Diaspora Dialogs [.com]

I don't understand why it would be expected that people here should be more open minded than people in the Caribbean. Exposure and personal experience are more important than vastness of location when considering the emphasis that people place on such themes.

You were right in saying that people's minds here are not as open to what's happening beyond their own territorial borders. If it's true that people in the Caribbean are more "accustomed to the notion of dispersal," then it makes sense that they be more responsive to that subject. In the United States, there is a much wider diversity of cultures and ethnicities, so many of the people here may not have been raised with the same emphasis on that topic that people in the Caribbean might hold. They may not truly understand it, having never experienced something similar or having never spent much time with someone who has. This is true whether they were born in this country or they originated from a different country that was never subjected to any large diaspora or similar event.

Then again, it may just be that some people choose to forget about that aspect of the past. I am one example. The families of both of my parents were, at different times in the past, forced to move out of their homelands. Both moved to Canada, and their cultures became diluted as they spent more and more time with the locals. Within a few generations, they came to see themselves as North Americans. So, no matter what my heritage may be, I cannot hold it as something important. I was raised under a North American philosophy, and that's who I am. I am here right now, and I'll live my life as it happens. Whatever happened to my family in the past will not affect me today.

You see, this is a way of thinking that places little emphasis on the past. I can understand the theme of dispersal, but that doesn't mean that I value it or that I'll care about it as much as the people in the Caribbean might.

I often find that a similar "rootless feeling" overcomes me periodically. My travels have been greatly limited to the U.S. and Mexico, (and a cruise to Bermuda), and so I find that I cannot as readily comment on the affects of geographical location on my (or another's) thinking. However, I do believe that although a different home or location can and does change an individuals outlook - it is not the only cause of "rootless feeling."

I experience such emotions and thoughts whenever I feel different from a group around me. Like the cultures and individuals that have experienced Diaspora because of social, economic, or political upheavel, I naturally feel unawares and lost whenever I am placed in a new and different situation. Furthermore, in my predominantly white High School, I felt as if no one could share my diverse background or understand my alternative points of view on affirmative action, or equal opppurtunity employee policies. In contrast, holidays with my dad's family always made me aware of my differences with black and Native American people. On a shallower note, I have been known to feel rootless as well as insignificant when I am surrounded by blondes or by incredibly intelligent individuals. In the end, I found that Cornell was a place where I felt I had roots all along, there are still roots in other places, but it was here that I feel at "home."

In response to the question, "...how is it possible for people from a smaller place to think bigger?" I don't think it is a question of how is it possible. Individuals everywhere in every country can "think big." It is a question of how history, culture and certain events mold the big ideas of that society. In the Caribbean, it just so happens that the Black Diaspora is something that effected a majority of the population. In America, individuals with Irish descent can relate to the potato famine; individuals from Jewish families can relate to the Holocaust; individuals from the Mid-West can relate to the Great Depression and immigrant workers. Americans are capable of thinking big too, and are open to new thinking, but are more able to relate when they have experienced it on a level closer to home.

As is the case, I'm sure, with the people of the Caribbean. Events such as the potato famine, Holocaust and the Great Depression are probably not as easily discussed with them - although they may be incredibly open to it. Not to mention, that an individual may find greater affinity within people of their own race and thus it may be easier a topic to discuss between two people who don't need to be as concerned about being politically correct.

America is huge - and it holds an incredible melting pot of cultures and people. We cannot necessarily find that community in which we will be able to find the big thinking that fits us best as readily in a small island community. But it is there. I strongly believe that America has the potential for that big thinking that we all may seek to keep us from feeling rootless.

-Erin Allen

I think that the feelings you get when talking to people in the Caribbean may be due to its surroundings and the region's extremely strong connection to other countries (whether it be socially or economically). It may be argued that the U.S. depends on other countries as well, however I think that North America in general may take a lot of its foreign relations today for granted. I believe that if you had talked to people in the United States approximately fifty years ago, the feeling would have been completely different. At this point in time, I think that many people of the large, highly-developed countries have become current- and future-minded people. This concern with the 'now' as opposed to the past has certainly led to some faster paced development - yet has severely limited thoughts of the roots of which people came.

