Social Norms and the Protestant Work Ethic - Day 31
abdallah seems to be the lost child. overlooked by the oldest boy, muhammed, and the young anifah. he is quiet, picked on occasionally, and looking for attention. he’s a very loving child.
i see the division of gender roles even in abdallah and anifah. he often angrily tells her to do something, and she complies without any recourse.
i think it’s interesting how muhammed fits in. he often runs errands for mama and baba, which seems like he wouldn’t, given he’s a boy. he also assumes the role of the man of the house if baba is not home. i receive an “eric! mambo vipi?” rather than the respectful “shikamoo.”
never thought about the concept of doing in america. is my aprehension towards english and music because i don’t see the practicality in them? a resounding yes. is that because i feel like a protestant? i guess so. i need practical, concrete results. leaving something permanent. truth and beauty are trumped by pragmatism.
wow. i need to ruminate on this concept a while. i may be at odds with a deeply conditioned cultural norm. maybe i am not even debating my future with myself, maybe it’s just with the protestant work ethic. art is undervalued, i suppose.
I FEEL CREATIVE. I can imagine writing plays, stories, music, the like. Is there anything wrong with that?
