鼠年到了,是Year of Mouse还是Year of Rat?

I have seen people making no difference between mouse and rat when referring to the Chinese New year. It may not seem to be an issue until you have a little more understanding of the different connotations American mainstream culture has associated these two images with: mice are viewed with affection, such as the case of Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry, but rats are despised and considered horrid. When you really hate somebody for being cunning and dirty, you would call him a rat, but not a mouse. When you like a little kid you may say what a little cute mouse, but never a little rat.

The mainstream has no interest in making sure minority cultures are not misrepresented until it is challenged (historically, mainstream actually misrepresented on purpose). In time of conflict, an unchallenged misrepresentation may become the justification for mainstream's oppression.

Not trying to be a smarty pants or make a deal out of nothing, just something to raise some awareness.

http://astrocenter.astrology.msn.com/msn/FreeChineseSnapshot.aspx?GT1=10857

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• is there any redeeming feature about a snake? -赵飞燕- ♀ (79 bytes) () 02/08/2008 postreply 03:55:50