“Two Ways to Belong in America” by Bharati Mukherjee in “Readings”. Respond to ALL the following questions individually: What is the topic being discussed in this reading? What don’t I know about thi

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Abou t t h e A rc h iv e

T his i s a d ig it ize d v ers io n o f a n a rtic le f r o m T he T im es’s p rin t a rc h iv e, b efo re t h e s ta rt o f o n li n e p u bli c a tio n i n 1 9 96 . T o p re se rv e

th ese a rtic le s a s t h ey o rig in ally a p pea re d , T he T im es d oes n ot a lt e r, e d it o r u pd ate t h em .

Occa sio n ally t h e d ig it iza tio n p ro ce ss i n tr o d u ce s t r a n sc rip tio n e rro rs o r o th er p ro b le m s; w e a re c o n tin u in g t o w ork t o i m pro ve t h ese

a rc h iv ed v ers io n s.

T his i s a tal e o f t w o s is te rs f r o m C alc u tt a , M ir a a n d B hara ti, w ho h av e l iv ed i n t h e U nit e d S ta te s f o r s o m e 3 5

y ear s, bu t w ho f in d t h em se lv es o n d if fe re n t s id es i n t h e c u rre n t d eb ate o v er t h e s ta tu s o f i m m ig ra n ts . I a m a n

Am eric an c it iz e n an d s h e i s n ot. I a m m ov ed t h at t h ou sa n ds o f l o n g-t e rm r e sid en ts a re f in ally t a k in g t h e o a th

T w o W ay s t o B el on g i n A m eric a

https://w ww.ny times.com/1996/09/22/opinion/two -ways -to -belong -in-america.html 9/1 3/2 5, 3 :2 7 P M O pin io n | T w o W ay s t o B elo ng i n A m eric a - T he N ew Y ork T im es

h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /1 996/0 9/2 2/o pin io n/tw o-w ay s-to -b elo n g-in -a m eric a.h tm l 1/5 of c it iz e n sh ip . S he i s n ot.

M ir a ar riv ed i n D etr o it i n 1 9 60 t o s tu dy c h ild p sy ch olo g y a n d p re -s c h oo l e d u ca tio n . I f o llo w ed h er a y ea r l a te r

to s tu dy c re at iv e w rit in g at t h e U niv ers it y o f I o w a. W hen w e l e ft I n dia , w e w ere a lm ost i d en tic a l i n

ap pear an ce an d at tit u de. W e d re ss e d a li k e, i n s a ris ; w e e x p re ss e d i d en tic a l v ie w s o n p oli t ic s, s o cia l i s s u es,

lo v e an d m ar riag e i n t h e s am e C alc u tt a c o n ven t-s c h ool a cc e n t. W e w ou ld e n du re o u r t w o y ea rs i n A m eric a ,

se cu re o u r d eg re es, t h en r e tu rn t o I n dia t o m arry t h e g ro om s o f o u r f a th er's c h oo sin g.

In ste ad, M ir a m ar rie d an I n dia n s tu den t i n 1 9 6 2 w ho w as g ett in g h is b u sin ess a d m in is tr a tio n d eg re e a t W ay n e

S tat e U niv ers it y . T hey s o on ac qu ir e d t h e l a b or c e rtif ic a tio n s n ece ss a ry f o r t h e g re en c a rd o f h ass le -f r e e

re sid en ce an d e m plo y m en t.

M ir a stil l l iv es i n D etr o it , w ork s i n t h e S ou th fie ld , M ic h ., s c h ool s y ste m , a n d h as b eco m e n atio n ally r e co g n iz e d

fo r h er c o n tr ibu tio n s i n t h e f ie ld s o f p re -s c h ool e d u ca tio n a n d p are n t-t e a ch er r e la tio n sh ip s. A ft e r 3 6 y ea rs a s a

l e g al i m mig ran t i n t h is c o u n tr y , s h e c li n gs p ass io n ate ly t o h er I n dia n c it iz e n sh ip a n d h op es t o g o h om e t o

I n dia w hen s h e r e tir e s.

