Culture or Citizenship?

[kinnell]

Most of us here are Indian. If not, (ie: Pakistani), assume I am taking about Pakistan. We love our culture and our heritage or we wouldn't spend so much time on Bhangra Teams Forum. We kinda feel a duty to preserve our culture and pass it down to our kids (and thus why I feel its important for me to continue to speak in Hindi/Gujarati so I can pass it down to them).

Yet, we do not live in India. We are US Citizens (or Canadian Citizens). Our futures are here. Our future jobs are here. Most of us, if not all, plan on living here for the rest of our lives.

Now, let's say a war breaks out between India and the US for whatever reasons. Which side would you support, if any? Your current and future or your heritage and past? Your career or your culture?

 

[Jeeti]

Interesting question..impossible to answer...that situation actually occurring is rare....I wouldn't support either...my loyalty is split evenly...it would have to depend on circumstances of the conflict...hahah I'd be surprised if anyone born here can take a stance for one or the other...obviously those not born here are here for a reason and would make the situation just as difficult to decide.

 

[COMTONDAJATT]

I was born here, raised here and lived here all my life so the choice for me is easy. These colors dont run!!!!!1111

 

[faizan]

Pakistan

 

[rajkaran]

Hmmm this is a pretty tricky one! God forbid anything like this would happen, but if it did I'm pretty sure that my loyalty would not be split. I'd probably have to choose a side...and that side would depend on circumstances/situation. I have a feeling that I'd probably side with my culture rather than my citizenship. However, I'm not too sure why I would do so...most likely because I identify myself more as an Indian person with American influences rather than an American person with Indian influences (even though I was born/raised here)...but that's just me...

 

[Tuckerrrr]

born american, raised american. i'm a sikh american. will die for the usa over india 10/10 times. nothin against india, just proud and grateful to be american.

 

[- Raja -]

id tell the canadian army im on their side..take that FREE flight to india..then straight dip to JALANDHAR (L) ..cant sell your roots out!!

 

[Chidiya]

I was born in India but I grew up here and my future is here BUT I can't seem to come to grips of going against India. It feels wrong.

 

[kinnell]

Hmmm this is a pretty tricky one! God forbid anything like this would happen, but if it did I'm pretty sure that my loyalty would not be split. I'd probably have to choose a side...and that side would depend on circumstances/situation. I have a feeling that I'd probably side with my culture rather than my citizenship. However, I'm not too sure why I would do so...most likely because I identify myself more as an Indian person with American influences rather than an American person with Indian influences (even though I was born/raised here)...but that's just me...

Hmmm. I agree to a degree. Is association reason enough to support?

I can identify myself with my Indian culture 1000% more than I can with any American stuff. I grew up listening to Bollywood when others would listen to Backstreet Boys. Bhangra instead of Rap. I know the names of the 20 different styles of garba, but until 3 years ago I didn't know Kanye West was black. I don't associate with being American at all. (Yeah, I don't know the American anthem either)

Yet, I love living in the US and I hate living in India. I know my future is in the US. So I would probably choose the US.

 

[Kamran786]

In America I can do a lot of things that I couldn't do in Pakistan or Bangladesh otherwise.
I think most of us here are blessed enough to have minds of our own. Therefore if war broke out between U.S. and the country we originate from I would stand for the country that is in the right, though that may be subjective.

For instance I was for the war in Afghanistan, but not for the war in Iraq.

The older I get the more American I realize I am. Thus I feel like that being American slightly outweighs my culture. I still try to preserve my culture. But on top of all that I am Muslim first.

 

[Laddi]

I was born and raised in the States too, but if something like were to happen, I would straight up side with India! I dont know if its entirely because its our motherland or our culture, or it might even be the fact that they will be the underdogs...but 100% loyalty towards India. If it was against any other country, Im with the US of A....even when I dont support the reasons behind the war, i.e.-Iraq!

P.S- Raja, sounds like a plan! lol 

 

[rajkaran]

Hmmm this is a pretty tricky one! God forbid anything like this would happen, but if it did I'm pretty sure that my loyalty would not be split. I'd probably have to choose a side...and that side would depend on circumstances/situation. I have a feeling that I'd probably side with my culture rather than my citizenship. However, I'm not too sure why I would do so...most likely because I identify myself more as an Indian person with American influences rather than an American person with Indian influences (even though I was born/raised here)...but that's just me...

Hmmm. I agree to a degree. Is association reason enough to support?

I can identify myself with my Indian culture 1000% more than I can with any American stuff. I grew up listening to Bollywood when others would listen to Backstreet Boys. Bhangra instead of Rap. I know the names of the 20 different styles of garba, but until 3 years ago I didn't know Kanye West was black. I don't associate with being American at all. (Yeah, I don't know the American anthem either)

Yet, I love living in the US and I hate living in India. I know my future is in the US. So I would probably choose the US.

hahahahaha i had almost the same childhood! Always knew about Malkit Singh, never Tupac....chose paneer over McD's...Bollywood over Hollywood...

and yeah, it takes me a little more time to remember the american anthem rather than Jana Gana Mana...but i also had to learn the Guam anthem (in English and in the native language here...)

sorry for the sidetrack...

 

[pluthra]

good question kinnell......so if a fight really did break out (even though it probably wudn't) but assuming it did.....one it wouldn't be even safe to live in the US probably....people, no matter what you think, are going to identify you as indian first then american......and if that stereotype exists how can one plan on living safely in the US??? They'd expect you to give up every aspect of the Indian/Pakistani you are, and how many people could just give that up? But at the same time, moving to India would be soo hardddd because there you'd probably be identified as American because as soon as you step on the ground of that country people knowww your from America like its written on your forehead...so there might be hatred there too

hmmm, so then i guess wat u cud do is make a list of pros and cons, which really won't help, and do w/e u wanna do.....is moving to another country an option???

 

[pritpal94]

That's a really interesting question Kinnell, Well I was born and raised in the UK and if UK were to start a war with India I definitely go on India's side, because I love India... England is so small and like tight if you know what I mean, it's like your locked. In India you feel free.
This may not be the greatest of answers but in the end, India (Cultural)
Pritpal ;D

 

[Navi Sandhu]

India.

 

[Navi Sandhu]

If a war were to break out between America and any South Asian country, what do you think "Americans" would do to Indians/Pakistanis/Bengalis in America?

 

[pritpal94]

If a war were to break out between America and any South Asian country, what do you think "Americans" would do to Indians/Pakistanis/Bengalis in America?

Racism, Rape, Discrimination... You know what would happen

 

[Varun00]

I was born in India but I grew up here and my future is here BUT I can't seem to come to grips of going against India. It feels wrong.

Same. I was born and raised here, but my whole life has been, and still is, wrapped around Indian culture. It wouldn't feel right at all going against the country from where my roots originated and which also gave me my life (according to Pritpal's skittles/starburst/bhangra is the shit/i love clay aiken banner (just messing bud)). So India it is.

 

[Saab]

I hope I am dead long before this theoretical situation ever arises. I probably would never be able to decide which way I lean.

 

[Meistro]

I would pick neither side. Wars are meant to be fought by puppets who are controlled by politicians. For people who become bamboozled into believing what these dirty, spineless politicians believe since they don't have a mind of their own.