Our identity is obtained mainly by
our place of birth. It is our country what unifies everything that makes up a
culture. Being part of a culture consists of explaining your beliefs and way of
being. Culturally we are all divided in various groups that give us uniqueness.
Within a culture are various aspects that serve as a barrier in cases where
people are enclosed to only understand their ethnicity. Peter Roberts explains his
view of a human’s identity in this writing were we can try to picture ourselves.
Throughout
the first paragraph he explains the concept of language as a barrier between
cultures. I agree with this point of view since living in an island and not
having English as our first language has shown discrimination in many
occasions. Being mainly Spanish speakers bonds us, but at the same time
segregates us from those non-Spanish speakers. Being able to speak two
languages is something not many share, but it’s a privilege since communication
is the key in life. Knowing about other cultures do not change our identity,
but only builds our understanding to others.
It is explained that the unknown
appears to be abnormal. What’s different isn’t supposed to be judged, but understood
and respected. The importance of a vast linguistic knowledge gives every human
being the capability to understand the cultures around the world. It is very
interesting to see how other communities act differently. The identity is given
from your hometown and can’t be changed; it doesn’t matter where I go, I’ll
always have my beliefs and customs as a true Puerto Rican.
The othering made by other groups is
an act of disrespect and lack of knowledge. As the essay states, only the
direct contact with foreign cultures will build in you the understanding and
knowledge needed to recognize that group’s own identity. All human beings are
equal, but each has a set of characteristics given by their culture that makes
him/her unique. Identity in general is built in an individual majorly by the
culture of a certain group, but the experiences are what mainly make each of us
a different person. The Caribbean has a vast diversity since different groups
colonized in this area. Some islands are from France, others from Spain, but
our identity as a whole is given due to our physical appearance. The
geographical location is what makes the Caribbean a whole, while aspects as
language make each island a unique entity.
