The multicultural society, or the general multicultural/multiethnic person, is in no way shape or form associated with any known multicultural cult; Nor are we an entity whose faith lies in the terrorist agenda, with extreme beliefs and violent opposition. We are not a group formed under the belief strict devotion toward a religious belief with the means to convert others and the audacity to advocate hatred on those who are dissimilar. We’re not your IRS-money-hungry seculars who ask for donations to help spread the word of our multiethnic tongues and customs and to see our people look down upon others. We are no cult!
Apparently, I’m angry and I think because of that, I let my emotions take stride tremendously without clear thinking. So now that my steam has subsided, let me continue…
Just the other day I was speaking to my closest friend and were engaged in a pretty interesting debate on marriage and family. Having been raised very differently, it didn’t surprise me that we had opposing views on the subject. Being a female, my friend, and I a male, we tend to butt heads on certain topics that are sensitive toward each sex. So inevitably, things got a little heated.
This little conversation of ours led me to recall another engaging conversation we had months back and reminded me on how angry I felt after we had spoken. This same friend and I talked about the whole hapa/multicultural movement and about the people I made friends with over on a hapa community website, but again, it all left me feeling very heated afterward because of the nature of my sensitivity on the topic itself. My friend isn’t a make-up of more than one blood; she is a Japanese-American, born and raised in NYC but was raised by Japanese parents with strong Japanese customs. Yet, although she is aware that there is a strong tide in the multicultural society nowadays, she still happens to be somewhat cautious. Cautious in a way that I don’t think I’ll quite fully understand; however, it brought me to this angered state and left me wondering if there is actually something about our population that we, or I, should be careful for.
“Careful with what?” I asked, feeling like my newfound pride in my hapa-ness/multicultural-ness has been undermined.“Careful. With. What?” I ask again after a moment of dead air over the phone.
“I dunno… just be careful, is all I’m saying. You don’t know who these people are. You don’t know what they want,” she said.
This created even more confusion because now she’s suggesting that the people whom I call my ‘internet friends’ (some of whom I’ve actually met here in the city) or the site itself, could be attached to some anti-society or an underground social subgroup with antipathetic and hostile intentions on the rest of society.
My friend never quite gave me the a clear explanation which only fueled my anger towards what she was telling me. It made me feel that from a non-multiethnic individual or group, can have this audacious point of view towards the multicultural and label us as something the world should be wary of; to suggest that perhaps this site is a proponent toward causing harm to others. Was there no sense of joy or happiness in her, in that I have found something new that I’m proud after years of emotional turmoil? Why must I be careful? Why must it be a priority to look out for these people whom I have a connection with that my own friend and I don’t have? Why must that be undermined by the thought of having to be careful? Was it all just simply coming out of her unwilling to trust so easily? Or was it that she saw some sort of unspoken danger in the people like us?
Whatever she was trying to say, it didn’t make it out clear and only enraged me to a certain extent and to believe that others who are non-multiethnic perceive us as some sort of potential fanatical group or cult. We are people who are trying to give a voice in this already loud world; trying to promote our existence to others who can’t fathom it and even trying to understand more ourselves. We are like a movement similar to those that came before us. If that is what you fear, my friend, then this is who you fear.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Sicero, October 29, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Plain N simple, October 30, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Lou Dobbs (CNN), October 30, 2009
There are no excuses.
Lou
-
- +0
-
-
written by Anders Wallace , October 30, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Chameleon, October 30, 2009
thanks for writing feedback on my post. since posting this, i haven't had the chance to bring it up. then again, i haven't spoken to her in a couple of days since we've both been under tremendous work.
but this will resurface and answers will be given. i wasn't too clear on whether she was talking about the website I was using or the multicultural people themselves. if it was the latter, then there's something that has to be done.
Wallace, yes, almost anyone can submit an article for the Chameleon. If you're interested, let me know so I can discuss it with the lead writer of the Chameleon.
-
- +0
-
-
written by Jane, October 31, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Brook Rockemore, October 31, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by jalabi99 , November 01, 2009
"[People] fear what they don't understand/
Hate what they can't conquer..."
She doesn't understand your affinity with this group of people who you haven't even met in real life yet, she doesn't understand that unspoken connection with people who have gone through a similar experience to yours. She means well...but she just doesn't get it.
-
- +0
-
-
From time to time we meet those on both sides of the fence - hopefully on our side of course. I feel that the mixed populace in this country is a really new phenomenon that a lot of people are just beginning to understand. People have always changed in their attitudes for the better and I suspect this will always continue.
Your friend sounds negative and I think negative people are not the type of crowd you really want to be around with. Just my opinion.....
I'm glad you were able to find solace after years of emotional hardship. Really happy for you because I can relate as a hapa too.