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Blogs by Mary Terzian
Ethnicity at Risk 2/13/2010 12:09:05 AM
Misguided evaluations of ethnicity I have often been critiqued about my ethnicity and I have tolerated negative comments wih a forgiving smile. What do my critics know about ethnicity, especially when they have never been displaced? If they were in my shoes and living in a different county, for various reasons, would they change their nationality or concepts about life, beliefs, or habits overnight? We are a product of our environment and as long as I am socially inoffensive I do not see why I cannot peacefully pursue my interests. My loyalties do not cross roads and I believe in the principle of “give Caesar's unto Caesar, and God's unto God.”
I am Armenian, born in Egypt. Wherever I go, whatever nationality I acquire, I will always remain an Armenian at heart and nothing can change it. That does not mean that I cannot adapt and integrate into any society, and observe rules of conduct that pertain to that society, as long as they do not go against my integrity and self respect.
It appears that such compliance is not enough. Whether at work or in social circles I have often felt resistance to being accepted and pressure to forgt my past. Most unenlightened people do not realize that integration is a process. Culture is not a cloak that one can discard at a moment's notice, especially when one is proud of that culure. I happen to be in the enviable position of drawing the best from diffeent cultures, my own, the host country's, and others that I have studied or have come across. I do not see that limitations to my ethnicity could, in any way, improve my contributions to society. If I did betray the ethnicity of my ancestors, what guarantees does society have that I will not negate my adopted nationality as well?
As a legal immigrant I have paid my dues and have earned the respect of valuable colleagues and friends. It can be done, sooner or later. Yes, sometimes the impediments are many, but those are artificial barriers. I ascribe these to the ignorance of individuals who have never stepped out of their limited boundaries to relish the variety and the riches that different cultures have to offer, and, for heavens' sake, let us discount food and look up higher to the more refined arts - music, architecture, science, literature and such - of the countries we tend to underestimate. If they have lasted the erosion of civilizations, surely they harbor secrets of their longevity as a nation, don't they?
In my last position at work, before I retired, I was appalled at my boss' attitude that ran against the grain of company policy. He thought he could subjugate or control me. I found it ridiculous and laughable. I took early retirement to outmanoeuver his tactics. Yes, it was unfortunate to sacrifice my best years of productivity, but I was not ready to sell my soul to become a cheap photocopy of myself. I am who I am and I am proud of it.
