I think what you just said is the identity piece is a modern crisis. The way we see ourselves and the way we’re perceived have to be in harmony. The crisis can’t really have a “solution” but tension doesn’t leave room for much closure.

My point is that differences can’t be left open-ended in a hippy, free love way either without identity conversations becoming stale. Acceptance is not the same as assimilation and that mistake is a common one to make. I’ve never been part of a movement but I think the “no identity” argument as a powerful one that brings many people together as much as the “new identity” one.

It’s been a huge struggle for me to express who I am but all of these identities can and do co-exist. I’m honestly not sure why the evangelical Christian part of my life was part of who I thought I was, but making sure people understand why it matters to me is how I’ve been able to see change. Evangelicals still don’t get me. A lot of Christians apologize.

I think that conversation needs to be had about culture, race, identity. We should talk about these things even if being a white, straight, American means I see them mostly in terms of gender issues. Evangelicals don’t so we had quite a tiff.

Or maybe conversations do not have to happen. There’s a tension for a lot of people and the closure.

It’s been a huge struggle for me to understand how this is a shift and not the revolution some see it as, only historic in my own way. Revolution in daily life. These are legendary conversations that should happen now and online and in America. People believe in change and want the experience. It’s not a coincidence Obama’s slogan hit home for so many people, but he’s one dude.

All I have to say is, Palin needs to stop vanilla icing the gender in politics conversation. She doesn’t want to understand equality at all. Hence, the reason for this spiel. This is why gender matters in politics: understanding equality is important and dishonesty only makes it that much harder to gain respect. Bush didn’t make it easy for people to trust Obama.

A lot of Americans see it as a revolution in other places like Iran or Obama as representing the new American identity to the world. Politics gets weird unless people understand equality as more than a concept of democracy. Speaking out about the conflict in Iran and acting in support of it online is making it obvious that a lot of people don’t really understand the conflict here either. Just saying.

I’m so glad this post happened. Thanks for making me think of it globally all of you. Jillian – I wanted to clear up why I think you were right on about the Iran issue. Also, we’re all a little gay. Smooches, darling.

I just want to say how much I love that this conversation is taking place!

Khaldoun, you said “Because of this, I wanna have my own unique identity with no boundaries, separated from what identify most people in this world.” – I feel the same way, incidentally. I’ve never seen the point in identifying with common categories. My racial identity is obvious, my religious identity nonexistent, and even if I think current gender boundaries and parameters suck, identifying as “queer” is just another way of labeling oneself in a way that’s somewhat disingenuous! I try to avoid labels on the whole.

-Jillian

even though you have a different view from me, but you opened my eyes on immigrant crises in US more than before.
Thank you

Rock on with ya identity posts.

I think you’re glossing over the American struggle to articulate racial difference or bi-racial identity. Also, immigrant families with different cultures struggle with pressure to assimilate culturally to belong.

The issues brought up in your comment have more to do with conversations about global culture. This is a great way to talk about America online and do important work. America is having new conversations now, too, about identity that I’m not sure have to be global ones too but are still interesting.

To America’s credit, we do religious difference well or have in the past and build a reputation for robust pluralism (not to say it’s always a success but compared to other countries). However, issues of Islam in America have mostly been framed in religious terms like “jihadism” or political ones like “terrorism” but actually point to racial or ethnic difference too, especially since the 9/11 attacks became a story about Islam in the media.

The Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago of a movement of young people across the US for such conversations between religions, fyi.

So, if I brush over these in theory it’s only because I do want to keep it short and sweet as I can. It is difficult enough to describe one. The Desi identity and immigrant children from Southeast Asia diaspora intersect with American religious communities that tend to focus on Islamic practices from the Arabic-speaking world and not Urdu for instance. They identify racially as brown and not any specific culture but rather three: American, SE Asia Diaspora, and race. You can have people from Persian decent who’s family emigrated to Pakistan then to the US who call themselves Desi because they grew up in neighborhoods with Desis and so see it as rooted in American identity too.

These issues aren’t really being articulated in American public yet so I understand that global culture jamming online is important. Differences exist though if one does some digging and talking to people. The major issue is race, in my opinion. This society is not “post-racial” since President Obama took office. Race matters and differences make us real to others. Otherwise, they do tend to be ignored.

Racial issues are working out in the everyday lives of people and a reality for the spectrum. Race will be discussed as part of career paths, new music, and in politics. Ultimately, I think the outcome will be a deeper and more healthy understanding of race (and racism) but first some anger. People of color especially get frustrated because race is also an invented concept passed down through generations and internal, rather than only an identity. You have Muslim punks and Afropunk music for example. There’s a documentary “Afropunk” on Google videos if you want to watch.

I hope it is not just as a question of religion because ultimately, the topic people have to agree to disagree about between traditions. Honestly, I don’t like talking about Christianity. I’d rather talk about immigration or something political and eventually, religion will and should come for me as much as race does.

- Kaitlin

Jillian, I really like your post and these comments from me and alloush prove your point, two persons from the same country (Syria) has different opinions.

But in the same time I don’t find these attributes in my identity are obstacles to contact any different person as far as he doesn’t offend my believes, I’m not asking him to believe, but don’t offend what I believe, very simple.

The most important thing for me is how the other person treats me, regardless the religion or nationality, let’s not forget that Globalization nearly wiped out most of our sharp attributes [extreme values] in our Identities and we are weather we like it or not, basically living the American era.

Most Arab Families watch American movies or series that definitely can’t be accepted as a values in their communities, but by watching they are already accepted the reality of difference.

I do think that Globalization is danger, but I try to get the positive side here, weather you are Japanese or Arab or American we call all talk about what we like and hate about Windows, or about Britney Spears…etc

It’s consuming culture that we are sharing here.

Yes consuming culture is bad in some levels, but it maybe a leading point to start more serious discussion.

Just a note: There is not such a thing called culture clash, it’s people who clash, not cultures.