the article, At the Margins of Nation. I also have present Lok Siu, author of Queen of the Chinese Colony.  We are going to be discussing the chinese Diaspora on Central America and its effects on the culture. Alejandro in your articles you seem to be talking about how the Chinese are alone in Central America. Can you elaborate on that?

Alejandro: Why yes. And really quick I just want to thank you for having me on your show today.

Radio Host John: (interrupting) Well thanks for being able to be here on today’s show.

Alejandro: In my article I argue how in the early 1900’s, and this can still be seen today, Indigenous people of Central America did not care for the Chinese and even resented the newcomers to Central America. The natives wanted to disassociate themselves as much as possible from the new Chinese immigrants. It did not help that the chinese could not speak spanish and communicate with the natives. The natives only associated with the chinese strictly for business.  

Radio Host John:  I see. So, from what I understood, you are saying that because of the social implications of being a chinese immigrant, it was hard to leave a cultural imprint on the Central American society?

Alejandro:Your statement is correct and I would even say that it is still hard for the chinese to have a cultural impact on this society.

Radio Host John: Well thank you for your opinion and now I would like to hear what Ms. Siu has to say.

Lok Siu: Well I would like to start off with a Good Morning to all the viewers and I would like to thank you for having me on today’s show.

Radio Host John: (interrupting) Well thanks for being able to be here on today’s show.

Lok: Well I have to disagree with my fellow colleague here. I wrote an article called Queen of the Chinese Colony, as you had mentioned before John. My article shows that there is actually signs of cultural life among the chinese in Central America. There are signs of Chinatowns similar to the one in the US. My article shows that yearly there are beauty pageants involving the chinese of Central America. I have been to one and not everyone there is chinese. There is a cultural blend of Chinese and Native latinos there enjoying the chinese culture. To say that there is no imprint is wrong.

Alejandro: While what you have said about the chinese is true, what I was talking about is leaving a total cultural impact on history. While there is a nice cultural blend with the beauty pageants these pageants occur once a year and when they occur it seems to be more like a step backwards. In your article you noted that the chinese still live in the past, preferring chinese speaking women over a mix of these traits in a woman. If they were to leave a nice cultural impact, don’t you think that a combination of best of both worlds would be better?

Lok: While they did prefer a true chinese women, the pageants seem to change. In my article I also state how when Miss Honduras had her win taken back for the more preferable Miss Costa Rica, there was an uproar. Miss honduras, a women that represented best of both worlds, lost to someone who seemed to be the model chinese women. The people didn’t like this showing how progressive they were getting. I also want to point out one last thing. In your article you give examples to help prove your point on how the chinese are alone. You mention three books that detail the life of three different chinese in Central America. While the main point of these books was to show how the chinese were alone, don’t you think it is also an example of cultural impact, with the chinese-Central American reaching their impact into the writing of Central American literature?

Radio Host John: That is a really good point by you Lok but unfortunately we have run out of time. Hopefully we can have you guys back on the show. To you listeners I hope you enjoyed this riveting discussion and I hope you guys have a wonderful day.