I love the way you phrased the question "how can I belong this summer?" It is a different from "what will I do this summer?" or "How will I relax/take care of myself this summer?" in that it emphasizes connection. I like that you did not limit connection with people but also included books and the season itself.
I appreciated your comments on how you do not need to choose between being American or being South Asian and how loving a country involves asking more from it. If I love a person I would also want is best for them and would not want them to harm other people.
Regarding asking guests to take off their shoes: I come from a Middle Eastern culture and we too have a culture where we take off our shoes before entering a home (or, in the case of practicing Muslims, a mosque). I missed that NYT article but I'm curious if the writer had a response to the pushback.
Thank you, Reema! I'm thinking a lot about belonging and what it means and how I can better belong.
I'm slo glad the words about our cultural and ethnic identity resonated. Asking ourselves what it means to love our home, our country is a good question, and one that requires some thought. I appreciate you engaging with that question and your thoughts.
I'm not sure how much pushback the writer got but the article and idea went viral. Some agreed, and some didn't. It definitely struck a nerve.
I love the way you phrased the question "how can I belong this summer?" It is a different from "what will I do this summer?" or "How will I relax/take care of myself this summer?" in that it emphasizes connection. I like that you did not limit connection with people but also included books and the season itself.
I appreciated your comments on how you do not need to choose between being American or being South Asian and how loving a country involves asking more from it. If I love a person I would also want is best for them and would not want them to harm other people.
Regarding asking guests to take off their shoes: I come from a Middle Eastern culture and we too have a culture where we take off our shoes before entering a home (or, in the case of practicing Muslims, a mosque). I missed that NYT article but I'm curious if the writer had a response to the pushback.
Thank you, Reema! I'm thinking a lot about belonging and what it means and how I can better belong.
I'm slo glad the words about our cultural and ethnic identity resonated. Asking ourselves what it means to love our home, our country is a good question, and one that requires some thought. I appreciate you engaging with that question and your thoughts.
I'm not sure how much pushback the writer got but the article and idea went viral. Some agreed, and some didn't. It definitely struck a nerve.