I hope this won’t offend anyone, so I apologize in advance. I know just the words half-breed might be offensive but read on…
My dad is pukhtoon or pathan as most of you like to call it, my mom is Burmese, she is Muslim (and so are her parents and siblings) and can speak Urdu, Pashto, and Hindko. She grew up in the Pakistani culture, doesn’t know how to speak Chinese or Thai or practice any of the culture, aside from her obvious physical features you can hardly tell she’s anything but Pakistani, anyway for some odd reason because my mom is Burmese merely by race and than my siblings and I are half breed we have always been treated differently by our dad’s family. By different I mean not necessarily bad but with caution as if we will never quiet understand the concept of being Pakistani, even though in some ways our lifestyle is more traditional than some the family that just came abroad from Pakistan. Obviously my dad himself has never had a problem that he married outside his race.
Has anyone else faced the same issue, or perhaps want to share your views on why people are a bit hesitant when it comes to half-breeds. In this time and age I’m sure a majority of you have one or more in your family? Is your relationship with them different than with the other relatives?
My uncle is married to a lady from Brunei and she is being treated the same. We treat her and talk to her in Arabic like my other aunts. But I have seen this type of behavior among soo many other people to. Its really sad. Best of luck
You come from two amazing people, from two amazing civilisations with a wealth of history and customs and culture.
Your mother having been brought up in Paks and living with its culture and by its social mores etc is a Pakistani , .... She would never fit in with the Burmese culture now, she would find it strange. Just like Im a brit and have very little in connection with Paks.
I also reckon there is a little racism involved as to the way she/you is/are treated by your relatives. perhaps they dont even realise they are doing it! they have just assumed you guys are "different"
As for the not understanding the concept of being Pakistani............
I read a little of your journal, and it appears that you dont live in Pakistan...........I guess that if your parents arrived in whatever country your in, in the 60's/70's/80's they brought their traditions with them...and brought up their kids in a 1970's/80's timewarp or bubble
...and because there culture has evolved in Paks (they have reached the 21st century there!) and it may look like you are all backward to them.
I think more often than not its a case of misconceptions, people are almost always afraid of what they dont know and do not consider "normal", its unfortunate but true.
My husbands were both Pathan and I am Irish, so naturally my kids are half-breeds (that is such an offensive word, but I understand why you used it here :) ). I really don't think that is a "half-breed" thing but a cultural thing with Pathan. I have seen them act the same way with other Pathan not in their tribe or not from their area. My husbands family has been very welcoming and warm, so I don't see this a lot, only from the older member's of the clan when they visit.
I don't know what to tell you other than that, just what I tell my kids when they encounter racism for any reason. In the end your life is decided by you, these people (even though they are family) are not the people who will determine what kind of person you are. No matter what their opinion or views of you, you are here because someone wanted you enough and loved you enough to bring you here. That is all that matters.
If anyone knows how offensive that term its me, sorry guys!
Maj: That’s neat, I’m really glad your family treats everyone equally, good on ya.
Lazy daisy: It’s not that they think we are backwards, they always think we are never Pakistani enough.
Atlanta: Your lucky! By the way that’s a nice combo.
Miss_Mohabbat: yeah you would be surprised that when people ask about my nationality just based on that how many misconceptions are formed within the first few seconds, that and when they hear my urdu, oh well.
funguy : That’s lovely.
minah_pa: That’s what my mom always says to us. :)
Shahreen: Sigh, I do too :( . And i didn't want to use it in my thread but perphas in the future if a guppie was thinking about using the term they now realize how offensive it is.
you know belle, most people who use such terms and form preconceived ideas of who you are based on your identity are ignorant…not even that, they are too afraid to get to know the real you. i would feel sorry for them, i think u sound lush and at the end of the day these people are making you a better person as your more able to deal with ignorance.
belle I'm arab and I'm going to marry a Kashmiri so are kids are going to be multi cultured as I would like to think of it. I think its awsome, two great cultures, great langs, great food ;) and everything in between. I think its awsome. If anything I think its a great upper hand, great looking kids at the end and more well aware of others :). I'm sure you look awsome ;)
Well that’s not to say that I haven’t had great experiences, there are people in my life who have never had an issue with me being half, they have actually embraced it and been on my case for one day going to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) to learn more about the culture.
