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Foreignness in America is quite different consider how traces of native peoples have been erased and marginalized. And if American culture is to deliver on an i

Foreignness in America is quite different consider how traces of native peoples have been erased and marginalized. And if American culture is to deliver on an individualistic promise, we should expect to see more changes in the dominant culture. But white cultural dominance has a fragile ego, having been established through violence and discrimination, which by the way is not so unique as far as dominant cultures go. But discussions of culture will inevitably touch on the factors that gave rise to certain features. So the fact that many black Americans have ancestry in slaves trafficked to the US, is not separable from the discussion on why Asian Americans are discriminated in higher education admissions. Anyways, call what I say rooted in Americanism or what have you, the fact is Bangladeshi culture has a much different history than American culture, so calls to be accommodating of other cultures in America strike a different tone than it would in trying to change Bangladeshi culture (itself rooted in a reaction against erasure of language and culture). Finally, all of this is to say, while culture has an influence in some regards, it’s not so separate from the wealth gaps and inequities which stratify folks.

rayiner 3y ago
I mean, the process by which I came to have an Arabic surname coming from a place 3,000 miles away from the Middle East was not exactly bunnies and rainbows. I hear what you’re saying, but it seems to me like you’re calling for a moral double standard. It implicitly assumes that Americans have a capacity to behave to a higher standard than Bangladeshis or Indians or Chinese. I remember talking with someone about Trump voters, and I mentioned I had no trouble understanding them because they’re reacting just like Bangladeshis would if the shoe were on the other foot. And this very liberal white lady says disgustedly: “well, this isn’t Bangladesh.” One of the only times I’ve ever encountered a white American express to my face that they believe they’re morally superior.
- erenyeager 3y ago
  No moral double standard, just standard. I believe American culture is deficient in many aspects, and so requires change and criticism is one vehicle for this. Similarly, Arab, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, etc culture will have its deficiencies. For a long time America has this belief of “exceptionalism” and sometimes to a crazy degree where its people act like they are the center of the world. That the cracks are showing and people are recognizing unfairness is a laudable thing. Your first paragraph makes a great observation, that your culture is intrinsically tied to historical factors, in this case political dominance and religious and cultural spread. So the habits a person of a certain culture has, these are rooted in what they inherited of this culture. These habits are a result of historical influences, which includes previously mentioned inequities, wealth gaps, etc.

rayiner 3y ago

I mean, the process by which I came to have an Arabic surname coming from a place 3,000 miles away from the Middle East was not exactly bunnies and rainbows. I hear what you’re saying, but it seems to me like you’re calling for a moral double standard. It implicitly assumes that Americans have a capacity to behave to a higher standard than Bangladeshis or Indians or Chinese. I remember talking with someone about Trump voters, and I mentioned I had no trouble understanding them because they’re reacting just like Bangladeshis would if the shoe were on the other foot. And this very liberal white lady says disgustedly: “well, this isn’t Bangladesh.” One of the only times I’ve ever encountered a white American express to my face that they believe they’re morally superior.

erenyeager 3y ago
No moral double standard, just standard. I believe American culture is deficient in many aspects, and so requires change and criticism is one vehicle for this. Similarly, Arab, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, etc culture will have its deficiencies. For a long time America has this belief of “exceptionalism” and sometimes to a crazy degree where its people act like they are the center of the world. That the cracks are showing and people are recognizing unfairness is a laudable thing. Your first paragraph makes a great observation, that your culture is intrinsically tied to historical factors, in this case political dominance and religious and cultural spread. So the habits a person of a certain culture has, these are rooted in what they inherited of this culture. These habits are a result of historical influences, which includes previously mentioned inequities, wealth gaps, etc.