I think there is a big cultural difference in what constitutes acceptable speech.
Coming from a white background my family will debate anything around the dinner table including religion, abortion, politics, whether or not George Bush has a functioning brain, etc. It never gets personal and no one is bothered by it.
Various Asian friends and family seem to feel very uncomfortable with anything approaching disagreement or confrontation. Thus I have Asian relatives (by marriage) I have known for ten years yet I don't have a clue what their personal views or opinions are. They would rather get along than "rock the boat".
Anyway just my observations.
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