In I o w a Cit y i n 1 9 63, I m ar rie d a f e llo w s tu den t, a n A m eric a n o f C an ad ia n p are n ta g e. B eca u se o f t h e a cc id en t

of h is N orth D ak ota bi rth , I b y p ass e d l a b or-c e rtif ic a tio n r e q u ir e m en ts a n d t h e r a ce -r e la te d ' 'q u ota '' s y ste m

th at f a v ore d t h e ap pli c an t's c o u n tr y o f o rig in o v er h is o r h er m erit . I w as p re p are d f o r ( a n d e v en w elc o m ed )

th e e m otio n al s tr ai n t h at c am e w it h m arry in g o u ts id e m y e th n ic c o m mun it y . I n 3 3 y ea rs o f m arr ia g e, w e h av e

liv ed i n e v ery p ar t o f N orth A m eric a . B y c h oosin g a h usb an d w ho w as n ot m y f a th er's s e le ctio n , I w as o p tin g

fo r f lu id it y , s e lf -in ven tio n , bl ue j e a n s a n d T -s h ir ts , a n d r e n ou n cin g 3 ,0 00 y ea rs ( a t l e a st) o f c a ste -o b se rv an t,

''p u re c u lt u re '' m ar riag e i n t h e M ukh erje e f a m ily . M y b ook s h av e o ft e n b ee n r e a d a s u n ap olo g etic ( a n d i n

s o m e qu arte rs o v ere n th usias tic ) t e x ts f o r c u lt u ra l a n d p sy ch olo g ic a l ' 'm on gre li z a tio n .' ' I t's a w ord I c e le b ra te .

9/1 3/2 5, 3 :2 7 P M O pin io n | T w o W ay s t o B elo ng i n A m eric a - T he N ew Y ork T im es

h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /1 996/0 9/2 2/o pin io n/tw o-w ay s-to -b elo n g-in -a m eric a.h tm l 2/5 Mir a an d I h av e s ta y ed s is te rly c lo se b y p h on e. I n o u r r e g u la r S un day m orn in g c o n vers a tio n s, w e a re

u n gu ar ded ly af fe ctio n at e. I a m h er o n ly b lo od r e la tiv e o n t h is c o n tin en t. W e e x p ect t o s e e e a ch o th er t h ro u gh

th e l o om in g c ris e s o f ag in g an d i l l h ea lt h w it h ou t b ein g a sk ed . L on g b efo re V ic e P re sid en t G ore 's ' 'C it iz e n sh ip

U .S .A .' ' d riv e, w e'd h ad ou r p oli t e a rg u m en ts o v er t h e e th ic s o f r e ta in in g a n o v ers e a s c it iz e n sh ip w hile

e x p ectin g t h e p erm an en t p ro te ctio n a n d e co n om ic b en efit s t h at c o m e w it h l i v in g a n d w ork in g i n A m eric a .

L ik e w ell- r ai se d s is te rs , w e n ev er s a id w hat w as r e a lly o n o u r m in ds, b u t w e p ro b ab ly p it ie d o n e a n oth er. S he,

fo r t h e l ac k o f s tr u ctu re i n m y l i f e , t h e e ra su re o f I n dia n ness , t h e a b se n ce o f a n u nvary in g d aily c o re . I , f o r t h e

n ar ro w ness o f h er p ers p ectiv e, h er u n in volv em en t w it h t h e m yth ic d ep th s o r t h e s u perfic ia l p op c u lt u re o f t h is

s o cie ty . B ut, n ow , w it h t h e s c a p eg oa tin g o f ' 'a li e n s'' ( d ocu m en te d o r i l le g al) o n t h e i n cre a se , a n d t h e t a rg etin g

of l o n g-t e rm l e g al i m mig ran ts l i k e M ir a f o r n ew s c ru tin y a n d n ew s e lf -c o n sc io u sn ess , s h e a n d I f in d o u rs e lv es

u n abl e t o m aintai n t h e s am e p oli t e d is c re tio n . W e w ere a lw ay s u n ack n ow le d ged a d vers a rie s, a n d w e a re n ow ,

m ore t h an e v er, s is te rs .

