(Words of awareness. I did not intend for this post to be in ALL CAPS. I copied and pasted the text from a document. I am not shouting at you, please don't be alarmed.)
TICK. TICK. TICK. TICK.
TICK. TICK. TICK. TICK.
THIS IS THE MECHANICAL RELOCATION OF THE SECOND HAND THAT I HEAR FROM MY TWO FAVORITE SPOTS THAT PHYSICALLY AND CULTURALLY A HALF A WORLD AWAY. IN MINNESOTA, THE CLOCK IS HEARD FROM MY OAK KITCHEN TABLE WHERE (IF I WERE THERE NOW,) I WOULD BE EATING A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE AND OVERLOOKING THE ANXIOUSLY RIPENING FALL LEAVES. IN INDIA, THE CLOCK IS HEARD (CONGRUENT WITH THE RUMBLE OF AUTO, TAXI, AND HUMAN TRAFFIC) FROM THE LEATHER LIVING ROOM CHAIR WHERE I SNACK ON BISCUITS AND AFTERNOON MILK TEA.
MANY DIFFERENCES CAN BE IDENTIFIED BETWEEN THE TWO CULTURES THAT I NOW CALL HOME. MY AMERICAN FOUNDATIONS OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED WHILE IN INDIA. IN THE U.S., THERE IS A GRAND PUSH TOWARDS TOLERANCE (OR BETTER STATED, ACCEPTANCE,) WHERE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY GIVEN THEIR CURRENT ABILITIES AND PROSPECTIVE AMBITIONS AND INTERESTS. IN INDIA, DIFFERENCES ARE SOCIALLY AND LAWFULLY STATED. CASTE, CLASS, AND GENDER MAY SUPPORT OR STIFLE THE TYPE OF SCHOOLING, FAMILY, OCCUPATIONS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE. SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGALIZED IN THE U.S., BUT ONE MAY BE LAWFULLY PUNISHED IN INDIA IF FOUND TO BE LGBT. RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MANY OF MY TRAINS OF THOUGHT. IN THE U.S., CHRISTIANITY (83%, FOLLOWED BY NON-RELIGIOUS AT 13%,) IS THE MAJOR BELIEF SYSTEM (OF WHICH I ALSO FOLLOW). IN INDIA, MOST (80%, FOLLOWED BY 14% MUSLIM) OF THE PEOPLE PRACTICE HINDUISM.
THESE DIFFERENCES (ETHNICITY, GENDER, RELIGIOUS) CAN HAVE A MINIMAL U.S. IMPACT AND A MAXIMAL INDIAN IMPACT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL EMBARKING IN LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS. I OBSERVE A GREATER SOCIAL STRUGGLE FROM THE MINORITY GROUPS IN INDIA THAN IN THE MINORITY GROUPS IN THE U.S. BECAUSE THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS LESS CONTRACT-STYLED AND SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A SUGGESTION – MEANING THAT MINORITY GROUPS IN INDIA WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ENFORCING LAWS IN THEIR FAVOR. IN CONTRAST TO THE U.S., INDIA DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. EACH RELIGIOUS GROUP HAS A SET OF LAWS DEVELOPED BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS LAWS. FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL IN INDIA FOR A MUSLIM MAN TO HAVE SEVERAL WIVES AND A HINDU MAN WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED ONE WIFE. IN INDIA, RESERVATIONS (OR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION) ALLOW A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF VARIOUS ETHNICITIES, GENDERS, AND RELIGIOUS TO BE IN POLITICAL POWER AND TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. IN COMPARISON, SUCH QUOTAS HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED IN THE U.S..
NOTE: (NO PROMISES! BUT) I WILL LIKELY WRITE A FOLLOW UP POST SPECIFIC TO ECON, RELIGION, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS. I DIDN’T WANT TO BE TOO EXTENSIVE IN THIS POST.
APART FROM THE NUMEROUS DIFFERENCES, SIMILARITIES EXIST BETWEEN THE U.S. AND INDIA. PRIMARILY, THE PUSH TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL IS SIMILAR. THE U.S. AND INDIA PLACE IMPORTANCE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND THERE IS A PUSH FOR INDIA TO INCREASE INNOVATION (AS MODELED BY THE U.S.). IN CONTRAST TO INDIA’S HISTORY, INDIA TODAY (BASED ON THE BJP POLITICAL PARTY) AND THE U.S. HAVE CAPITALISTIC- AND ECONOMIC-DRIVEN MINDSETS. FINALLY, SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE SIMILAR (AT LEAST IN BANGALORE) – PEOPLE ENJOY SHOPPING AND GOING OUT TO EAT, MOST PEOPLE OWN CELL PHONES, AND GENERAL NEEDS (FAMILY/COMMUNITY, TRANSPORTATION, VOCATION) EXIST IN VARIOUS FORMS. SIMILAR TO THE U.S. (WITH A BIT MORE PRODDING), MY INDIAN PARENTS ASK ME, “HOW ARE YOU?,” “WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?” WITH THE EXCEPTION OF “WANT ANOTHER 3 SERVINGS OF THAT?” (SO MUCH FOOD!).
