Originally Posted by
Dr. HFH
Sorry, I didn't see that the OP was American. Even so, however, as DS2 pointed out, at least one set of parents is in India, which historically does have a caste system. Doesn't mean that they're of Indian descent, I know, but it does at least raise that possibility.
As I said above, we can pretend that the world is other than it is, but that doesn't help us understand what's going on. I'm in a country where, from time to time, I see signs at the entrances of restaurants/bars which say some version of No Indians Allowed. I don't agree with that, but it's a fact here.
It's not about better/worse, right/wrong. It's about understanding the situation as it is.
True, but if the OP (or spouse) was raised in India, moving to the U.S. doesn't automatically change values which have been inculcated since birth.
Also, I fear that we're straying pretty far OT; so perhaps we should consider bringing this conversation to a close lest we get dinged (justifiably) by a Mod.
The assumption that Indians are generally practicing casteism and that is some kind of explanation for the OP's way of complaining (however it was done) is patently ridiculous and bigoted. The "sins" of the parents are the "sins" of the son? No evidence of such, but that won't stop the stereotyping and applications of racist stereotypes.
Let's not assume that the values of parents are generally and necessarily the values of the children too -- children revolt.
Originally Posted by Dr. HFH
It's not about better or worse. It's about understanding the situation as it is. I'm in Thailand right now. Thai culture results in people tending to be non-confrontational, even when there are problems. It's not good/bad, better/worse, right/wrong; but it is something of which you need to be aware when dealing with Thais.
The irony of the above is noticeable, given what has been going on in Thailand in recent years.