get with the times grandma
America, Australia, England... all countries that have a diverse range of ethnicities. You would be hard pressed to come across an urbanised citizen from any of these nations who does not know at least one person from a minute diversity, hence, these people will all know someone who has suffered from being part of the minority...
Racism, prejudice, all negative connotations coming from the other side of the fence... What about the racism and prejudice from the other side of the fence? It makes me sad.
When immigrants come to the west, they know it isn't going to be easy on them, they know they will be segregated by religion, belief and/or the colour of their skin, I tell you what though, they dont make it any easier on themselves either.
I know a beautiful Sikh girl... her parents immigrated from India, and she was born in the country of choice - She is 100% American. Do you think she has the freedom of an typical American girl though? No... she does, but at the expense of the respect of her community.
This is just one particular example that makes me upset... this girl lives with the shaddow of ostracism if she does anything against the common trends of her community.
She lives with a spectre of fear... whatever she does in her life, she needs approval from not only her parents, but the wider Indian community.
When the initial immigrants come to the country of choice - i.e. her parents, they are prepared for any trials or tribulations they may face, and often they come to their chosen country so their children can live better lives filled with oppurtunity - it's not oppurtunity if it's forced down the throat though.
What kind of parents would put their child in a position to be surrounded by other cultures, yet if you mingle with them, and god forbid, fall in love with one of them, you will be ostracised and looked down upon by your community?
We look at a lot of cultures from around the world, and none seem to share the individualistic traits that the young and modernized countries/cultures have amongst their populace, whether this is a good or bad thing, well, the jury is still out on that.
When people from these cultures come to make a better life in coutries that allow it, coutries that allow and embrace individual excellence, surely they must renounce the archaic customs of said cultures?
I would never suggest anything like renouncing festivals, or celebrations - each to their own, but when it comes to socialising and only courting people from within said cultures, it kind of makes you think... there are certainly conveyors of prejudice on both sides of the fence.
It's not as bad as it used to be, I will say that much - but there are still those out there that suffer from traditions that should have died long ago... or, at least remained at home.
BAM!!!