I REALIZE THAT THIS POST DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ILLUSTRATE ALL OF THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN INDIA AND THE U.S. THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, AS WELL AS THE NUANCES THAT I HAVE NOT YET GRASPED. IN SUMMARY, MANY DEEPLY CONNECTED AND ROOTED DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS THAT I UNDERSTAND AS HOME. BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS TRAVELS HERE (SUMMER OF 2013), I QUICKLY PASSED THE ‘CULTURE SHOCK’ AND HAVE MORE GREATLY APPRECIATED THESE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES. ABOVE ALL, I AM MORE FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN AND THAT THE INDIVIDUALS CREATE A BEAUTIFUL HUMANITY. WHILE IN INDIA, I PLAYED WITH A TIBETAN GIRL AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE MONASTERY, STRUGGLED THROUGH A BASIC KANNADA (LOCAL LANGUAGE) CONVERSATION WITH RAMAMURTHY – A TAXI DRIVER WHO IS FLUENT IN 4 LANGUAGES AND LEARNING ENGLISH, AND JOKED WITH A GROUP OF RUSSIANS WHO ARE OPENING A BAR/RESTAURANT IN BANGALORE WHILE WAITING 5 HOURS FOR VISA AUTHENTICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THESE CULTURAL TO CULTURAL INSIGHTS AND HUMAN TO HUMAN INTERACTIONS ARE SO VITAL FOR WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENCES/NUANCES AND UNDERSTANDING/APPRECIATING/LOVING EACH INDIVIDUAL FOR WHO THEY ARE.
FUN FACTS:
TICK. TICK. TICK. TICK.
TICK. TICK. TICK. TICK.
THIS IS THE MECHANICAL RELOCATION OF THE SECOND HAND THAT I HEAR FROM MY TWO FAVORITE SPOTS THAT PHYSICALLY AND CULTURALLY A HALF A WORLD AWAY. IN MINNESOTA, THE CLOCK IS HEARD FROM MY OAK KITCHEN TABLE WHERE (IF I WERE THERE NOW,) I WOULD BE EATING A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE AND OVERLOOKING THE ANXIOUSLY RIPENING FALL LEAVES. IN INDIA, THE CLOCK IS HEARD (CONGRUENT WITH THE RUMBLE OF AUTO, TAXI, AND HUMAN TRAFFIC) FROM THE LEATHER LIVING ROOM CHAIR WHERE I SNACK ON BISCUITS AND AFTERNOON MILK TEA.
MANY DIFFERENCES CAN BE IDENTIFIED BETWEEN THE TWO CULTURES THAT I NOW CALL HOME. MY AMERICAN FOUNDATIONS OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED WHILE IN INDIA. IN THE U.S., THERE IS A GRAND PUSH TOWARDS TOLERANCE (OR BETTER STATED, ACCEPTANCE,) WHERE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY GIVEN THEIR CURRENT ABILITIES AND PROSPECTIVE AMBITIONS AND INTERESTS. IN INDIA, DIFFERENCES ARE SOCIALLY AND LAWFULLY STATED. CASTE, CLASS, AND GENDER MAY SUPPORT OR STIFLE THE TYPE OF SCHOOLING, FAMILY, OCCUPATIONS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE. SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGALIZED IN THE U.S., BUT ONE MAY BE LAWFULLY PUNISHED IN INDIA IF FOUND TO BE LGBT. RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MANY OF MY TRAINS OF THOUGHT. IN THE U.S., CHRISTIANITY (83%, FOLLOWED BY NON-RELIGIOUS AT 13%,) IS THE MAJOR BELIEF SYSTEM (OF WHICH I ALSO FOLLOW). IN INDIA, MOST (80%, FOLLOWED BY 14% MUSLIM) OF THE PEOPLE PRACTICE HINDUISM.
