The abilities to generalize and
differentiate yield many benefits. A person who is afraid of dogs may adopt a fear
of other mammals such as cats, squirrels, or even humans if he cannot find
differences between them. Generalization can protect us from harm by making it
possible for us to the notice that the aspects of a potential danger is similar
to those of a definite danger. For example, the first time I touched the blue
fire of my kitchen's stove I became forever aware of what fire looked like and from
then on I would have been able to recognize a flame even if it appeared red,
yellow, or orange in the future; I would never make the mistake of burning my
finger again. Imagine trying to navigate the complexity of life without lumping things together that share common characteristics - we would be "flabbergasted by every new thing we encounter" (Pinker, 2002, p.203). Comparing and contrasting also make it possible for us to pinpoint what our interests and dislikes are. With this knowledge, we can get
a sense of who we are and achieve self-actualization.
In, "Two Ways to Belong in America," the author, Bharati Mukherjee, compares and contrasts her identity with that of her sister's, Mira. At first, Bharati states that they could have passed off as the same person because of their practically identical appearances, personalities, and beliefs. However, the bulk of her piece focuses on how their similarities started to blur after they each took a different approach towards living their lives in America.
Unlike Mira, Bharati welcomed American culture and donned brand named t-shirts and jeans; she even got herself a White husband. Mira was unwilling to conform; she adhered to the traditions of her homeland and married an Indian man. Their differences in their values became apparent when the United States government started to scrutinize and scapegoat immigrants such as them. Bharati acted more indifferent; she asked "Have we the right to demand, and to expect, that we be loved?" She was grateful towards the U.S. for letting her be a citizen and did not feel entitled be loved by it. However, Mira felt that she deserved better treatment from the U.S., and because of new anti-immigration policies, she felt betrayed. Despite these discriminating policies, Bharati still wanted to fit in with the country and its culture even though her sister rejected all of that.
The question that this piece raises is: Which sister is the weirdo? I would answer this question with a question of my own: Who
cares? They each have their own reasons for having their beliefs. Nobody is
sanctioned to criticize either of them for their decisions. I can honestly sympathize with both sisters. Although my parents immigrated from China and adhere strictly to their
traditions, I adopted American habits even if they contradicted with the values
of my Asian culture. There is nothing wrong with this; after all, I was born
and raised in the U.S. However, I know that if I suddenly decided to reject t-shirts and blue
jeans, I would think no less of myself because I would be respecting my parents
and my preserving my culture. To me, nobody is a weirdo. In, "Two Ways to Belong in America," the author, Bharati Mukherjee, compares and contrasts her identity with that of her sister's, Mira. At first, Bharati states that they could have passed off as the same person because of their practically identical appearances, personalities, and beliefs. However, the bulk of her piece focuses on how their similarities started to blur after they each took a different approach towards living their lives in America.
Unlike Mira, Bharati welcomed American culture and donned brand named t-shirts and jeans; she even got herself a White husband. Mira was unwilling to conform; she adhered to the traditions of her homeland and married an Indian man. Their differences in their values became apparent when the United States government started to scrutinize and scapegoat immigrants such as them. Bharati acted more indifferent; she asked "Have we the right to demand, and to expect, that we be loved?" She was grateful towards the U.S. for letting her be a citizen and did not feel entitled be loved by it. However, Mira felt that she deserved better treatment from the U.S., and because of new anti-immigration policies, she felt betrayed. Despite these discriminating policies, Bharati still wanted to fit in with the country and its culture even though her sister rejected all of that.
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