Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Every since I got back from India last year, I've been thinking about living somewhere else. I loved India so much I really didn't want to come back here. Even though all the things I am really into (computers, cars) are available in this country more than any other, it's like deep down I feel like I would be happier somewhere else. Even my dad is happier in India and sometimes wants to be back there. Now I see why.
Right now Nikhil is reading Bowling Alone which I really want to read, but I already know this country has lost it's communities and people do live more solitary lives than they did before. I saw that after India and it made me sad.
And then there's the recent election. This election was very frustrating for democrats because it was believed that everything was going well this time. More people were voting than ever before, and the preseident had a low rating.
But he still won and that's because most of the people in this country are very religious and very conservative. Most people in this country have values that are completely different than my own. How can I live somewhere that is governed by a set of laws that don't follow my values?
This past weekend I went to the wedding of a family friend at the Westin in San Francisco. It was a beautiful wedding on the top floor of the hotel with an incredible view and a cake in the shape of a standing Taj Mahal (3D).
The marriage was between an Indian couple, but the groom's family was Christian and the bride's was Hindu. They had two cermonies that day. At the Hindu ceremony the groom's family (Christian) refused to throw flower pedals on the couple. They didn't want to participate in the ceremony at all. Then at the reception itself they were crying when the new couple was announced.
I have never this directly seen people who are so intolerant of other cultures. THere have been several mixed marriages in my family and people have always welcomed it with open arms. But this family was trully sad that their son was not marrying a Christian.
SOmetimes my mom is also a little too religious and superstitious (I often find they are the same thing) and she will believe anything the church (temple) tells her, no matter how rediculous it is. It's very scary sometimes.
So where should I move? Where can I go that it more liberal and has stronger communities? Germany has fast cars, great design, very industrial. I think I would like it there :)
Right now Nikhil is reading Bowling Alone which I really want to read, but I already know this country has lost it's communities and people do live more solitary lives than they did before. I saw that after India and it made me sad.
And then there's the recent election. This election was very frustrating for democrats because it was believed that everything was going well this time. More people were voting than ever before, and the preseident had a low rating.
But he still won and that's because most of the people in this country are very religious and very conservative. Most people in this country have values that are completely different than my own. How can I live somewhere that is governed by a set of laws that don't follow my values?
This past weekend I went to the wedding of a family friend at the Westin in San Francisco. It was a beautiful wedding on the top floor of the hotel with an incredible view and a cake in the shape of a standing Taj Mahal (3D).
The marriage was between an Indian couple, but the groom's family was Christian and the bride's was Hindu. They had two cermonies that day. At the Hindu ceremony the groom's family (Christian) refused to throw flower pedals on the couple. They didn't want to participate in the ceremony at all. Then at the reception itself they were crying when the new couple was announced.
I have never this directly seen people who are so intolerant of other cultures. THere have been several mixed marriages in my family and people have always welcomed it with open arms. But this family was trully sad that their son was not marrying a Christian.
SOmetimes my mom is also a little too religious and superstitious (I often find they are the same thing) and she will believe anything the church (temple) tells her, no matter how rediculous it is. It's very scary sometimes.
So where should I move? Where can I go that it more liberal and has stronger communities? Germany has fast cars, great design, very industrial. I think I would like it there :)