Subject: RE: lessons - in mothering, in highschool historical perspectives, in..
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 11:54:44 -0400


But should he necessarily be "ignorant" of his parents' culture?
Doesn't it behoove the parents to implant the seed of knowledge about
their "home" culture so that while he learns what it means to be
"American", he also understands what it means to be "Indian"!  I know
many children, products of immigrant parents, growing up in a world
different from that of their parents, yet they know and speak and
understand the language of their parents and grandparents; they
participate in the traditions/customs/festivals of "back home"; they
appreciate the efforts -- great efforts, at great cost -- of their
parents to instill knowledge of not just a little bit of the first
generation's lives before their emigration, but of a great deal!
Sometimes, circumstances arise in which the immigrant parent is unable
to teach their native language, or to tell them much about their country
of birth and childhood.  But for those who are able to, often do not or
give up.  Why shouldn't we encourage our children to look back at OUR
native lands?  Why should we think this "new land" is better for/instead
of/superior replacement for/ our lands we left behind?  I commend you,
Cyberdiva, for questioning and searching and wanting to better your
perspectives so your son will grow and stretch and flex his outlook.  I
wish I had had a mother like you!  Take care.

Aiko Joshi
gs07aaj-AT-panther.gsu.edu

>-----Original Message-----
>From:	Cyberdiva [SMTP:radhik-AT-bgnet.bgsu.edu]
>Sent:	Friday, April 24, 1998 10:10 AM
>To:	sa-cyborgs-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>Subject:	lessons - in mothering, in highschool historical perspectives, in..
>
>
>knowing he is learning 
>about his birth-nation
>
>	in a History class
>	in a UnitedStatesian High School
>
>from his accounts,
>the teacher making efforts to 
>conscientiously negotiate
>
>difference
>
>opinions, cultures, biases
>
>giving due credit to the struggles faced by the teacher
>
>teaching perspectives on History
>
>				histories around the world
>
>within a "multicultural" class context
>
>with these Indian teenagers watching
>with eager eyes
>
>
>asking to be proud of their
>
>roots
>
>perhaps
>
>ignorant of their parents' culture
>
>"backhome"
>
>perhaps...
>
>		i struggle
>		the child struggles with my struggle
>
>what is my role as mother?
>
>to feed , clean and clothe?
>
>
>		i wish i could cop out and say this was
>
>so
>
>		he knows my dissertation 
>
>		is about issues he is discussing/learning
>
>in class
>
>(but can i translate - can i be less theoretical?
>can i be accountable to him and his struggles wihtout
>imposing mine on him?)
>
>
>
>he assumes my view is biased
>
>
>		he struggles
>
>		with my struggle over his struggle
>
>
>i wish it were a simple matter of how to earn your livelihood
>several years from now
>
>the amount of money you can
>accumulate
>in your bank account
>
>by being a doctor, a programmer, an engineer or a ...
>
>
>i wish that's all i cared about
>				(I *don't* wish that's all you
>cared about.)
>
>
>	i am glad to see you struggle.
>
>		my identity as your mother does not
>not
>		rest on how clean your bathroom is
>		how clean your room is, or if you are getiing
>"home-cooked" food or if you dress impeccably or whether 
>this month you've had that haircut yet.
>
>
>my identity as your mother
>for
>me
>
>de-
>
>pends
>
>on planting this seed of intellectual/emotional
>
>struggle
>(doubt, growth - whatever)
>		i am your mother
>		this is your curse
>
>i am your mother
>
>this is my blessing.
>
>		think hard, think fair
>
>		think complex - feel, feel feel
>your thought
>till you hurt all over....
>
>(to be contd)
>
>
>_____________________________________
>
>Radhika Gajjala
>
>http://ernie.bgsu.edu/~radhik
>
>
>_______________________________________
>