As a more personal example, two of my grandparents came to North America during their lifetime (one when she was 10, the other when he was 26 years old), and while they both assimilated into the U.S. culture, both of my grandparents still maintain connections to their homeland through relatives, customs, and news. Each of my grandparents have their own stories to tell about how they left, what happened when they arrived here, etcetera - and yet when I talk to my colleagues about their experiences, many cannot relate - as they may be third, fourth, even fifth or later generation Americans.

Thus, I think that the narrow-mindedness you sense may be just that - many people in larger countries cannot relate to, or even fathom many of the ideas of Diaspora - as people in smaller countries that were founded upon those thoughts would be able to.
-Harry B

In my opinion, North Americans are open minded when it comes to what’s happening beyond their own territorial borders, although some are more open minded than others. Several key factors that come to mind when you mention this is who you are discussing these ideas with and what topic you are discussing. Some people are going to have more knowledge and a greater interest in whats going on with the rest of the world than others. Some people may be so wrapped up in their own lives they don’t think about whats going on in the rest of the world or it just may not interest them. Also some people are not concerned with things that do not relate to them. The diaspora may relate more to people in the Carribean.

Finally I don’t think the physical size of a country has much to do with how open minded the people are about whats going on in the rest of the world. However I do believe an industrialized country should be more aware of whats going on than a third world country. In a way I see your point about how people from a smaller country can think “bigger”, but I believe there are more important key factors such as who the people are and what the issue is.

I believe that America is a place where one may experience "rootless feelings." This really shouldn't be the case, especially because of the great amount of access Americans have to technology and media. It seems as though the American culture is shifting in a new direction and moving away towards a socially conscious culture of the past.

I feel that America is transforming into a society of the future, where less emphasis is put on who we were but who we want to become and what innovations lay in store for us. It is in this way that one could have such rootless feelings about global cultural issues when in America. At the same time, however, I do believe there are the small groups of people who are doing the right thing and not forgetting who they are (i.e. remembering their cultural backgrounds and the global cultural issues that still affect them) while possessing a very forward-thinking mindset; I'm just of the opinion that there aren't as many of those people around as there should be.

This leads me to my next point. America's present state of affairs shouldn't be the case at all, because we have more than enough resources to become connected, educated people, just as those people from smaller places who seem to be more in tune with global cultural issues. I will now explain why America is in a type of cultural detachment from the world, but really shouldn’t be.

First of all let’s establish some definitions. For me, thinking “bigger” implies comprehending global events, such as the African Diaspora. Thinking “bigger” is the ability that we have to understand that we live in an extremely culturally diverse world, and to acknowledge the issues and problems that come with this reality (e.g. people in the U.S. understanding the horrible effects of the AIDS epidemic in Africa). It is not hard to accept these facts about the world we live in, but not everyone is willing to access this information. Why is this? Is it hard to get information nowadays?

The U.S., a stable and economic country, has easy access to massive amounts of information. People are flooded with information about the world everywhere they go. Many people have TVs with which they can easily see the News Channel or a computer where the Internet offers an endless supply of news information. Even when people leave their homes there still is access to newspapers, journals, magazines, and ads that all offer information about global issues. It is not hard for most people to be informed about global issues, but it’s sadly the case that some lazy people just choose to be ignorant of cultural issues. What could be more important, if not these types of issues?

I believe America is too fixated on its future business-related concerns, and thus less importance is placed on cultural issues. In other words, people in this country just get caught up in the business aspect of things and our own economic well-being (e.g. what economic choices should be made to make our country richer?). Whatever the case may be, it is evident that people in bigger places like America are finding it harder to actually think "big" because priorities are placed on different issues, and the people are thus becoming less well-rounded individuals.

I strongly believe that people have the capacity to think “bigger,” it’s just that some people, unfortunately, don't realize the resources they have for becoming educated people and are ultimately left behind and thus create an atmosphere where people can have rootless feelings.

