I had a really busy day today, yet if I look at what I did, it seems like I did nothing. *Sigh* such is the life of a housewife.
My very best friend, Rita, from school passed away on May 26th. I dont know the details of what and how it happened. We've been friends since 6th grade. She was 39 years old. Too young to have Died. Her two Children are in their teens. Its sad she wont be there to guide them. We called ourselves the Three Musketeers(without the muskets), and now there are two. I dont want to feel sad but it cant be helped. Some of my classmates got together and actually tried to contact each other. Guess it was a wake up call as to how short a time we have as we rush about in our lives.
I have been reading news from Australia regarding the assaults on Indian students there. I am concerned for a few reasons and yes they are selfish reasons(never claimed to be a saint) - 1. I tend to notice injustice, even when I dont talk of it. I go silent cause if I make a quick decision on whats right or wrong, it will never be fair and Fairness is important to me. 2. I am Indian and have a tendency to notice things that go wrong for my countrymen. I guess it is a part of my identity that matters. 3. My husband's cousin is studying there and he lives alone. 4. I know a couple of other relatives(not personally but via family) who are based in and around Melbourne. I did not want to talk about it because I know I will appear biased. But one of the words in the reader comments on a newspaper got me thinking - Assimilation. I have read from time to time in different countries the Call for Assimilation. I guess from their point of view, they feel they have the right to ask such a thing. But in my observation nothing good has ever come out of assimilation. Almost always, someone loses and most always in its wake, cruelty to one or other group follows, case in point - What was done to the First Nations once they decided they had to make a white man out of a Native American and to the original inhabitants of Australia.
I am for integration but not for assimilation....Something about that word- assimilation, makes me very wary, very skeptical and very "on guard". Assimilation as per the dictionary means "to become the same" or "Absorbed into a larger Group". While Integrate means "intermixing of persons previously segregated" or "a combination of diverse elements to make a whole". Assimilation seems very illogical to me, as no matter what I do, I can not change the colour of my skin from brown to white and hence I can never really RESEMBLE or Become the SAME as the present Native. Now that is not to say that there isnt a Half way, yes, if we go to work in another country, the first thing fair thing to do- is to voluntarily follow the laws of the land; the second would be to learn the lingua-franca so that life is less harder for us and third is to remember that you are an ambassador for your nation so Behave with Honour and Respectfulness in mind. That is fair.. the rest, is nit-picking and power posturing.
My Childhood Friend Sophia sent me this and I thought it was good info to share with you all. so here's the article.
I thought that was an awesome way to give, especially when it doesnt cost you anything. Truly, one man's trash..... you get the idea
The children have one more week of school and then its Vacation... I am preparing myself to not mind tripping over stuff on the floor again.
We had the backyard squirrel wars in which we won two to one... We caught two squirrels in two days and of course we just let it out into a Park really far from our home. Looking forward to soil in the planters instead of around the planter, days. I guess they thought they were going to die but now they will live to tell their adventure to their young ones some day. Oh the things I facilitate. *giggling*
There must be something in the air or its the approaching full moon, I am feeling melancholy and I want to be back in my school days minus the homework and some teachers of course.
Have to stop for now and get some sleep.. Goodnight folks and thank you for getting up to here.
Peace always
Rashmi.
15 comments:
I think "assimilation" is a fantasy in which all those people who are "different" from an imagined model of a citizen become the model itself.
I'm going to post this profound statement at the group.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your good friend. What a heartbreak...so young....Not quite the same as family, but in many ways the deep sadness finds another expression...No more sharing the closeness, and no more moments of love between two people who found in each other something that cannot be expressed in words... Friendship between two women is such a special thing. My heart sends to your heart a message of deep understanding...an embrace of thoughts that might comfort.
As for assimilation... I think of you and I ... I would feel insulted if I was asked for assimilation in our case... I love who you are, and the differences that teach me so much.. To assimilate in our case, would mean the loss of a good friend also... As if we would both disappear and what would be left? I could never consider assimilation...In my thinking we all would lose. Why not make us all clones ?..it would amount to the same thing.
Many hugs, Dear Woman...
So sorry to hear about your friend... she was so young...
Assimilation... aren't we, all people here, good friends and we don't need to be assimilate? What is that makes us unique and special? Isn't that our culture? How else can we learn so many interesting new things from each other?
My sincere sympathy on the passing of your friend
some concerning news you have posted, hope you slept well and things look brighter today
very interesting as always, I am really sorry for your friend and her kids...I want to offer my sympathy to you and her family. I suppose being a ''native'' i never really pay any attention to the words assimilation versus integration, I always kind of though they meant the same, but reading your comment was an eye openning, I almost felt stupid i had never made the difference...i think you are right.
''to remember that you are an ambassador for your nation so Behave with Honour and Respectfulness in mind'' this is also very clever and not only for the immigrants but the tourists too...
Squirrels...we have the same battle with a marmot around it, he had managed to be the winner up to now...
have a wonderful day!
It's good to hear a slight "rant?" from you Rashmi, you ARE human! :)
It's always hard to lose a friend.
Squirrels, they have an area of a few miles that they live in. It's hard to transplant them somewhere else. :O
Assimilation is indeed a wrong concept. I believe in integration, as you said, with the preservation of each nationality's cultural treasures. This is important!
Of course, in order to improve life in an adoptive country one must learn the language and respect the laws of the land. Conducting respectfuly, as you said, because you are an ambassador of your nation.
I see you did and responses are funny too.
Thank you Jackie.
LOL at the mention of clones...Funnily, until I came to the USA, Assimilation was a term related to the Digestive system. The first time I heard someone mention it with regards to people, I didnt understand. I had to look it up in the dictionary. The things I have learned here... makes me feel very grateful.
Thank you Simona.:)... Yes, she was young.
My point exactly. I understand that uniqueness is somewhat scary to a lot of people. I had a tough time when I had to talk to someone who had tatoos in places that I shouldnt be staring at and a piercing on her tongue that it made it so difficult for me to understand what she was saying. She was unique, Yes, was it easy on me- No. Its a learning process.
Thank you Danette.
Thank you Josie :). Yes for the tourists too and the citizens too. I think Behaving respectfully should be a given no matter who you are.
The soil has stayed in the planter today..but I dont want to do the victory dance yet..going to wait a month and see.
Ah Tina, its never been my intention to not be Human *giggling* although sometimes my children and I play the Monkey.
Yes, I think so too. I also think languages should be preserved too. When you lose a language you lose out a lot of knowledge of a particular culture.
Sorry to hear about your Friend Rashmi, times like these remind us how valued our time is we just never know, we don't have to be old or sick. hugsssssssss
Post a Comment