From: sajith@athena.mit.edu (Varghese Thannickal)
Subject: Re: Being Americanized.......
Keywords: Life, living in America 
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 23:19:26 GMT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The questions Mithran asks are typical of indians  born and brought up 
in the US, and are entirely understandable. For people of certain national 
origins, assimilation into the US culture is relatively easy. Not so, for 
asians, and Indians in particular, because these cultures are strong ( after 
all they have stood the test of several millenia),and not easily overridden by 
western values. So the indian american is forced to develop a synthesis of 
the two, which is not an easy process.
 
 The two extreme positions one could choose are to be wholly indian or 
wholly american. For an indian american, both extremities are impossible
to attain. Deciding how much indianness and how much americanness one 
wants in oneself is a purely personal decision that leads to a period of 
considerable soulsearching. If this is handled in a mature and responsible 
manner, the result is a balanced personality that blends into the american
milieu, but at the same time remains distinct from it.

 Unfortunately, many young people are not able to achieve such a harmonious
balance, and end up confused and alienated from both cultures. This is 
especially apparent in the first generation when there is a conspicuous 
lack of clear analysis and/or  suitable role models to emulate.

 Some concepts to consider when defining one's personality are: race, culture,
religion, etc. For example:

a) Race: this is relatively easy for most indian americans to decide, at 
  least in terms of geographical origin. e.g. I can say my genetic 
 composition is very similar to that of certain peoples living in the 
 state of Kerala in southwestern India.

( Aside -   An aspect that we often forget is that the race of our children is 
 determined by us and not by them, so very careful thought has to be
given to this question when considerations of procreation are on the block. )


b) Culture: what sort of values does one want to adhere to? Western culture
  tends to be more materialistic than the more spiritual eastern ones. Social
values tend to be very different especially family values and marriage customs 
e.g here love is regarded as something that occurs only if the chemistry is 
right, whereas there it is assumed to be something has to be developed and 
nurtured. The  truth probably lies somewhere in between. How far in between 
is a question for the individual to decide, and illustrates the dilemmas that 
cultural clash engenders.


c) Religion: should one follow ones parental religion or the religion of the 
   local people among whom one finds oneself? Purely personal again, but one  
   that has to be consciously thought about.


d) etc: whatever else you think is important. 


 Actually all the above factors are interlinked. However elucidation of them
in the form above may facilitate  a clearer analysis of the problem.


Good luck to all those searching for an  identity.


SAJITH.


Comments and flames welcome.

Own opinions only.