''I f e el u se d ,' ' M ir a rag ed o n t h e p h on e t h e o th er n ig h t. ' ' I f e el m an ip u la te d a n d d is c a rd ed . T his i s s u ch a n

u n fai r w ay t o t r e at a pers o n w ho w as i n vit e d t o s ta y a n d w ork h ere b eca u se o f h er t a le n t. M y e m plo y er w en t

to t h e I .N .S . an d p etit io n ed f o r t h e l a b or c e rtif ic a tio n . F or o v er 3 0 y ea rs , I 'v e i n veste d m y c re a tiv it y a n d

pro fe ss io n al s k il ls i n to t h e i m pro v em en t o f t h is c o u n tr y 's p re -s c h ool s y ste m . I 'v e o b ey ed a ll t h e r u le s, I 'v e

p ai d m y t ax es, I l o v e m y w ork , I l o v e m y s tu den ts , I l o v e t h e f r ie n ds I 'v e m ad e. H ow d are A m eric a n ow

ch an ge i t s r u le s i n m id str e am ? I f A m eric a w an ts t o m ak e n ew r u le s c u rta ili n g b en efit s o f l e g al i m mig ra n ts ,

th ey s h ou ld ap ply o n ly t o i m mig ra n ts w ho a rr iv e a ft e r t h ose r u le s a re a lr e a d y i n p la ce .' '

S ig n u p f o r t h e O pin io n T od ay n ew sle tt e r   G et e x p ert a n aly sis o f t h e

n ew s a n d a g u id e t o t h e b ig i d ea s s h ap in g t h e w orld e v ery w ee k d ay

m orn in g. G et i t s e n t t o y ou r i n box .

9/1 3/2 5, 3 :2 7 P M O pin io n | T w o W ay s t o B elo ng i n A m eric a - T he N ew Y ork T im es

h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /1 996/0 9/2 2/o pin io n/tw o-w ay s-to -b elo n g-in -a m eric a.h tm l 3/5 To m y e ar s, i t s o u n ded l i k e t h e d esc rip tio n o f a l o n g-e n du rin g, c o m fo rta b le y et l o v ele ss m arria g e, w it h ou t r is k

o r r e ck le ss n ess . H av e w e t h e r ig h t t o d em an d, a n d t o e x p ect, t h at w e b e l o v ed ? ( T hat, t o m e, i s t h e s u bte x t o f

th e ar gu m en ts b y i m mig rat io n a d voca te s.) M y s is te r i s a n e x p atr ia te , p ro fe ss io n ally g en ero u s a n d c re a tiv e,

so cial ly c o u rte o u s an d g rac io u s, a n d t h at's a s f a r a s h er A m eric a n iz a tio n c a n g o. S he i s h ere t o m ain ta in a n

id en tit y , n ot t o t r an sfo rm i t .

I as ked h er i f s h e w ou ld f o llo w t h e e x am ple o f o th ers w ho h av e d ecid ed t o b eco m e c it iz e n s b eca u se o f t h e a n ti-

i m mig rat io n bi lls i n C on gre ss . A nd h ere , s h e s u rp ris e d m e. ' 'I f A m eric a w an ts t o p la y t h e m an ip u la tiv e g am e,

I'll p la y i t t o o,' ' s h e s n ap ped . ' 'I 'll b eco m e a U .S . c it iz e n f o r n ow , t h en c h an ge b ack t o I n dia n w hen I 'm r e a d y t o

g o h om e. I f e el s o m e k in d o f i r ra tio n al a tt a ch m en t t o I n dia t h at I d on 't t o A m eric a . U ntil a ll t h is h y ste ria

ag ainst l e g al i m mig ran ts , I w as t o ta lly h ap py. H av in g m y g re en c a rd m ea n t I c o u ld v is it a n y p la ce i n t h e w orld

I w an te d t o an d t h en c o m e ba ck t o a j o b t h at's s a tis fy in g a n d t h at I d o v ery w ell.' '

I n o n e f am ily , f r o m t w o s is te rs a li k e a s p ea s i n a p od , t h ere c o u ld n ot b e a w id er d iv erg en ce o f i m mig ra n t

ex p erie n ce . Am eric a sp ok e t o m e - - I m arr ie d i t - - I e m bra ce d t h e d em otio n f r o m e x p atr ia te a ris to cra t t o

im mig ran t n obo dy, s u rre n derin g t h ose t h ou sa n ds o f y ea rs o f ' ' p u re c u lt u re ,' ' t h e s a ris , t h e d eli g h tfu lly

ac ce n te d E ngli s h . S he r e tai ned t h em a ll. W hic h o f u s i s t h e f r e a k ?

