I’ve just noticed that my last blog post also was posted on a Monday, perhaps I shall aim for a weekly post. Not too ambitious but also won’t mean I’ll prolong posts too, I’ll try and make it a routine. At one stage this week I even thought, ‘why do you have a blog, you don’t have enough to say,’ however, I had a very mentally stimulating conversation tonight with a special person who reminded me of why I set this blog up in the first place... [You know who you are. This one’s for you!]
During a superb dinner with the greatest company a very interesting dialogue commenced regarding people and social habits within communities. (All the more relevant in diverse environments such as London.) So, question of the day. Mosaic vs. Melting pot? What on Earth is this plonker talking about this time with I hear you question!? Well let me elaborate my loyal literary lovers. (See what I just did there?! Alliteration. Okay, I’ll try and be less of a loser now).
Let me define the two terms I just utilised:
*Mosaic – A picture created with clusters of small colourful cubic pieces of tiles/glass etc.
*Melting pot – Somewhere that colours are able to mix with each other, bubbling and boiling with no boundaries.
Now, apply these two concepts to people, cultural diversity being represented through colours, thus bringing life to the aforementioned metaphor. In the case of the former, a mosaic, people within a community would be living alongside one another, however choosing to remain within their social/cultural boundaries (i.e. colours) and contrast it with the theory of a melting pot where people freely mix without considering the heritage of individuals, living with one another, conducting interracial relationships and truly accepting one another.
As with everything, each of the above comes with both advantages and drawbacks. Let’s discuss. On the one hand, under a preliminary examination the latter, the melting pot theory, may seem to be perfect, perhaps some may even refer to it as a utopian society. Surely, we should all be for a place where no one judges another person by the colour of their skin and their beliefs…? Should we not all be attempting to integrate with one another, after all, we have so much to learn from one another, particularly from others with backgrounds different from our own…? Just because someone is different, it doesn’t mean that person is bad/wrong/harmful…? It definitely would solve some of the big issues we have right, no more ‘politically correct,’ terminology, no more racism and looking down at others with an air of superiority, plus genetically, mixed-race offspring are better off and less susceptible to disease etc right…?
But hold on, what about culture, what about heritage, what about roots? If we’re all pro-mixing, (especially with the internationalisation of the world) won’t we all be the same after a few generations…? Won’t we lose our ancestry and all those customs and traditions that take a multitude of centuries to embed within people…? All the beautiful aspects of each country, religion and even social class, lost and never to be resurrected, simply left behind as a fading memory? I think you’ll agree, a painful thought. In order not to lose our beautiful differences, surely, we should reside within our own assigned borders (not physically! – more of a mental approach, making a conscious decision to learn your own language, visit your country every so often, participating in festivals, following religions etc.) Obviously, being separated from those similar to yourselves makes it a fair deal harder not to lose touch with your background, especially if you are brought up in a diverse environment, ultimately, with others you seek common ground.
I do think that we have much to learn from one another. Other perceptions and outlooks can broaden our minds and improve many things. But I do appreciate our differences too. I love that I went to a school where we were so diverse, that we only had one White kid in the class, and even he wasn’t British. I love that despite that, we were able to mingle and make all sorts of racial, stereotypical jokes and insult one another, and not with a malicious, bitter or vicious intent, but for the sheer humour! However, as I’ve grown up, I’ve noticed that people either consciously or subconsciously (not sure which is worse to be honest!) tend to opt for their own ‘type.’ I've realised that I can no longer make such comments without others perceiving me as disrespectful. In college, there were visually obvious delegated hanging out places, differentiating the Asians, the Blacks and the albeit few, Whites. At Uni, the international kids also tend to make a pact. Why is there this sudden need for lack of a better word, belonging, it sure wasn’t around when we were younger?!
Think about it. I sure will be. I can’t help but think there will be a follow up post to this...
On a lighter note, please do post your comments, suggestions and feedback my way. I would really appreciate it. I need to know if you fell asleep half way, want more jokes, thought it was too long/too short or if you simply adored it and can’t wait for the next one.
Night night.
-K
I reckon its about compromise. It's about remembering who you are whilst still respecting those around you. How ever with culture it's hard because most cultures have an element of disliking another culture usually ones that differ completely.
ReplyDeleteHowever religious following is rather different. Religious scriptures have a devine element to them and most if not all encourage peace. Most cultures are derived from Religious sects where people have adopted certain rituals and teachings but added their own rules to the mix.
I reckon if people understood both their own religions and the religions of those round them and practiced what is preached society can become a place of mutual understanding whilst still being a place where people follow and practice their own beliefs.
of course those who do not believe in the idea of Religion and God must also be protected and respected.
