Is It Natural To Feel A Loss Of Identity And Culture When You're A Mixed Race Person?

[anon1990]

My life feels so screwed up because I am an octoroon.

[beso]

Cultural heritage is something treasured by one's ancestors as a way of perpetuating their way of life beyond their physical existence.

Choosing to slavishly follow that supposed heritage does no favours for the descendants because it limits their choices.

Personally (as an English, Scott, Polish Dane) I saw no particular reason to adopt anything from the cultural practices of my ancestors for the sake of heritage. Indeed I strongly object to many of the values held my my ancestors. Many of their attitudes are completely inappropriatein a modern world.

Like many modern people I forged my own sense of culture along with my friends.

One thing for certain though. Joining a religion to gain a sense of identity is a foolish move because religion is about supplanting individual identity with a mass produced artificial one.

[Khandro]

Why do you think that the "sense of culture you have forged with your friends" differs in kind from religion, which you assert is about "supplanting individual identity with a mass produced artificial one."?
Just what is this sense of culture you and your friends have "forged" and how is proven not to be artificial?

[beso]

The culture of religion is prescribed by an oligarchy. The devotee is expected to conform with that prescription. The alternative is to leave and the proliferation of breakaways sects from religions bears witness to that reality.

The culture of my circle of friends is something we cultivated among ourselves. We have all changed as we have become closer and closer over many years regularly making music together and sharing our life experiences.

[Khandro]

So why does being a member of a band negate the whole religious phenomenon?

[sandyRoe]

'Octoroon' isn't a word you hear much these days. It's nearly as outmoded as, 'miscegenation'.

[ludwig]

It sounds like the hideous result of a lab experiment involving an Octopus and Wayne Rooney.

[ludwig]

..in his insane attempt to breed a footballer with unbeatable dribbling skills, professor Fergusion unwittingly unleashed Octoroon on an unsuspecting world.

[ludwig]

Octoroon..

http://tearsinourchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/spider-baby-doll.jpg

[Khandro]

I should think most of us are octoroons of one sort or another, I am both an octoroon-Welsh and also an octoroon-Irish, so what does that make me? (waits for answer from ludwig.)
If your great grandfather came from Macao, are you a Macaroon?