But it seems "integrate" was not the keyword of the day, What I'm hearing is: Power. Is that not what colonization is all about? Or am I completely at left field here - grin. Just wanting to learn. Thank you Sylvia. --Manaia ++++ --- On Mon, 7/14/08, Sylvia Murphy <sylcec@ihug.com.au> wrote: > > Arvind is absolutely correct in his observations. > However, > > we can see much of the same taking place with some of > the > > Asian community in the West. A refusal to integrate > into > > their new communities, retaining the dress and customs > of > > their home countries. > > As I was standing in the shower was pondering this further > (better than > singing in the shower) and realised that the refusal to > change and adopt the > customs, habits and dress of the new land arises from the > desire to retain > both ones own and the group identity. The national peer > group ensured that > change did not happen, by ridiculing those who "went > native". As the > conquering or dominant power an immigrant group can get > away with it, but as > Charles points out when the immigrant is not part of the > ruling group this > refusal to change is seen through different eyes - as a > refusal to > integrate. > Sylvia