The
“American Quilt”
I recently
started a petition to have the Hindu holiday of Diwali recognized by our local
school district as a holiday so families can celebrate for one day without
worrying about homework and going to bed early. For me personally, it’s not about getting
time off from school. It’s much more about being accepted as part of the
American multicultural fabric.
We need to
remember that the Pilgrims, the first group of people who landed on this soil,
came here to escape the Church of England and practice their own religious
ideology and to carve out a good life for themselves, away from the tyranny of
the king. This is the cornerstone of the
building of America, religious freedom and economic opportunities.
Most of the
early settlers were of European descent. Many came due to famine or unrest in
their countries, often coming as indentured servants to the wealthy already
settled here. These were some of the
first of millions of the “poor…huddled masses yearning to breathe,” that Lady
Liberty later beckoned to.
Later in
history, the first Asians arrived during the Industrial Revolution hoping to
capture a share of the gold rush but ended up working on America’s railway
systems. America became home to people from Asia, Europe and Africa. Immigrants
from all over the world have since come and carved out a spot to call their
own. Each group of people who migrated brought with them their own cultural
identity, food, language and religious beliefs.
Today, America is not a melting pot but more likely a salad, with each
ingredient in the salad adding to the color, flavor and texture to an otherwise
boring bowl of greens.
So why
celebrate Diwali now? The prevailing religion
within the US for centuries has been Christianity/Catholicism and as such,
Christmas and Easter have always been seen as part of the American religious-cultural experience. In some parts of the country,
where the Jewish faith is a strong presence, many of the Jewish holidays are recognized
by various school districts. In recent years, some cities have started honoring
the Chinese New Year and the Islamic Eid.
And rightfully so because America is no longer a country just of
European Christians and Catholics. The fabric
of America has transformed from the time of the first Europeans making home
here, centuries ago.
America is
not a homogenous land of one culture, color, race or religion. I like to say, we are part of the “American Quilt.” We all symbolize a piece of the quilt with
our varied experiences and beliefs.
However, we are all part of the bigger, collective fabric, rich in color
and stories. Each patch of a quilt has a
place and purpose within the whole. Each patch has a story and history behind
it. And the great thing about a quilt is
that we can keep adding to it… but taking away a patch only destroys its
beauty, value and integrity.
So what
does this have to do with celebrating and recognizing Diwali as a holiday? Lady Liberty didn’t beckon just white
Europeans. Anyone who has read the poem by Emma Lazarus would know that there
is another important line, “From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome.”
The people
of Indian decent, most of whom are Hindus by religion, make up many significant
and powerful pieces of the American Quilt.
It is not so much recognizing Diwali, per se, but acknowledging that the
people of Asian descent are American too. We are all Americans, and like the Europeans
who first came and brought their culture with them, we also have something to contribute to America. We have celebrated
Thanksgiving and Christmas, and now we should all revel in celebrating Rosh
Hashanah, Eid, Lunar New Year and, of course, Diwali. This is what America is,
a land of many different cultures and
religions coming together.
Some may argue
that there are limited days in the calendar, and where do we stop. My response to that would be that numbers
have power. If a certain people make up a
larger, more significant group in any city, and they voice themselves, we have
to find a way to let them be heard. They are just adding another beautiful
patch to the changing face of the “American Quilt.”
