Transient Things

Flavors of Being Judgemental part 1

Posted by Rath Loeung , Friday, July 2, 2010 1:32 PM

For all the freedoms, choice, and opportunities that being an American provides, there's an ugly flip side of the coin that tends to get glossed over. I guess I've missed out on experiencing this because the majority of the worlds that I've been immersed in have been a cross-cultural environ that's closer to immigrant and first gen worldviews than a totally assimilated American worldview.

I'm thinking on this topic now because I'm being stretched more than I thought I'd be. When I was working with 1st and 2nd Generation youth, I struggled because I always felt like I was "too American" for them to really relate to me. Well, the pendulum's swung the other direction and I'm struggling with voices telling me that I'm not "American enough" to relate to these students. The further along the summer I go, the more it becomes apparent. It's a good thing at this point, I've grown up and learned enough to be quite okay with my own inner demons whispering to me.

Inner demons are in check. But what about voices from outside of my own head? I'm very intentional about not degrading anyone for the culture and worldview that they came up in. But its insulting when someone else suggests that certain behaviors or beliefs of mine (those that come out of my culture, worldview, and upbringing) are anything otherwise. I don't see how someone can be proud about speaking up for one oppressed segment of population when its at the expense of another.