M ir a' s v oic e , I r e al iz e , i s t h e v oic e n ot j u st o f t h e i m mig ra n t S ou th A sia n c o m mun it y b u t o f a n i m mig ra n t

co m mun it y o f t h e m il li o n s w ho h av e s ta y ed r o ote d i n o n e j o b , o n e c it y , o n e h ou se , o n e a n ce str a l c u lt u re , o n e

cu is in e, f o r t h e e n tir e ty o f t h eir p ro d u ctiv e y ea rs . S he s p ea k s f o r g re a te r n um bers t h an I p oss ib ly c a n . O nly

t h e f lu en cy o f h er E ngli s h an d t h e a n ger, r a th er t h an f e a r, b orn o f c o n fid en ce f r o m h er e d u ca tio n , d if fe re n tia te

h er f r o m t h e s e am str e ss e s, t h e d om estic s, t h e t e ch n ic ia n s, t h e s h op o w ners , t h e m il li o n s o f h ard -w ork in g b u t

effe ctiv ely s ile n ce d d ocu m en te d i m mig ra n ts a s w ell a s t h eir l e ss f o rtu n ate ' ' il le g al'' b ro th ers a n d s is te rs .

9/1 3/2 5, 3 :2 7 P M O pin io n | T w o W ay s t o B elo ng i n A m eric a - T he N ew Y ork T im es

h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /1 996/0 9/2 2/o pin io n/tw o-w ay s-to -b elo n g-in -a m eric a.h tm l 4/5 Near ly 2 0 year s ag o, w hen I w as l iv in g i n m y h usb an d's a n ce str a l h om ela n d o f C an ad a, I w as a lw ay s w ell-

e m plo y ed bu t n ev er al lo w ed t o f e el p art o f t h e l o ca l Q ueb ec o r l a rg er C an ad ia n s o cie ty . T hen , t h ro u gh a G re en

P ap er t h at i n vit e d a nat io n al r e fe re n du m o n t h e u n w an te d s id e e ffe cts o f ' 'n on tr a d it io n al'' i m mig ra tio n , t h e

G ov ern m en t o ffic ial ly t u rn ed a g ain st i t s i m m ig ra n t c o m mun it ie s, p artic u la rly t h ose f r o m S ou th A sia .

I f e lt t h en t h e s am e s e n se o f b etr a y al t h at M ir a f e els n ow . I w il l n ev er f o rg et t h e p ain o f t h at s u dden t u rn in g,

an d t h e c as ual r ac is t o u tbu rs ts t h e G re en P ap er e li c it e d . T hat s e n se o f b etr a y al h ad i t s d esir e d e ffe ct a n d

dro v e m e, an d t h ou san ds l i k e m e, f r o m t h e c o u n tr y .

M ir a an d I d if fe r, h ow ev er, i n t h e w ay s i n w hic h w e h op e t o i n te ra ct w it h t h e c o u n tr y t h at w e h av e c h ose n t o

liv e i n . S he i s h ap pie r t o l iv e i n A m eric a a s e x p atr ia te I n dia n t h an a s a n i m m ig ra n t A m eric a n . I n eed t o f e el

li k e a par t o f t h e c o m mun it y I h av e a d op te d ( a s I t r ie d t o f e el i n C an ad a a s w ell) . I n eed t o p u t r o ots d ow n, t o

v ote an d m ak e t h e d if fe re n ce t h at I c a n . T he p ric e t h at t h e i m mig ra n t w il li n gly p ay s, a n d t h at t h e e x ile a v oid s,

is t h e t r au ma of s e lf -t r an sfo rm atio n .

A version o f this article appears in print on , Section 4, Page 13 of the N ational edition with the headline: Two Ways to Belong in America

9/1 3/2 5, 3 :2 7 P M O pin io n | T w o W ay s t o B elo ng i n A m eric a - T he N ew Y ork T im es

h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /1 996/0 9/2 2/o pin io n/tw o-w ay s-to -b elo n g-in -a m eric a.h tm l 5/5