(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

I'm working on my last lit paper (Born To Strangers: Exploring Asian-American Mother-Daughter Relationships through Literature) and I stumbled up on this quote:

"Chinese-Americans, or any minority people, can't just disappear into the mainstream. You can't change your psyche and personality so that it's indistinguishable from most Americans. The only healthy thing for Americans to do is to just realize that we are multicultural people living in a multicultural country and that you just have to take all these complex, disparate customs and languages and try to become a healthy integrated society."

--Maxine Hong Kingston (author of "The Woman Warrior", one of my new favorite books)

Comments

[themenow.livejournal.com]

I believe that that is exactly what I needed to read. In fact, on Tuesday, when I'm back at work, I am going to print out that quote and post it in a place that I will a lot during my day.

I absolutely never thought about this quote: You can't change your psyche and personality so that it's indistinguishable from most Americans. I didn't realize that this is exactly what I have been wanting people to do - be more like me. I want my international students to be more American. I want them to assume all of my traditions, manners of speaking, the whole thing. There has been something nagging my mind, and this is exactly the absolute truth. I am guilty of this.

I don't know if you posted this as a way of encouraging me to be more accepting of my international students or just that you thought it was interesting, but I do appreciate it. Just one more reason I think you're one of the most loving and compassionate people I know. Thank you *hugs*

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I did post it for you, but I didn't want to say I was because I didn't want you to think I was. Silly, yes? I'm glad you liked it. I've learned so much from this Asian-American lit class. It has to be one of my all time favorite classes.

[themenow.livejournal.com]

Not silly at all. That's why we're pals - you can tell me this stuff.