This is a topic that has come up often in class but I just wanted to say something about it. I am neither for it, nor am I against it, but if my child came to me and said they wanted to marry someone so left of center or so American I would be upset. I would feel this way because yes, my family did leave Italy, and yes I am not going to be marring an Italian myself, but no matter how many times you try to explain things to them they will never understand the true importance of Italian Honor, Italian Respect, and Italian Culture. My fiancée is from a Honduran family from the old country, but they have many of the same moral codes, which are why it is allowed, but if he were American it would have been very difficult to try to get him to assimilate. Many of my cousins have tried and failed, and because of that they are ostracized from the family because they are disrespectful, or don’t understand how to act, or the offended someone.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Interracial Marriage
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Listen I do not know how old you are, but in your young life I think its too early for you too say all Americans are disrespectful etc. I do not see a questioon here just a statement. What are you trying to say regarding interracial marriage?
ReplyDeleteI don't think she was getting at Americans being disrespectful. Growing up, my parents constantly told me, American children have no manners, they're disrespectful and so on... they even went as far as to say they regret raising me in New York because I am "Americanized." I'm sure that's what Joana was getting at, and if you were raised hearing these things about American children, I'm sure you'd have a different look on things, too. I don't agree with it, but its definitely cultural difference. More over, I've seen examples of why they would say it's disrespectful but only in regards to our culture.
ReplyDeleteAn example would even be in our language.
they definitely don't have as much formalities We speak to an elder the same way we would to a friend. it's not disrespect, its cultural difference that is sometimes mistaken for disrespect.
And interracial marriage is hard when you come from such a culture manifested house. My parents would never consent to a guy that doesn't try to learn Korean culture or language, and if they do they would hate the idea. The hardest thing for me, though is that they weren't even accepted in Korea because they were mixed and yet they're still so determined to impose our culture to us, their daughters.
Antonio, I think it's great that you make the point that you do about Joanna's post. Can we label all Americans as being "out of touch?" Does being "Americanized" mean that we--we because I'm an American citizen too--have absolutely no traits or values that are worthy of people from "greater" cultures, such as the culture, honor, and respect of the Italians Joanna speaks of?
ReplyDeleteJoana's statements--while I believe not intentionally so--are based in individual prejudices and an ethnocentric perspective. Moreover, many of us share thoughts and ideas like this.
But we should be aware of the limitations of saying things like this. Not only because of what it says about us, but also of our society.
Lets deconstruct them and apply our readings to these thoughts and ideas!
I think what has alot to do with this is what America is all about. This one of the youngest countries in the world, with the longest serving government of the same structure. When someone grows up in this country I feel by influences around them that they know this is the greatest country in the world because of the freedoms. Also how successful one can be if worked at. And maybe that other cultures come in contact with ours they do not feel the same way towards their country. So they revert to feeling that way about their culture. Which cultures comes from the past and a time when there was alot of different forms of government around. So even if a family likes their country now in todays world, when that family's culture was being formed it might not have felt the same way about their home country. So when they encountered american's they put their feeling into their culture.
ReplyDeleteWell Antonio I really was not asking a question, I was making a statement- that I am not for or against said marriages, I am cautious. I think it depends on the situation I am not saying that all Americans are disrespectful; I am saying they do not understand our culture as it pertains to our people. If you were to come into my house and sit down for an everyday diner you would be surprised about how much training it takes to "go through the motions" my fiancée has been a part of my family for 8 years and he can still stumble sometimes!
ReplyDelete