Extra Credit Playing Devil's Advocate

        Sheila Jasanoff made valid points in her rebuttal against Bharati Mukherjee's ideas in "Two Ways to Belong in American." Unlike Mukherjee, Jasanoff believe that there are many ways to enjoy life in America. Instead of adhering strictly to either her native culture or American culture, she incorporates a healthy mix of both into her life. She argues that one of the greatest benefits in living in America is that this country encourages people to be unique. She also argues that an identity is made up of more than just patches of black or white like how Mukherjee may have us believe.
        However, Mukherjee does has a point. When describing someone's identity, we use adjectives that are only black of white. For example, Arnold Schwartznegger is famous for being courageous and buff; his identity is created by his courage and muscles. He cannot also be cowardly and scrawny. Likewise, a person cannot be a conformist and an exile; a person cannot love and hate America at the same time.
        Although Jasanoff criticizes Mukherjee for being close-minded, I believe that Jasanoff is naive. I agree that a gray area does exist, but only by mixing black and white. I have always believed that our true selves surface when life takes a turn for the worst. For example, only when I am in grave danger will I realize whether or not I am a coward. It is also the moment I can see which of my friends are worth calling my brothers and which are not. I cannot be a coward and be brave at the same time, much like how I cannot consider my friend to be my brother and a traitor. Likewise, Mukherjee cannot be an American and an Asian when those two ethnicities wage war against each other. Which side will she choose? Her decision will become the black or white that warps the shade of gray that is her identity.
        Jasanoff and Mukherjee have different interpretations of what an identity is. While both have general beliefs about it, they do not define it. However, I will: Our identities are not the people we pretend to be when life is going well, they are the people we will become when our lives are at stake. Many of us never get to find out who we really are.