Survivor: The Amazon – Daniel Lue Discusses His Amazon Time… and Roger

RNO: When Roger and Alex were having their argument about homosexuality, you seemed to be just sitting in the background – why didn't you join in to try to get the rest of the tribe to see what kind of person Roger really was?

Daniel: All in all, by Day 2 everyone in the tribe knew what kind of a person Roger was and where he stood on a lot of subjects. I felt that it wasn't in the best interest of the game to partake in Roger and Alex's debate. Sometimes the best way to avoid a conflicting situation is just to keep your mouth shut, which I felt was appropriate for that moment. Rob was smart enough to do the same and didn't say that Roger was a bigot until he was in a confessional, because to say that outright in front of everyone would have been suicidal. So, if Alex felt so strongly about one thing while Roger felt strongly the opposite, the best thing I could have done was to lay low and hope their differences of opinions would widen a possible crack in their alliance. Soon after that argument my ally Matthew approached Alex to discuss voting off Roger.

RNO: Are you upset that many people on the message boards don't seem to like you much?

Daniel: Not at all. They don't seem to like ANYONE. Before I had applied for Survivor, I noticed that contestants of previous seasons had to endure ENORMOUS amounts of negativity and criticism from fans and the media alike. I admired how these people were able to handle reactions from the crowd after being portrayed as lazy, devious, ignorant, or whatever else on national television. I also recognized that these were the same people who always said that they didn't regret a thing, and it's that kind of mentality that is important going into Survivor. If you're not strong enough to take the heat, then you're not ready to even be there in the first place. You also have to remember that the people who trash Survivor contestants are the ones that have unsuccessfully tried out for the show many times. I have too many positive things going on in my life that I don't need to focus on the negative.

RNO: You said on the morning show that you told Matthew to vote with the group so he wouldn't be on his own – how did you know that Rob and Alex had decided to go against you?

Daniel: He [Matthew] told me.

Also, there is a misunderstanding that has many people confused. When I was explaining to Jeff during Tribal Council my bond with Matthew, he gave a shocked look that would APPEAR to be that I was giving away too much information. The truth is that I wasn't. Everyone in Tambaqui knew about our alliance and we spoke Chinese to each other all the time and around the other guys as well. As for that odd look on Matthew's face, my best guess is that he caught a whiff of Roger's dirty shirt. The poor guy.

RNO: Do you think your statement in Tribal Council about your race and feeling like an outsider was misinterpreted?

Daniel: Yes. I was NOT playing the race card, nor was I accusing anyone of being racist. I think too many people were quick to dismiss this as another case of someone playing the race card when they don't know what it's like being a part of a minority group. Rob might have misinterpreted it a bit, but I was explaining that it's hard fitting in, and being of a different nationality can play a factor, and it does. If a non-Asian was dropped off in Chinatown New York, where most people speak English, I don't think he would be perfectly comfortable there and he most likely would feel a bit like an outcast. I was not using the issue of race as an excuse to attack anyone either, but I do agree that there many instances when people will use race as a way of attempting to cover their own mistakes, which is not right.

RNO: Did you consider the "kung fu" statement – or other similar things – made by Roger to be a racist remark?

Daniel: Quite possibly. I think that his remark was a very poor choice of words, which is unfortunate for this self-proclaiming "wise old man." I can't imagine him ever saying, "I'd like to kung fu chop Ryan," or, "I'd like to Kung fu chop the women," so I do believe that his statements were racially based. I wouldn't have minded if he tried so I could have very kindly reciprocated. LOL. I also think it was unfortunate that Dave was around and instead of standing up to him decided to laugh instead. Where was Dave's so-called integrity in all this?

RNO: You were a Tough Enough finalist, yet Roger was talking about slapping you around. How long would it have taken you to grind him into a fine salt?

Daniel: I'm not sure, but I would mind finding out! LOL. It's too bad because Matthew could have used that salt (and vinegar) in making the fish broth!

RNO: Thanks, Daniel!

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at rno@pobox.com.

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