Stage Play / Foreigner: A Play (Analysis)

‘I think I’m a racist.’

‘You’re right. I’ve noticed it for a while now.’

‘Is it a bad thing? I think it’s a bad thing…’

‘Everyone’s a little racist. But it’s like going crazy. The fact that you notice probably means you’re not all that racist, y’know?’

‘I guess. I don’t want to be racist.’

‘Nobody wants to be racist.’

‘I just hate Koreans.’

‘Everyone hates Koreans.’

‘I don’t think everyone really hates Koreans.’

‘Yeah, they do. Well, no, actually. Everyone who’s met Koreans hates Koreans.’

‘I don’t hate Korean-Americans, so am I still racist?’

‘I’m not sure.’

‘I think I am. I wish I wasn’t, but they just fill me with an indescribable rage.’

‘They do that to people.’

‘But like I said, not Korean-Americans. People born in Korea but raised in America are awesome. I have so many friends…’

‘Who are Korean-American. I know. That’s the old defence. “I have black friends so I’m not a racist.”’

‘But who’s racist with black friends? Not a real racist. That’s such lazy racism.’

‘I guess not. I’m just winding you up.’

‘Can racism be a cultural thing? I mean, I see Korean looking people and don’t hate them, but when they speak Korean, act Korean… Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I fucking hate them so fucking much! Argh!’

‘Why?’

‘You know why.’

‘I know I know, but tell me.’

‘Why do they eat so much cabbage?’

‘Does cabbage make a savage?’

‘It does, but I don’t know why.’

‘Cabbage makes a savage.’

‘Indeed.’

‘It sounds funny, right?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Why are they so obsessed?’

‘Why are you so obsessed?’

‘You hate Koreans, too, right?’

‘Yes. Who doesn’t?’

‘Then tell me why. Tell me why you hate Koreans! It hurts me so much to think about them, to talk about them, to acknowledge their very being!’

‘Well, it’s not because of the cabbage thing, though I can’t for the life of me understand what their deal is.’

‘Well, it’s healthy…’

‘Oh, you’re defending them, huh?’

‘I’m just saying…’

‘I don’t hate them because of kimchi. I don’t like kimchi breath…’

‘Who likes kimchi breath?’

‘No one likes kimchi breath…’

‘Of course.’

‘I hate them because they’re savage degenerates.’

‘I feel I want to call you a racist.’

‘Why?’

‘It’s just my natural response.’

‘You call everyone a racist?’

‘Yes. I’m American. If someone doesn’t like someone it’s gotta be a racial thing, right?’

‘Wrong.’

‘Really?’

‘No. It is. You’re right. Well, it’s not, but we all think it is. Some people are jerks.’

‘All people are jerks.’

‘Most people are jerks, regardless of race.’

‘Indeed.’

‘Except Koreans.’

‘I’ve met some good Koreans.’

‘Me too.’

‘They weren’t very…’

‘Korean?’

‘Exactly. They’d travelled abroad, seen the world, learned to hate Korea.’

‘A Korean minority.’

‘And you know what Koreans all hate?’

‘Minorities. Anything different from the painful norm.’

‘God, I hate them.’

‘Me too.’

‘What is it with kimchi, though? Seriously.’

‘I know.’

‘It’s rotten cabbage.’

‘I know.’

‘It’s part of their obsession with everything Korean, y’know? They’re so fucking nationalistic. They hate everything non-Korean. Everything different. Everything that looks, thinks, sounds or acts different.’

‘You sound racist.’

‘Don’t say that.’

‘I don’t think you are, but people would.’

‘People. Pah!’

‘It’s not racist to tell the truth. To spot it and say it and know that it’s nothing to do with skin or genetics. It’s just cultural. White people can be dicks, too.’

‘Total dicks.’

‘But it’s not racist to say that…’

‘Nope.’

‘I see.’

‘But when Koreans call us foreigners and stare and laugh and talk shit and say they don’t like us…’

‘That’s not racist.’

‘Nope. Not a bit.’

‘Not even a tiny bit racist.’

‘Because it’s Korea. They haven’t developed morals yet.’

‘No respect.’

‘If you’re different, you’re scum. Simple.’

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