Had dinner with a good friend last night. Interesting conversation, decent Chinese buffet, good time.
One of the topics we worked our way around has been sticking in my head a little bit today. The conversation was in the context of how to raise a child born in one culture but being raised in another, but I think it applies in a broader context as well.
I see most people falling to the extremes of either being xenophobic (Afraid of Lucy Lawless’ old TV character? No, wait, that’s Xenaphobic.) or being so much of a “citizen of the world” that one forgets to be a citizen of the US. I’m not sure why people seem to have trouble with balancing things.
By the way, if you fall into one of the extremes and are happy there, that’s cool. I just can’t live there.
Here’s my view. There are so many cool things in other cultures, it would be very easy to want to hold hands and sing, “We Are The World.” However, there is a reason we are still feared/revered around the world as the last remaining superpower.
- My family roots are in Ireland. Been there, and would love to go again. For a few years.
- Enjoyed Paris. I forgot to pack an attitude, and I had a great time and some really good conversations with the locals.
- Loved China. Could live there too, though it would be the biggest stretch in terms of culture shock.
The thing I loved about each of these places was the people. And people are basically the same in Nanchang or Paris or Killarney. There are mostly very pleasant people who live and love and get along, and there are a few who make life more difficult for everyone. That seems to be universal.
But I never lose sight of the idea that is America. Despite the current Prez’s shortcomings as a public speechifier, I think he really gets it in terms of the promise of freedom, and the hope that is inherent when people believe that they are, to some degree, partners in their own success or failure. Most of the world lives under a cloud of caste, parental expectations, or governmental come-to-the-trough-we-have-prepared-for-you-ism. My dad was born on the edge of the poorest region of the US, and foughtg his way to an advanced degree and an upper-middle class lifestyle. My mom lost her dad when she was a young teen, and her mother scraped and made do to bring up two kids who are both well respected.
I believe the idea of America is superior. I don’t apologize for that at all.
I also believe it is not necessary for me to think poorly of other cultures to keep mine in its place.
I know that’s a little different perspective. That’s part of why people can’t really decide how to peg me. I like to keep people guessing.
Have a good weekend.
