Cultural Robbery

  

            If an Asian man and an Asian woman came here to The United States of America, from China (for example) and they later had a baby together, which is born here on American soil...  Would that baby be any less Asian just because of where he / she was born ?  No matter where you are physically located in this world, you can NOT change your Physical DNA and you can NOT change "WHO" you are !  "IF" you can figure out "HOW" to do that, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, and FAST !  OK, now let's say...  That the same Asian child, has now fully grown up and is now a 25 year old ADULT ! 

      This individual as grown up here in the good ole USA, went to our American schools, speaks, reads and writes Proper English, celebrates our American holidays and takes part in our American traditions here in our American Culture.  Even though this Asian adult is now fully "Americanized" (Asian-American) and is considered to be an American citizen by way of birth, does that mean that this person is not fully "ASIAN" ?  Does this person not have his / her Asian identity any longer ?  Remember, no matter "WHERE" you are in this world, you can't change "WHO" you are.  

      The parents had Americanized their child, in the hopes that their child would have a fighting chance to create a better life for their future generations.  Now that's 1 way to look at it.  Another way to see it is, that the parents are guilty of "Cultural Robbery" !  OK, allow me to explain...  Picture this : The 25 year old Asian-American citizen is getting older now and starts to become increasingly curious about who he /she really is and about his / her Asian heritage, traditions and origin / background.  He / She plans a trip to China.  The Excitement builds as he / she is finally going to see his / her family home land.  To make a long story short... 

      Upon a happy and safe arrival in China, it is quickly apparent that he / she does NOT speak Mandarin (Chinese), doesn't know any of the native Chinese customs or traditions, is quickly becoming alienated for others around him / her and is starting to feel like an alienated and uncomfortable in his own native land, all because the parents did not educate their child about who he / she is and failed to raise and provide their child with a familiar Asian upbringing (even though the parents DID have good intentions towards their child).  Thus committing the "Social Crime" of Cultural Robbery of their child.  

      The whole point of this hypothetical story is : This is "EXACTLY" how I have always felt inside.  However, it has always been unpopular to voice it out loud.  So I was forced to conceal my deep inner "Cultural Alienated Feelings" on this (and many other) subject matters.  After many years of "Internal" struggles about this, I finally sat down and had a long talk with my dad about this (R.I.P., 2012).  I asked him, why he didn't raise us (Me and my sisters) on a traditional Native American Reservation / land like others ?  Why we were not "Allowed" to take part in our own Native culture and participate in the life and heritage that we were essentially "Robbed" of and owed ?  Why he took that piece of our own history and heritage away from us ?  How could a STRONG and PROUD Cherokee father deny his own kids of their personal identities ?  Why were we deprived and denied of the upbringing that we SHOULD have had ? 

  

      For the sake of my deceased father and for my family's privacy, I can not disclose what his answers were to me.  I also sat and thought about the fact that our entire lives (me and my sisters) was a lie.  Essentially, we lived altered lives that was meant for us.  Not better lives or worse, just lives that was NOT supposed to be ours and NOT meant for us.  This is how I felt (and still do to this very day).  These are the questions that I posed to him and my real feelings that I candidly discussed openly with him.  I am a parent of 4 myself and I am fighting hard to ensure a proper upbringing for my own kids.  As a parent myself, I would URGE ALL parents out there to sit with their kids and discuss their feelings and reasoning behind their decision making with their kids.  Even though they are kids, you can help them achieve a great understanding of their past and who they are.  You would be surprised at how much it will mean to them later on in life.  Kids "DO" understand things a lot better then you may think.  Just think back to your own childhood.  Think about how much you would know right now today and how many "holes" in your own head would be filled properly right now, had your parents or guardians talked more with YOU.  Create the childhood that you would have wanted for yourself.  Pay it forward !  

      If you can ask for greater understanding, be willing to also GIVE IT !  It will mean more that you know to your future generations.  Like any other form of relationship in life :  

COMMUNICATION IS KEY...  