THESE DIFFERENCES (ETHNICITY, GENDER, RELIGIOUS) CAN HAVE A MINIMAL U.S. IMPACT AND A MAXIMAL INDIAN IMPACT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL EMBARKING IN LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS. I OBSERVE A GREATER SOCIAL STRUGGLE FROM THE MINORITY GROUPS IN INDIA THAN IN THE MINORITY GROUPS IN THE U.S. BECAUSE THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS LESS CONTRACT-STYLED AND SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A SUGGESTION – MEANING THAT MINORITY GROUPS IN INDIA WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ENFORCING LAWS IN THEIR FAVOR. IN CONTRAST TO THE U.S., INDIA DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. EACH RELIGIOUS GROUP HAS A SET OF LAWS DEVELOPED BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS LAWS. FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL IN INDIA FOR A MUSLIM MAN TO HAVE SEVERAL WIVES AND A HINDU MAN WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED ONE WIFE. IN INDIA, RESERVATIONS (OR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION) ALLOW A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF VARIOUS ETHNICITIES, GENDERS, AND RELIGIOUS TO BE IN POLITICAL POWER AND TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. IN COMPARISON, SUCH QUOTAS HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED IN THE U.S..
NOTE: (NO PROMISES! BUT) I WILL LIKELY WRITE A FOLLOW UP POST SPECIFIC TO ECON, RELIGION, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS. I DIDN’T WANT TO BE TOO EXTENSIVE IN THIS POST.
APART FROM THE NUMEROUS DIFFERENCES, SIMILARITIES EXIST BETWEEN THE U.S. AND INDIA. PRIMARILY, THE PUSH TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL IS SIMILAR. THE U.S. AND INDIA PLACE IMPORTANCE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND THERE IS A PUSH FOR INDIA TO INCREASE INNOVATION (AS MODELED BY THE U.S.). IN CONTRAST TO INDIA’S HISTORY, INDIA TODAY (BASED ON THE BJP POLITICAL PARTY) AND THE U.S. HAVE CAPITALISTIC- AND ECONOMIC-DRIVEN MINDSETS. FINALLY, SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE SIMILAR (AT LEAST IN BANGALORE) – PEOPLE ENJOY SHOPPING AND GOING OUT TO EAT, MOST PEOPLE OWN CELL PHONES, AND GENERAL NEEDS (FAMILY/COMMUNITY, TRANSPORTATION, VOCATION) EXIST IN VARIOUS FORMS. SIMILAR TO THE U.S. (WITH A BIT MORE PRODDING), MY INDIAN PARENTS ASK ME, “HOW ARE YOU?,” “WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?” WITH THE EXCEPTION OF “WANT ANOTHER 3 SERVINGS OF THAT?” (SO MUCH FOOD!).
I REALIZE THAT THIS POST DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ILLUSTRATE ALL OF THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN INDIA AND THE U.S. THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, AS WELL AS THE NUANCES THAT I HAVE NOT YET GRASPED. IN SUMMARY, MANY DEEPLY CONNECTED AND ROOTED DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS THAT I UNDERSTAND AS HOME. BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS TRAVELS HERE (SUMMER OF 2013), I QUICKLY PASSED THE ‘CULTURE SHOCK’ AND HAVE MORE GREATLY APPRECIATED THESE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES. ABOVE ALL, I AM MORE FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN AND THAT THE INDIVIDUALS CREATE A BEAUTIFUL HUMANITY. WHILE IN INDIA, I PLAYED WITH A TIBETAN GIRL AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE MONASTERY, STRUGGLED THROUGH A BASIC KANNADA (LOCAL LANGUAGE) CONVERSATION WITH RAMAMURTHY – A TAXI DRIVER WHO IS FLUENT IN 4 LANGUAGES AND LEARNING ENGLISH, AND JOKED WITH A GROUP OF RUSSIANS WHO ARE OPENING A BAR/RESTAURANT IN BANGALORE WHILE WAITING 5 HOURS FOR VISA AUTHENTICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THESE CULTURAL TO CULTURAL INSIGHTS AND HUMAN TO HUMAN INTERACTIONS ARE SO VITAL FOR WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENCES/NUANCES AND UNDERSTANDING/APPRECIATING/LOVING EACH INDIVIDUAL FOR WHO THEY ARE.
FUN FACTS:
- "LOVE BINDS, AND IT BINDS FOREVER. GOOD BINDS WHILE EVIL UNRAVELS. SEPARATION IS ANOTHER WORD FOR EVIL; IT IS ALSO ANOTHER WORD FOR DECEIT." - MICHEL HOUELLEBECQ (FRENCH NOVELIST, FILMMAKER, AND POET)
- BIGGEST CONTRAST THAT I’VE SEEN: A BOTTLE OF WATER COSTS $12 USD IN NORWAY, AND $0.30 USD IN INDIA.
- ON MONDAY (Sept 28), TREVOR NOAH IS TAKING OVER JON STEWART’S SPOT ON THE DAILY SHOW at Comedy Central. JON WILL BE MISSED, BUT TREVOR IS A FANTASTIC COMEDIAN (I WAS LUCKY TO SEE HIM PERFORM IN CHICAGO WITH ELLIE AND KAILEY – WHO ARE ALSO TWO FANTASTIC HUMANS :) )