Episode 247 : Being "one of us"

'Is addressing someone as Chinky derogatory?' she asked me.

'Yes' I replied.

'Why?'

'Because it equates them with being Chinese when they are Indian. It creates a sense of alienation, see?'

'It's like how people from the north collectively band everyone from the south as Madrasis. Just like how people from the south collectively band the rest as Northies' I continued.

I was fully aware of the irony in my explanation.

'And the Chinese can be called Chinks?' she persisted.

'I don't know' I smiled.

'They are not one of us.'