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Vanilla Swirl

      Before I tackle this touchy and unpopular subject matter, it is only fair that I disclose the fact that, I myself am a :  

"Mixed Blooded" Native American.  My father was a VERY PROUD and STRONG Cherokee and Irish mix.  My mother is a Hot Blooded Latina : Portuguese.  With this mixture of my parents which creates me and my sister, It wasn't my choice and if I could change it, I definitely and most certainly would : IN A HEART BEAT !  Having said that...  On with the show :  

      You know, people say life is not fair at all.  As much freedom we enjoy everyday, we are still powerless about who and what we are.  Think about this.  We are born into a world where we don't get to choose anything about our self.  We can't choose our parents, our gender, our height, our place of birth, our skin color or tone or even our race or races...  

      I hear all kinds of opinions about race mixing and mixed race couples, who eventually produce mixed race babies (like me and my sister).  I hear Both good and bad opinions on this touchy, sensitive and sore subject matter.  No one wants to discuss this "Openly" these days anymore because everyone is so afraid of offending others and we all are so tied now to being "Politically Correct".  No one has the guys to air their own personal opinions because we may be seen or viewed as being a racist or labeled ignorant.  However, I have very deep feelings about this matter and being a mixed race person myself, I am more than qualified to speak on this matter.  It's "MY" blog and I can say whatever I want, right !  

      Growing up in a mixed household with 2 very different family sides (mom side and dad side) was an interesting experience and often confusing and very awkward and uncomfortable.  Especially with all the various holiday traditions and different family "ways", mindsets and attitudes.  As a result, I have never had the luxury of having a clear "Self Identity".  For example, whenever I fill out job applications or any kind of paperwork anywhere, there are always race / ethnicity questions.  The selections are always (Choose "ONE") !  I can never "Clearly" answer.  Also, whenever someone sees that I am "different looking", they always ask me, what am I ?  I can never just say I am 1 thing or another because I am a combination of multiple races.  Three to be exact (that I know of thus far...).  This has prompted me to start a family tree back in 2010.  I have thus far traced my family members and roots back to the late 1800's.  In the process, I have been learning a lot about myself and where I came from.  At least about my family anyway.  

      With a deep rooted mixed family history on both sides of my family, I have been yearning for just 1 solid racial identity all my life but I know that it will never happen because I can't change my DNA and I can't change who I am.  That decision was made for me by my parents.  I have a mixed identity, a mixed culture and a mixed image of myself which I have secretly been deeply regretting all of my life !  It was just "Politically Incorrect" to openly voice the fact that I am seriously against race mixing.  It creates uncertainty and blurred visions with people.  It takes away the ability to simply just know who you are and to have a clear solid pure racial identity and vision of yourself.  

      Example : If I had 2 Chinese parents, I could just say : I am Chinese, period !  However, If I had 1 Chinese Parent and 1 Mexican or White parent, what would I be called ?  Who would I be ?  Why blur the color lines ?  Why create confusion among people ?  Why do that to your children and future generations ?  Shall I say : Why mix people up and make people lives much more difficult than what it need to be already ?  Don't get me wrong, I am PROUD of my heritage and I like who I am as a person inside.  I just wish I had 1 "clear defined identity", 1 way or the other.  

      If you don't like what I have said or how I feel about standing firmly against the mixing of the races or not dating outside your own race, that's fine.  Just remember 2 things. : 1. These are MY Personal feelings here on MY Personal BLOG and I can say whatever I like.  2. You may disagree but at lease I am NOT afraid to exercise my freedom of speech just because of what other people may think.  It's MY life and MY opinion.  I never wanted to be a mixed race person.  But like I already said from the beginning, I never got to choose.  The freedom of choice was taken away from me at conception, just like everyone else.  CHOOSE your mates SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.  Your future generations - AND - family history REALLY DEPEND ON IT...  

 

 

 

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The Country Fox

From City Slicker to Country Fox

      Well...  As I approach the BIG 4-0...  I have changed : A LOT !  Some of my long term readers know that I was born in Baltimore, Maryland.  However, I have lived in and have been to many cities over the years, up and down the east coast of The United States.  Major Big cities in fact.  I have lived and been to : Baltimore, Towson, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Parkville, New York, Yonkers, Jacksonville, Brandon, Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Hot Rockin Miami, and many others...  

      My point is, I have always been in very large metropolitan cities, full of and plagued with violent crime, chaos, congestion, noise, monstrous traffic, high populated crowds, neighbors BS through the walls, politics, high rents, high utility bills, corporate greed, lack of growth, evil unfriendliness, rudeness and 100% PURE NIGHTMARISH HEADACHES...  1 Right after another actually !  

