"ching-chong"

[James A. Landau <JJJRLandau@netscape.com>]

There was a World War II admiral, Willis "Ching Chong China" Lee (that being a nickname he picked up at the Naval Academy).  During the Battle of Guadalcanal Lee was bringing two battleships into action and discovered that he was about to be attacked by US torpedo boats.  He sent a radio message to Guadalcanal, which did not believe who he was.  So to establish his identity he radioed "This is Ching Chong China Lee! Chinese, catchee? Refer your boss about Ching Lee. Call off your boys!"   That worked.  The torpedo boats were called off and Lee went on to sink a Japanese battleship.

There was a minor branch of American humor---I don't know whether it should be classified as "ethnic jokes"---which involved making up pseudo-Chinese names, such as the great Chinese aviator Wun Wing Lo.  I haven't heard any of these in many years; perhaps the PC Police...

But...many years ago there was a scandal in Washington involving a colorful Korean lobbyist named Tongsun Park.  There is also Rock Creek Park, the valley of Rock Creek, extending clear across DC.  One outcome of the scandal was the bumper sticker "Rock Creek Park is not a Korean lobbyist".

Off-topic to Wilson Gray: what is your objection to the term "Caucasian" meaning the dominant race of Europe?

    - Jim Landau
"This is Ching Chong China Lee! Chinese, catchee?

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