The Editor,
Re: "Wong stands by her decision to eat shark fin," News, Oct. 17.
I would like to start off by saying that I am a Canadian of Chinese descent. Like many of my Chinese friends and family, I have never eaten a bowl of shark fin soup and I do not intend to ever eat one.
Quite simply, I believe the practice of shark finning is cruel and should be stopped.
On the same tangent, isn't boiling a live lobster, slaughtering a cow or keeping hens in battery cages for their entire lives also cruel?
I'm not vegan or a vegetarian and I am not trying to promote these practices, just some food for thought! Perhaps finding out where your food comes from or choosing SPCA-certified meats and eggs could be an alternative.
Instead of delving into the issue of the shark fin ban, which has already been discussed extensively, I'd like to bring up another issue. This message is for the general public - please do not lump everyone of Chinese descent into Alice Wong and her shark fin soup supporters' boat.
In addition to being very upset at her recent decisions and actions, I am also very disappointed by the picture she has painted of a Chinese-Canadian.
I am NOT an elitist. I hate seeing smaller, perfectly liveable houses being demolished to build giant monster houses.
I do not drive a BMW or a Cadillac. I do not wear designer clothing with LV emblazoned on it. I do not believe in showing off my wealth through material possessions or fancy banquets that serve shark fin soup.
I most definitely do not "drink the soup in a sad and pathetic appeal for status."
I also do not believe my culture is "more important than any other culture, or environmental concern."
I do not have the ability to control other people's words or actions. I also cannot change history or traditions. I can only account for my own actions.
I do believe in conservation, respecting and protecting the environment, sustainability, animal and human rights, volunteering and fighting for food security.
I want to live in a neighbourhood that is filled with the sights and sounds of families instead of empty monster houses.
Just because it is a "tradition" in our culture to eat shark fin soup does not mean everyone wants to and will eat it.
I have gone to many banquets and have refused every single bowl of shark fin soup offered to me, despite strange and sometimes disapproving looks.
Just because she tried to address the Chinese-Canadian population in Richmond does NOT mean she will automatically get every single Chinese Canadian's vote.
She has certainly lost my vote. So just because she played the race card, please do not sink down to her level and start attacking us and assuming all Chinese people like and eat shark fin soup.
Because that is definitely not true.
N.C. Choy Richmond