      Like I said, I am about to hit the BIG 4-0 and at this point in my Foxy Life, I don't want all that negative crap anymore.  In fact, I desire quite the opposite.  For a very long time now, I have been wanting a nice peaceful and traditional country life and life style.  I want to hear the birds chirping, the crickets at night.  I want to smell the fresh grass.  I want to walk out barefoot in a grass field.  I want to eat freshly grown foods, "REAL FOODS" and play like a kid openly in the fields with my kids.

I was once a City Slicker but now, I am changing into a Country Fox (Literally). 

      I have a thirst, a yearning for Trees, Flowers, Grass, Bushes, Shrubs, all greenery scenery.  Most of all : PEACE AND QUIET surrounded by Positive vibes and an extremely limited number of other humans, PERIOD !  We all get so tied up in our ultra busy "Gotta prove myself to everyone" lifestyles that we forget to stop, look around and smell life.  Then remember what it's like to really APPRECIATE it and appreciate this earth that we dwell on and often destroy with our disrespectful pollution that we call "Progress and Advancement".  I call it Greed and Destruction, plain and simple.  

      I dream of living the 2nd half of my life on a nice quiet Ranch, Farm or a very rural area that I can live, love and appreciate well into my well deserved golden years.  I deeply crave a middle American / Western life and lifestyle now.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, I would like to leave you with a few visions of what I envision the rest of my like to be like... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

NOW THIS is the way LIFE is TRULY MEANT to be LIVED.

NOT Simply survived, but LIVED, Enjoyed and well Appreciated...

 

          

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Virtual Life - VS - REAL LIFE !

 

      To many lessons learned...  They say, if you don't want something coming back to bite you in your ass, DON'T PUT IT OUT THERE TO BEGIN WITH !  Especially if your "Special Someone" may come across it later.  BUSTED !!!!  Well...  

      Sometimes in life, you just have to be "REAL" !  You know, today's technology is truly a wonderful thing.  However, what can you do when your intentions are good but the results are the complete opposite ?  There have been times where our "SINGLE" lives have later come back to bite us when we are "Coupled".  When you are single, you need not worry about anyone other than yourself, right ?  However...  When you finally find a mate here in today's world, things can sometimes become unnecessarily complicated, due to hurt feelings and jealousy involving past lives and experiences.  However, it's just that : The Past !  So leave it there.  It was all before your current chosen mate came into your present life.  Therefore, it's completely meaningless "NOW".  Get over it and move on with your present and future life.  Living in the past or being upset over it will change nothing.  All it does is delay or derail your intended present and future progress. 

   

      Case and point...  Your past Virtual / Online / Cyber life could quite possibly create many obstacles and hurt feelings with your current partner.  Here's a rule of thumb : If you are about to enter into a relationship or thinking of becoming attached to another person, : "STOP" !  THINK...  This is a good time to think about 3 things...  

1. Is this person the right one or is this person really worth ME ?  

2. If he / she is the right one and you feel strong about the person with TRUST : IMMEDIATELY start cleaning up all your SHIT !  

3. ONCE your "Respectful" clean-up job is done (COMPLETELY), then sit your potential partner down immediately and have a very open, straight forward discussion and air things out privately between the both of you.  

      It's better to just tackle this situation early on, right from the start rather than having it come back to bite you (both) later on.  Even worse, having your NEW Partner hear things from other sources that are less than 100% credible, where it can become something greater than what it really was to begin with.  Now, THAT's a REAL mess to clean up.  Especially when it could have been avoided right from the beginning altogether.  Don't allow your online virtual life to become a SCREAMING PAIN !  

Smurfette : STOP LAUGHING...!

      So remember, if you have a long standing online life, just be careful what you put out there.  You just may need to clean it all up later (Guilty as charged , by the way) !  One Last piece of advice...  Be careful with all those Online Dating sites out there.  If you are lucky enough to actually meet someone from an online dating site, here is wisdom : You may have met "Online", but live your life and relationship "Offline".  Trust that you will be MUCH HAPPIER !  Just because you met online does NOT mean that you should live the same way.  After all, The whole point of meeting someone, is so that you BOTH can live a REAL LIFE Together OFFLINE in REAL LIFE completely, right !

Limit your computer access and rebuild your Human Progress !  

Love Always in Your Life,    

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