Um, No. We Don't Do Things That Way Here
Dec 30, 2008
The success of the integration process is hindered by the disproportionate number of non-natives involved in criminality and trouble-making, by men who refuse to shake hands with women, by burqas and separate courses for women on citizenship.
The same thing can be said of the integration process in the U.S. in some ways, but it's definitely not to the same extent as with the Dutch. Some sort of integration is inevitable here just by the nature of things. Nevertheless, there are immigrants who can very easily pass their entire lives in the U.S. and never have the need to speak English. In fact, in many parts of Los Angeles, it is more economically advantageous for Asian immigrants to learn Spanish to conduct business.
We have to be careful not to assume that people have "integrated" simply because they buy a house in the suburbs and their children are bilingual. There are subtler things that often go overlooked that are difficult to express, but they are obvious to me and many others. They are seemingly unimportant, but tend to highlight for me that they are "different" from me.
For instance, last night on the way home from the gym I saw a car accident that involved Persian Jews and Israeli Jews, who together seem to comprise the largest minority group in West L.A. I noticed as they got out of their cars that they were indulging in that sort of fake Middle Eastern gnashing of teeth, placing of hands up and down on the tops of their heads and loud lamentations and melo-dramatic "anger." It's the same sort of "anger" exhibited by many Italians. It's as if they are culturally conditioned to physically express every damn emotion they have. I grumbled to myself, "Would you please just exchange information and be on your way like a good WASP?" Like I said, a seemingly unimportant, minor difference, but one that highlights others.
And don't get me started on the lying and half truths and pushiness. I've decided in the last year or so to start calling these people on their behavior in public. Just a sort of, "Um, no. We don't do things that way here." It makes me feel better and lets at least one or two people know that their behavior is offensive.
I wonder if we have separate courses for women on citizenship. Hmmm...
H/t: Five Feet of Fury
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4 comments:
I encountered this at a company I worked for right after college. We had a few Lebanese clients that, whenever a bill for services was presented, wanted to turn the event into a open air market bargaining session. They were also of the notion that just by bullying, yelling, and lying they would be able to get their way when they wanted an appointment or to get some service for free. I learned very quickly and sternly to call them on the bullshit. Eventually they learned it wouldn't work. I was never so happy as the day they took their business elsewhere.
They were Lebanese christian, btw - so it really isn't a Muslim or Arab thing. It's a middle eastern thing.
In fact, in many parts of Los Angeles, it is more economically advantageous for Asian immigrants to learn Spanish to conduct business.
Funny you should mention that today. I was on the redline earlier and was a little surprised when the Asian-looking guy next to me started speaking fast, fluent Spanish to his (apparent) girlfriend.
It caught my attention because it wasn't what I expected.
last night on the way home from the gym I saw a car accident that involved Persian Jews and Israeli Jews
How did you know the ethnic/religious affiliations of the accident victims?
Yarmulkes, dark curly hair, Mercedes Benz, animated gestures. I live in West L.A. You can't spit without hitting a kosher market, synagogue, Sephardic Learning Center, Persian restaurant, etc.
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