OPINION: Chop suey, green hats and other cultural clangers

Politicians need to be especially mindful when feeding journalists culturally-charged soundbites.

Last week it was the Chinese community's turn to be offended when Labour leader Andrew Little shared his ideas with the media on tightening immigration rules so that "big ethnic populations, certainly Indians, certainly Chinese ..." would be required to use local labour and not semi-skilled migrants.

Unfortunate, obviously. But on this occasion, the media might have been a bit harsh. I have seen the transcripts. Mr Little was specifically asked about the category and duly pointed out our obligations under the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement and did not say much beyond that.

But the reality is that public opinion is a sort of reactionary courtroom where presumptions of innocence are forgotten and judgements are quickly measured out – especially when it comes to politicians, and especially when ethnic groups feel they are being unfairly singled out.

And there is not much difference between a caucus room and a boardroom. When the market reacts and the shares tumble, everything is too late.

Prime Minister John Key, on the other hand, has not escaped unscathed from the latest controversy either. When dispersing culturally-charged soundbites, he is equally as vulnerable as other political leaders.

Among his responses to Mr Little's comments was an unfortunate quip about Labour now not wanting people "with Chinese-sounding names making chicken chop suey."

What is chop suey?
This offended local Chinese or at least those who chose to share their thoughts with me.

Chop suey is no more than a cheap method of cooking, popularised by early Chinese Americans. No matter how it is pronounced – “chop suey” in Cantonese or “za sui” in Mandarin – it primarily refers to cooked animal offal or entrails, among other things.

“You tell me,” one opinion leader said to me, “which takeaway food outlet in New Zealand is specialised in selling chop suey nowadays?”

Besides, a chicken chop suey cook does not qualify under the skilled migrant category. My informant believes this shows Mr Key, subconsciously, “does not hold Chinese people in high regard.”  

Certainly, this is not simply about someone’s attitude toward Chinese food. When reviewing it from historical perspective, any reference to chop suey – or a similar phrase, “chow mein” – may evoke an unintended metaphor for the food itself and its associated racial stereotyping.

General Motors, for example, was forced to pull an ad in 2013 following racial complaints about its use of lyrics containing the phrase “ching-ching, chop suey.”

This insinuation may well be exaggerated but cultural differences mean there is always a chance for unintentional offence. And sometimes a well-intentioned gesture may cause trouble, too. 

For example, a Chinese man would have been greatly offended had their company handed out green hats to wear on Saint Patrick's Day last week. This is because the Chinese connotation (dating back many years) is that a green hat means the wearer is a cuckold – his wife is cheating on him.

In politics and the mainstream media, such insults can be much more widespread and damaging to reputations and relationships, and are less forgivable.

This is why it is wise to think before speaking. Or apply the usual rule known to both English and Chinese: when in doubt, leave it out. This is particularly useful when addressing those ethnically and culturally charged issues.

Raymond Huo is a partner at Auckland-based Shieff Angland Lawyers. He served two terms as a Labour list MP before returning to the law in October 2014.

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