All in all of we understood each other more and learn about each other we could definitely find common boundaries and get just on.
But were all too busy to learn about each other. It's just a lot easier to make assumptions based on very little knowledge.
I don't think either of the two pictures describes what is really going on in most places. Neither is everyone giving up their culture and forming some sort of amalgamation where everyone is all the same, nor are people keeping entirely to themselves (ok, some are, but putting those aside). I mean, we all mix to some extend and we all keep our own background, and then the next generation will keep that mixed (some would messed up lol) background and take it from there.
ReplyDeleteSome stuff gets lost, some stuff will be created, that's the way things have always been. We don't have the same culture we had back in 15th century (good thing I guess) and I'd be worried if we just stopped now and perceived the status quo as the best possible world.
Unfortunately I don't really have a nice image for my idea, like some partially mixed stuff.
What I do agree on is that as people get older, they stick to their own kind more and more. Many people will have friends from various backgrounds but when it comes to dating, most will magically become "conservative". Don't ask me why though.
And on the issue of international students at uni making a pact (since I have observed the same thing from inside that very pact): They behave a lot like expat-communities generally seem to do (from my admittedly limited experience). We click with those that have similar perspectives and are in a similar situation, experiencing the place as an outsider, especially at the start (which is when the regular hang-out groups are formed). Maybe this points to a reason for why people like to stick with their own kind: it's easier to handle, you know the rules, you don't have to be as cautious as in other cases, you know what to expect. It's the comfort zone.
I <3 how you mentioned our fabulously multi cultural school class which was the best class ever and i shall never forget! =)
ReplyDeleteMore on topic topic though... Both theories are to some extent correct but wouldn't you say most people particularly within the UK lay somewhere in between the two... I certainly do...
I can't seem to make friends with my own kind, i'm either too british (if thats possible) or just too modern for them and theres the whole sense of bitchiness that i would rather not deal with. But I am more comfortable befriending those of different races... On my uni course I am one of two Asians on the course, there is no hatred towards other races everyone mingles perfectly English students as well as International students, everyone kind of feels like one as we all have the same interest so we just all i suppose have an understanding and a basic common ground which interests all of us. College was definatly 99.9% segregated, and ofcourse you know what school was like as we were in the same class for all 5 years...
However when it comes to culture and keeping in touch with your routes I am 100% Indian and would always marry one of my kind, not for the purpose of keeping my parents honour or anything (As that was more of an issue in lets say the 80/90's) but more so as a comfort zone. Just so you don't have to adapt to other ways and you are more culturally aware and don't have issues with the whole fitting in as an outsider (it's hard enough as a girl going into a new family as it is). But I suppose this is more of an issue for people with predominantly Asian origins but there are others like Gypsies(Did you watch 'My big fat gypsy wedding'). This definatly does not have to do with religion and more to do with culture and individual upbringings. As a muslim we are encouraged to marry outside our own culture as it is by far a better way of spreading knowledge, but very often religion is blamed and stereotyped when it is culture getting in the way of people moving forward and accepting everyone as one.
As a beauty pagent (that's not how it's spelt i'm sure) contestant would say 'I want world peace' well my love keep dreaming!
I think I have said enough, it probably don't even make sense, but ohwell it did in my head as I was typing...
Mademoiselle Nazneen ;) x
Firstly I wanna thank all three of you for taking the time out to respond with your thoughts. I'm very grateful! =D
ReplyDeleteAhmad- I also agree that a balance must be struck. Definitely, although do you never find it’s hard to remember your roots when you are in such a diverse surrounding?
You make a very good point that most religious groups are very accepting regardless of your origin... I particularly like your elaboration stating that everyone needs mutual respect for one another for the optimal society. However, at this moment in time that seems to be a long way away. =(
In regards to "But were all too busy to learn about each other. It's just a lot easier to make assumptions based on very little knowledge." I believe emphasis should be placed on educating people more. Trust me, in our schools we were taught RE and were simply surrounded by people of a different background constantly which has exposed us variation and I'd like to think has opened our minds. However, in other parts of the country, they don’t share the same experience. People relate others to what the media portrays (unfortunately this along with the Daily Mail is normally quite negative) leaving people naive and uneducated about other cultures.
Matthias- I also agree that these are two extremes, my aim here was to explore two theories in order to get people thinking. As with most things, like you say, we are some where in the middle and it is probably the best place to be in.
It is true that people mix and keep to themselves. Usually. But my question to you is this. When two people from different backgrounds have children, although some children may love having two backgrounds, others despise it as they feel the lack of a sense of belonging. It's like they're not quite 'x' or 'y' so they struggle. I'm not sure if you have come across the poem, "Half Caste" by John Agard I believe his name is, but we studied it in school and although it was written a number of years ago, I still feel as though it is relevant today. Children feel confused... I have a few friends who feel like they are in the middle and are almost mocked, if you will when they fully immerse themselves in either end. How can we help them Matthias? And at this rate, won't we have so many more children in this position in the near future?
