How do you honor your heritage?
I'm an American who's ansestory in part has been here since its beginning but also in part has recently arrived as early as the 1930's. My stock comes from 6 different nationalities; I'm Scottish, English, Irish, Spanish, Swedish, German, and Nicaraguan but I don't have a connection with any of them.... other then me being an american. So, how do you honor your heritage? Do you hold on to the language? How do you hold on to it Culture? Study it's cultue? Do you know of some better ways?
Is there a need to teach children about diversity?
As a mother I don't see or feel the need in it , cause I don't feel this has been an issue at home or school, only if I feel the issue should arise would be the best solution, cause I feel my child fits in with out stereo typing or being stereo typed.Which is good.Why should there be any need with out an issue or cause,right? Because that may create an idea in their head ,right?
Do adopted children share the same heritage as their adoptive family?
I think it’s different depending on the family. There are too many factors to give this question a yes or no, it really is on a case by case basis. I think this has to do mostly with international adoption. How old was the child when they were adopted? Have they already been raised in their heritage? Does the child even have the desire to incorporate their heritage into their life? Or is it something they don’t really care about?I was adopted at birth. I was born in Eugene, Oregon and my adoptive family brought me to Portland, Oregon. I was only moved 2 hours away from where I was born. I am Caucasian and so are my adoptive parents. Most people are baffled when we tell them I’m adopted because the three of us look like a biological family. Our heritage is no different from one another; however, my ethnicity is very different from theirs (my ethnicity is also a bit of a mystery, but that’s a different story).If I had been adopted internationally, I know my parents would have allowed me to explore and practice the parts of my heritage that I was curious or passionate about. They would do everything they could to learn about them and probably incorporate them into their lives as well. Knowing my parents, they probably would have done all of that before they even brought me home. I know that doesn’t apply to everyone, but my parents are just those kind of people.
Should immigrant parents teach their children their native language?
I think that is very important. It keeps their heritage alive and it is also an advantage to be bilingual.
Should I learn my parent's language?
Learning a second language is beneficial. Bilingual people have cognitive advantages (Does bilingualism reflect high IQ?). Bill Gates recently said that one thing he regrets in life is not learning a second language.Learning your ancestors’ language can help and impress when you are talking to your relatives who come to visit, your parents’ ethnic community in US, also teaching your children about their heritage.Practicing is the best way to learn the language, and practicing with your parents might help (although talking to your parents in a different language might be awkward sometimes)Some of the celebrities, like Robert De Niro, invested their time in learning their parents’ language.
What's the best way to teach kids about the Indian heritage and culture?
The challenge is ensuring that ready-made content on TV and smartphones does not drown out the limited heritage content. Heritage and culture teaching needs to compete for mind share using some of the same techniques. Story telling is a good way. For the young children in our family, taking them on heritage walks was a big help. The trick was in kindling the interest - after that they were using the Wikipedia to teach us!
Are American school children still taught to Remember the Alamo?
My great great great great uncle William J. Lightfoot gave his life defending the Alamo. His brother Henry avenged his death at the battle of San Jacinto. My family has been part of Texas history since before it existed. The anglo citizens of Northern Mexico were betrayed by Santa Anna. And there were many tejanos who joined the cause of Texan independence. It was not about religion or race it was about a dictator throwing out the constitution and imposing tyranny on the lawful immigrants from America. When I was in school The Alamo was taught very prominently. But I live in Texas and went to school back in the 80's. We were still proud of our founders back then. I fear for the future of our country with the break down in modern education. But as for me, I still "REMEMBER THE ALAMO"
Why is heritage so important to people?
Our modern lives are a continuation of our heritage. We are only where we are now because of the thousands of years that lie behind us.Everything that we take for granted: our languages, our living habits, the design of our houses, the food that we eat and how we prepare it, our medicines, our technology, our various legal systems and forms of government - everything - is a continuation of our heritage.I find that fascinating. I find it slightly alarming that people are so disinterested and ill-informed about, say, why a house might have a 'Drawing Room' and what that means. Or a 'Living Room'. Or why we use a knife, fork and spoon, and when that happened.But I don't know anyone who takes an interest in heritage and history who does not also look forward and take an interest in the future.This is not generally an 'either/or' situation for an educated person. And I've never noticed that 'heritage seems to separate people'