When my niece turned 15, she was planning to have a "Sweet 16" party. She was calling it a "Sweet 15" party though, and wanted all her American relatives to attend, of course.
My niece is of American and Costa Rican descent. My older (late) brother married a woman from Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica, they don't celebrate a "Sweet 16", they celebrate "Quinceanera":
"The Quinceañera or Quince años is, in parts of Europe and the Americas, a girl's celebration of her fifteenth birthday, which is commemorated in a unique and different way from her other birthdays. It is sometimes represented "15 years." The celebration highlights God, family, friends, music, food, and dance. The celebration traditionally begins with a religious ceremony. A reception is held in the home or a banquet hall. The festivities include food and music, and in most, a choreographed waltz (Vals) or dance performed by the Quinceanera and her court."
There is a similarity of course between a Sweet 16 party, and a Quinceanera. But I was confused by it. I told her, "you're an American girl, born in American, yes, you have a Spanish heritage, but why would you want to celebrate a Spanish birthday when you are American."
I further told her, "we all have various ethnic heritages, but we are still Americans. While I appreciate cultural diversity, still, we are Americans."
Of course she was upset, my mother was upset. Apparently the most important thing was to "preserve" this poor girls Spanish ethnic heritage.
American has become a melting pot, that's for sure. We've mixed it all up so much we can't tell what's what anymore. The same girl who insists she has to have a "Sweet 15" instead of a "Sweet 16" will also be wearing American style clothes to school, have to have the latest Vera Bradley bag, is mad at her step-father because he won't allow her to spend the night at friends houses (apparently parents are strict about these things in Spanish cultures), and wants to act and behave like an American when and where it appeals to her, yet, I am supposed to understand how important it is to have a special grand party at the age of 15, instead of 16.
(of course I don't really understand special grand parties at 16 either, but that's not the point, and she isn't a devotee, so, okay)
The problem with mixing cultural heritages comes up for me in Krishna consciousness too. I see everything getting mixed with everything else.
One devotee wants to have a Christmas tree, but wants to decorate it with ornaments that are pictures of Krishna and His various incarnations. Someone else thinks it's a great idea to decorate the temple with Christmas tree lights. Or, have a Christmas tree IN the temple room!
Other devotees are working hard to bring more Indian culture into the United States, feeling that it's going to interest more people in Krishna consciousness. So, perhaps we will have a Grand Shopping Mall next, and it will be called "Shop of India World".
Wow.... where does it end?
When you mix cultures up too much, it destroys the genuine purity of the culture itself. Who can tell anymore what things here in America come from what culture? The "great melting pot" has melted it all into one big puddle.
It's like a picture, a painting. I start out with nice colors, a few, and then I keep adding more and more, then I decide it would appeal to More People if I sprinkle some glitter on it, then maybe I think about the people who like lights, so I string some lights around it. Oh, I forgot those who like natural things! Better paste a few leaves somewhere on it, and a few dried flowers. Wait! What about the young people who like neon things? So, I add some neon colors to it.
What have I got in the end?
A mess, a mass of confusion that has lost it's integrity and it's original value.
This is what's happening now, everyone wants to make sure "everyone and everything" is included. Building that "house the whole world can live it"......
The house is so full of so many different things, you can't even see the house anymore, it's walls have expanded to include so much of everything. A little of this, a little of that, you name it, if someone else likes it or it appeals to them, we'll find a way to "fit it in" to Krishna consciousness.
That goes for Indian/Hindu things, as well as New Age things, American things, Vedic things, whatever. The biggest things that are getting in the way are:
Indian/Hindu Things ~ Krishna is NOT a Hindu God! We are not trying to become Hindu, or Indian. Indian things are not sacred or spiritual in and of themselves, just because they originated in India.
New Age Things ~ New Age things have their place and value, but they will not make you Krishna conscious.
Religious Things ~ Thinking that we have effectively established Varnashram Dharma, and therefore teaching people that they should act in "religious ways" is a disservice. If you tell someone to worship and obey their parents, but their parents, while they may be "nice people" (from whatever country) don't understand the purpose of life, (becoming Krishna conscious) then you are in fact telling that young person to waste their life.
Mixed Messages are Dangerous.
When you "mix" in too much "culture" with Krishna consciousness, people can't tell the difference.
Not only that, it really loses it's attraction.
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