I really, really like your second paragraph. It is a very good way of putting it. Very logical. I also agree people tend to stick to themselves for dating and marriages and the likes. I think Naz addresses her opinion on this in her comment.
Again, I think I appreciate where you are coming from for the international students point. Interestingly, a fair deal of my friends are also international students which I didn’t realise it till you mentioned it! Ahh, the result of AIESEC I guess!
Nazneen – Our class was one of a kind. I have a very special place in my heart for everyone in it. And it’s now a standard of love for other races that I can’t really find a match for.
Indeed. I think you have your roots firmly established and you have moulded to the country also. I think with myself I am also in the middle but leaning heavily towards the melting pot, simply because I had less of a cultural upbringing. I mean although I went to India lots and learnt to read and write Hindi I don’t think I am a very Asian-y person.
Minus you and a few others, I also struggle A LOT with making friends with other Asians… Weird, I just think others have different mentalities… It’s weird that school and college vary so much even though they were only a summer apart…
Fair enough Naz. I guess being comfortable is the main thing with another person. I guess you share things like a language (other than English, like for similar foods, celebrate the same things and in the same way etc. ) I haven’t watched that one but isn’t that the Greek one where you guys used to mock me, “OPA!”???
You made plenty of sense Naz and I appreciate your comment! =D
A very interesting blog and one which has become really very relevant for me over the last few months.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to start my response broadly and then give you a little about my own experience.
I think within the context you've posted of either a mosaic or a melting pot, the melting pot seems the better idea in theory as we're all mixing, we're all happy and we all mesh into one. As Matthias said above we all change as times goes and that's both a criticism I have for right wingers like the BNP and conservative immigrants who expect their whole culture to be brought across and practiced in their new country of residence. Culture changes and we have to adapt to the times and move forward with it. That's not to say you lose your roots, learn about where you come from, learn about what makes your culture unique but also make the effort to integrate with the people around you because love or hate it, they are there and you can't just pretend they don't exist. We live in a vast vibrant world and we should all make the effort to learn something about the other. But hopelessly grabbing onto a peice of culture that's slowly dying out only brings more tension between people who would just like to move forward. Not sure if I'm making any sense but to get to that melting pot is a 2-way street and often both people are walking opposite ways.
Which brings me back to personal experience. I've lived in a diverse part of East London all my life but I've always had a few close friends rather than lots and they all tended to be asian. Not sure why but they did and this went on right through to end of college. I don't think I even did consciously, like it's been mentioned above you're drawn towards people that you think are similar towards you whether you're talking mass immigration or even in a school or college situation. I worked in a nursery for work experience back in school and what I noticed was how kids don't look at race when they become friends with other kids. To most kids all they see is another kid and not their colour or religion, why do we lose that innocence?
Back in October when I went to Kenya, I was put in a group where everyone was white, I'd never been around so many white people despite being British and I was a little nervous about the experience and whether I'd get along. It was never a problem I found out and I've made some great friends for life through the experience. It also made me realise how British I really am and how taught me that I'm not the person I thought I was. It was funny, when I came back I was talking to a friend and we were complaining about Asians and she came out with 'Well at the end of the day we're all we've got, they'll never see you as British no matter how much you try and be like them' which really really annoyed me because I know my friends I went Kenya with never saw me as the Asian kid. They saw me as Zubair and race didn't even come into it unless we were actually discussing it.
So yeah, those are some of my thoughts and feelings, there's probably more to say and I'll put it down if it comes to mind.
Hey, so I thought I'd finally comment while you are snoring away! I am hungry and sniffly and there is a lot on here to explore and talk about so apologies in advance if it all comes out wrong! Btw it's an extra long monster-sized comment to make up for how many days I have put off writing it!
ReplyDeletePART 1:
I definitely agree, as you get older you do notice people sticking to their own racial groups. I saw this a lot in college, often the canteen reminded me of those films like Mean Girls which showed American high schools being divided into 'cliques' at lunchtime lol - well at college it wasn't uncommon to see an 'asian girl clique' and then a 'asian religious girls' clique, and then a 'religious boys clique' and then, the final 'asian' category which was: 'asian mixed group of boys and girls' which the religious groups would secretly look down on. (Well, not so secretly actually, loool sometimes they would come over and try to guide their lost Muslim brothers and sisters to the right path and give up hanging out with the opposite sex). ANYHOW then there were also the 'black cliques' etc although in my experience these tended to be more accepting of other people than the Asian groups.
