Cathy, I'm sorry you struggled so much with looking different as a child. Your piece reminds me that we need to be more sensitive about asking people where they're from.
Thank you for your kind comment, Sandra. I think the way the question is asked makes a difference. I have often commented on a beautiful accent I could not place and asked where the person speaking was from. In those scenarios, a conversation opened and it became a delightful interaction.
This was a beautiful, thoughtful and really interesting post, Cathy. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably.
My mother is mexican and danish and has voiced a lot of the same sentiments you did. The discomfort of the natural human instinct to organize people into categories and not knowing where you belong is sometimes a very difficult thing to carry. 🤍
Thank you for your kind comment, Cici, and for sharing your mother's experience. I believe that the multicultural mix of the American people is what makes the US unique. I hope we can one day get past the need to label and categorize.
I think what the phrase “melting pot” seeks to convey is a country where racial and ethnic differences can coexist peacefully. This is in contrast to many parts of the world where such differences animate mortal conflict.
That being said, the ethnic and racial distinctives in America ARE fueling, in some places, unabashed hatred and vitriol.
And that is sad. “America” is as much an aspiration as it is a place. I hope we never keep seeking that better and higher place.
But I think we can do something about that . . . but it requires that we - the citizens - treat our fellow citizens as neighbors. I know it sounds corny, but I believe it's true. The media has, IMHO, stoked divisions and differences. Rage and anger drive traffic to their sites and increase revenue.
But that's not where most of us are or live. We want to live peaceably with our neighbors, differences notwithstanding. There are exceptions, of course. There always are. But in the main, we can push back against the division, the tribalism, the "othering" of our neighbors and embrace a different path. We've done it before. I believe we can do it again.
Thanks for sharing about your background. My mother emigrated through Ellis Island in 1948 from war torn Yugoslavia. Her dad was Hungarian and her mother Russian. My dad? Poor American 🤣
I was also a bit of an odd duck. Mom never lost her Russian accent and this was during the Cold War 😬 Kids teased and taunted me. Said mom was a “Commie.” She was a virulent anti-Communist.
Once I reached adulthood, my heritage became more of a curiosity. But I never let the taunting diminish my respect for Mom’s courage. Or my love for what she passed on to me.
Props to you for sharing this part of your heritage. You are a “most excellent American.” 🫡
Thank you so much for the vote of confidence, Mark. I love hearing that I am a "most excellent American"!
What a rich, wonderful heritage you have - thank you for sharing it. I still question the melting pot metaphor, but I am fascinated by all the cultures from around the world that have landed in it!
I think this is a perfect example of you honoring communication and the mindset it enables. Thanks for writing and sharing this.
Thank you for validating it was not too much of a stretch. I so appreciate that!
Cathy, I'm sorry you struggled so much with looking different as a child. Your piece reminds me that we need to be more sensitive about asking people where they're from.
Thank you for your kind comment, Sandra. I think the way the question is asked makes a difference. I have often commented on a beautiful accent I could not place and asked where the person speaking was from. In those scenarios, a conversation opened and it became a delightful interaction.
This was a beautiful, thoughtful and really interesting post, Cathy. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably.
My mother is mexican and danish and has voiced a lot of the same sentiments you did. The discomfort of the natural human instinct to organize people into categories and not knowing where you belong is sometimes a very difficult thing to carry. 🤍
Thank you for your kind comment, Cici, and for sharing your mother's experience. I believe that the multicultural mix of the American people is what makes the US unique. I hope we can one day get past the need to label and categorize.
I think what the phrase “melting pot” seeks to convey is a country where racial and ethnic differences can coexist peacefully. This is in contrast to many parts of the world where such differences animate mortal conflict.
That being said, the ethnic and racial distinctives in America ARE fueling, in some places, unabashed hatred and vitriol.
And that is sad. “America” is as much an aspiration as it is a place. I hope we never keep seeking that better and higher place.
Thank you for the interpretation. I hope that we can get there one day - and soon. Sadly, the pot is boiling over at the moment.
Yes, in many places it is.
But I think we can do something about that . . . but it requires that we - the citizens - treat our fellow citizens as neighbors. I know it sounds corny, but I believe it's true. The media has, IMHO, stoked divisions and differences. Rage and anger drive traffic to their sites and increase revenue.
But that's not where most of us are or live. We want to live peaceably with our neighbors, differences notwithstanding. There are exceptions, of course. There always are. But in the main, we can push back against the division, the tribalism, the "othering" of our neighbors and embrace a different path. We've done it before. I believe we can do it again.
A marvelous piece (as usual 😊)
Thanks for sharing about your background. My mother emigrated through Ellis Island in 1948 from war torn Yugoslavia. Her dad was Hungarian and her mother Russian. My dad? Poor American 🤣
I was also a bit of an odd duck. Mom never lost her Russian accent and this was during the Cold War 😬 Kids teased and taunted me. Said mom was a “Commie.” She was a virulent anti-Communist.
Once I reached adulthood, my heritage became more of a curiosity. But I never let the taunting diminish my respect for Mom’s courage. Or my love for what she passed on to me.
Props to you for sharing this part of your heritage. You are a “most excellent American.” 🫡
Thank you so much for the vote of confidence, Mark. I love hearing that I am a "most excellent American"!
What a rich, wonderful heritage you have - thank you for sharing it. I still question the melting pot metaphor, but I am fascinated by all the cultures from around the world that have landed in it!
Beautifully stated, Mark. I believe we can, as well.