Chinese Eyes- but Not How I Expected

I have thought about how to respond (and to help her respond) to the probably inevitable teasing that D will experience about the shape of her eyes.  I had always assumed that it would be trying to address a teasing incident and that it would be something that bothered her.  Didn't expect this....

So the other day I picked D up earlier than usual at Latchkey since she has gymnastics practice now.  While she went to get her backpack I went to fill up her water bottle so she could run straight to practice once we got to the gym.  When I came back she was talking and laughing with some (slightly) older girls and as we were leaving I thought I saw them do the "Chinese eyes" thing- when people pull the corner of their eyes out to make them look more almond shaped (often accompanied by the taunting rhyme "Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees look at these")   I started to say something but realized K was already out the door to the car and I decided in that moment that my 4 year old walking out to the parking lot alone was slightly more critical than a lesson in diversity.

But we get into the car and I asked D what was going on.  Who were the girls? Are they your friends? What were they doing with their eyes?  I wanted her take on it before I said anything too much.  She said they were her friends and they were playing. 
 So I said

"you know as we were leaving it looked like they were pulling the corners of their eye to try to make them the same some people who are Chinese like you.  Lots of people who are Chinese have almond shaped eyes.  What was happening?"

"We were talking about eyes"
"Were they being mean?"
"No" 
(I should add that the written word doesn't really explain the exasperated 'really, mom?' tone she answered in)

"Okay, because sometimes when people do that they are trying to be mean to someone and make them feel like their eyes are different or bad"

"No"

"So nobody was teasing?"

"We were playing"

"I am glad to hear that.  But sometimes when kids want to tease other kids, they make fun of how they look.   If you want, I can help you come up with some ideas about what to say if people do try to tease you"

So I guess this constitutes the first of many conversations like this we will be having as she goes through school.  And while I realize that  I should probably be relieved that we had the chance to start to talk about it in a situation where there really didn't seem to be any ill intent beyond noticing eyes are different shaped and she truly wasn't upset at all.   That I will be able to revisit it with her and empower her in a way that will be proactive rather than reactive.  But mostly it makes me sad (but in no way surprises me) that even now in 2012 she will have to deal with ignorant people who think it is cute and funny to make "Chinese eyes"