Unlike other people, I do not find myself recalling many times where I have a "rootless feeling". I believe this is because, for the most part I have lived in a community that is predominantly Jewish and the majority of the people are like me. Although I mentioned my predominantly Jewish community I do not believe that being the only Jewish person in the room would give me a "rootless feeling". Of course, there are certain times I have felt that way, but not for the same reasons you have discussed. From my personal experience, the "rootless feeling" comes from sensing that you do not belong or that you have stepped outside of your comfort zone. As a result this "rootless feeling" has overcome me at Cornell, when for the first few days I really did not know anyone and I felt somewhat out of place, but that feeling quickly passed.

As for your question, "how is it possible for people from a smaller place to think bigger?" I don't think the people in the Caribbean necessarily "think bigger". I believe that in general people are more aware of the ideas and events that closely affect them or the people around them, which might explain why people from the Caribbean find it easier to talk about the Diaspora. Although the Diaspora may be a foreign idea to people in North America, many people from North America have a broad sense of what is occurring in the world around them. I personally find it easier to discuss my Jewish background with other Jewish people or those who seem to have a grasp on our customs, which is probably true for most people and their background. Despite my understanding of Jewish culture, I do not know much about the Diaspora. I think this explains why you feel "people from a smaller place think bigger", it is because the idea of Diaspora is more applicable to their lives than the lives of people that inhabit North America.

-Barrie Brandt

People in Caribbean are already liberated. They are not involved in any wars, terrorism, and arm races like the U.S. and U.K. I believe the leader of the world in civil rights and democracy does have to suffer some loss of freedom in order to be the peacekeeper of the world since “Freedom isn’t free”.

Regarding to the question, is it possible for people from a smaller place to think bigger? I believe it is absolutely possible. Tracing back to the Independence War, when some Americans believe that freedom is to live on their own without government influence just like those people of third world nation. Generally, people in the third world nations love democracy and they don’t care what the world thinks about them. Despite living in poverty, they are not pressured by the competing world economy and global threats. Therefore, they can expressed themself more.

However, I believe most Americans are open-minded. We have access to the world through newspapers, journals, T.V., and internet. Maybe because the U.S. promotes variety and individual rights too much, narrow-minded people are allowed in this country as much as other people are allowed.

Jonathan-Wang

Noah Van Horne

I believe that the “rootless feeling” you speak of stems from your personal perception of the people who surround you. It has been my experience that when I feel the people who surround me are more “connected” to life, I generally feel more grounded myself.
In many third world countries where the inhibitions and restrictions of society have not become so limiting, the people are more free to think simply and approach concepts from rational straightforward viewpoints. Also, the people as a whole are less bombarded by influences, (e.g. Media, school/education, etc.) which tend to shape people's psychological reference into a similar mold. In essence, in smaller/less developed communities people may be more able to think raw, fresh, and original thoughts, because their brains have not been mushed up, confused, etiolated, and confined by the many common, overused, hip, and outdated concepts to which Western World citizens are constantly exposed.

Of course, there are also countless other factors which I would agree are components of the “smaller world bigger thinking phenomenon.” It makes sense that people from similar backgrounds would be better able to understand--and therefore relate to--subject matters concerning that background. I also believe that in the “developed” countries it is easy to become absorbed with only one small paradigm in which each person lives their life. This can lead to an overlooking of the more fundamental aspects of humanity, such as what each of our lives are really worth, and what gives them their value. Or what are all of the factors which have taken place in the past to bring us to where we are today.

Although I am most probably not able to feel the same level of “rootless feeling” that you have described, I have been able to live in several different communities across the United States and therefore have been able to experience several different cultures which America has to offer. Through my experiences within America, it is my belief that it is the people that you find and associate with rather than the location that determine these thoughts. Perhaps because America is so vast a country and encompasses so many cultures it may be harder to find these people that you are at “home” with. While the Caribbean does have a variety of culture, it cannot match the blend of cultures that exists throughout North America. If you were placed in a North American community similar to that Caribbean community you might discover this "home"-like feeling again.

In response to your question about how people from a smaller place can think bigger I have to say that I believe anyone has the ability to think bigger. This thinking however is affected by the surrounding society and cultural history of the person. You see while the Caribbean may not have the same resources that many Americans have, they do have this common history of Diaspora. In discussing this common ground they are able to think about something bigger than their country. However, these thoughts are present throughout the rest of the world. Just because one lives in a big nation doesn’t mean that they are confined to thinking small or big.