Warning! Rant Ahead. Do not read if you are sensitive to immigration issues or a bleeding heart liberal. Ive got an itchy trigger finger today and am likely to hit the block button without discussing it. I have been to many other countries, all for extended periods of time. Each time, I observed the customs and culture of the local residents, and attempted as best I could to emulate their actions, habits, customs, and culture. I saw it as my duty to fit into their culture, not force mine upon them. Multiculturalism in this country has morphed from an acceptance that other cultures exist and should be allowed to be practiced within our native culture, so long as it did not force us to change ours, to the current insistence that all cultures have equal value and must be allowed to be practiced at any cost, even when it forces us to subordinate our customs so that they can practice theirs. I have mentioned this before, but such a change is never overnight; it happens in small increments, and today is the perfect example of how this happens if we do not stop it. And when we take action to stop it, we risk looking xenophobic, biased, and narrow minded. For too long, we have failed to act, fearing that we would be seen as unwelcoming, rude, and hateful. I have previously shown video of an older Chinese man who walks along the trail on my way to work. In the past, I have politely announced that I am approaching from behind and wish to pass to his left. He has remained on the left side of the path, despite the fact that it is our custom here to travel on the right side of the lane, and pass on the left. This is not just a custom, it is for safety, to ensure everyone is following the same pattern to avoid conflict and collisions. In the past, I have simply pointed out that he needs to be on the right side, and went ahead and slowly passed on his right when he remained on the left. Most days, he would be coming in the opposite direction, having already reached his turnaround point. Today, I came up slowly behind him and announced, Im behind you, passing on your left. He maintained his position on the left side of the path. I slowed to his pace and followed a few feet behind. He turned his head slightly so that he could see me in his peripheral vision, and kept his same position. I then said, We stay to the right, and pass on the left. He moved even more to the left. I decided that today would be the day to force the issue, having had enough of his failure to adhere to our customs and safety rules. This is not China. We stay to the right and pass on the left. He pointed to the right and said, You go there. No, this is America, and we stay on the right side, and pass on the left. I continued to pedal slowly at his pace, a few feet behind him. He moved to the right. I passed on his left. Enough.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:56:50 +0000
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