It used to always baffle me - how come these people always hang out together!? Why did I, on the other hand, struggle to make Asian friends but get on so well and so easily with people from other backgrounds?
Looking back, I think it's actually pretty simple - they were just hanging out with people they're comfortable with, people they have a lot of common with- and I was doing exactly the same thing. I didn't share a racial link with the very mixed group of people that I hung around with, but I had a lot more in common with them than most of the Asians at college. I have two or three very close Asian friends (one of you wrote the blog and one of you is on the comments :p) and all of them are not your typical traditional Asian at all, which is probably why I get on with them!
Our parents would say (and my parents often DO say to me): That we have lost the traditions they brought us up with, that we are giving into the values of British society and in doing so, turning our back on our roots. I think, actually, certain 'Indian' values were never really instilled in me despite my parent's best efforts - a large part of that was probably due to the fact that I saw different alternatives that made more sense to me in my outside world such as school. My 'best' (well, only!) friend in primary school was black and we never even thought about each other’s race, we were oblivious to it. Sure I must have known that obviously her skin was darker than mine but it wasn't something I attached any particular significance to. I do remember though, being fascinated by the fact that the texture of her hair was different to mine (I used to ask my mum why this was and I used to want, more than anything in the world, my hair braided with coloured beads in it like she had because the beads looked so colourful and pretty!!) and that she was from Portugal and her family gatherings were so different to mine. I think this was where my love of learning about other cultures and my desire to travel stemmed from - Portugal was the first country I ever wanted to explore, and this list has now expanded greatly!
.... to be continued...
PART 2...
ReplyDeleteYears later, when race began to creep into our consciousness, and when I began to notice for the first time that my family were quite racist and, for example, would refuse to let me marry outside my race/religion, it was this experience which probably made me question: But why? What if I share more/have more in common with someone outside my race? I am always then, grateful that I went to a multicultural school and this strikes me particularly each time I teach at a residential summer school - I often have to ask the students whether they have any dietary requirements such as vegetarian, or 'halal' meat. Quite a few times now, a student who has come from a more remote area outside of London has asked 'what does that word - halal- mean?' - after which it always emerges that he or she lives in an area with very little or no ethnic minorities and therefore s/he has never been exposed to anyone outside their religion or race. Many students said they'd never met a 'real life Muslim' and the only ones they'd ever seen had been on TV. Well, considering that most Muslims who are on TV are on a news report which shows/accuses them of blowing shit up, this was kind of worrying! Many had also never seen a ‘real life black person before’ etc. I think for me, it's important to have a plurality of beliefs, cultures and religios practices around so people can explore all the alternatives and then perhaps choose whichever they feel most comfortable with - whether that means 'giving up' some, or all, of your original roots/traditions beliefs and embracing new ones, or affirming those beliefs/traditions even more strongly whilst respecting and accepting other people's beliefs.
ANYWAY. Enough of that. When reading your blog post, I was reminded of a conversation I had with our mutual friend when he returned from Kenya. He was telling me about female genital mutilation in Kenya. My reaction of horror is common to many Westerners who hear about this practise and we want to do everything we can do stop it from taking place. But would those who practise it not say it’s a practice deeply rooted in their tradition and culture? What about the little girls who beg their mothers to get it done because all their friends are getting it done? Are we guilty of cultural imperialism, of imposing our values and practises on them if we try to get rid of the practice?
Although all of that is perhaps not directly relevant to your blog, it made me wonder: If a large community of Kenyans/anyone else who practised FMG moved to Britain and wanted to keep this tradition, would I be so quick to accept that people can be different and that we should be open-minded about letting them keep their traditions? The answer is definitely no since I have worked with organisations who do try to eradicate the practise here. Clearly, when someone else’s tradition and culture directly contradicts are so opposed to what I conceptualise as everyone’s ‘human rights’, or to what I could perhaps call ‘British’ values [if there is any such thing],I am not so eager for it to be added to the melting pot. Am I not making them give up part of their tradition and history against their will? Is this justifiable?
Also, I think sometimes people place too high an emphasis on tradition to the point where it is accepted and practised not because of its inherent worth or benefit, but simply because people have done it for a long time. I think people need to question whether their traditions are good ones, whether they make sense, are fair, and need to be changed. After all, it is only by changing things that we move on; I would never have been allowed the vote, for example, if things were never allowed to change and develop. But then, this begs the question: who decides what should be changed, and when? Why do they have this authority to decide?
And that’s it from me. Shit, this is longer than your original blog post! Someone needs to shut me up! =/
PS: I Heart Your Blog! It's awesome and I look forward to reading next week's post =]
ReplyDeletePPS: We need to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding before I leave So'ton. OPA!