Assimilation or Ostracization

Alef Esteban

Section 2

Week 8

Love, Money, Prison, Sin, Revenge

            This reading combined well with some of the other readings because of the common theme. The theme was that different backgrounds can influence people to take on ideologies that affirm their parents' beliefs or decide for themselves where they want to go in life. Andrew Lam describes how the United States might associate the Good Guys incident with all Vietnamese people, but contrasts this with his own experiences. Lam describes that the four Vietnamese who were involved in the crimes believed that they were doing the right thing and bringing honor to their family, specifically their father. With Lam's experience, he went through life the "American" way and even though he had a father who assisted him, he still had lingering sentiments about his former days in Vietnam and how his son might not have completed his "mission." Relating to assimilation, it is difficult to take on a new culture, especially one that is deemed the "loser." Knowing this, people will not have an easy time immigrating to a new country, especially where language and cultural norms are radically different from the homeland. Those who attempt to connect with the new country feel lost without any identity to associate themselves with. This ostracizes people who have a need of belonging and causes them to take on ideologies simply to fit in.

Question: Can homeland experiences be used to predict tendencies of people who immigrate to new countries?

Source: http://juniaproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/trains-railroad_00389817.jpg

While coming from the same place, people take on different paths based on circumstances, experience, and knowledge.