Blog #5 Reading Response to My Filipino Roots

I chose blog about the article, My Filipino Roots, by Alex Espinoza. Alex details the facts of his heritage, his mixing of roots and the fact that these have no real bearing on his current identity. His indifferent environment and homogenized community shaped him more than the facts of his birth. He concludes by saying that he doesn't really care about his heritage.
He so reminds me of my best friend, Steve. Born Hiep S Tran in Vietnam during the war, he once told me the courageous and inspiring story of how his mother's faith in God brought them a miraculous escape to the US. His parents are wonderful people and always have some tasty Vietnamese dish to offer me when I come over. And when I call and ask for Steve, they say, “Hiep, he no here.” They escaped the war, yet embrace their heritage.
Hiep changed his name as soon as he got here. He now goes by Steve, prefers Burger King and hates talking in Vietnamese and only does it around his parents. He is so classically suburban American, and would never date an asian looking girl.
As I ponder the sadness of this lack of identity for one's roots, I remember that I am half German and half Scottish. I love German food and my grandmother taught me a few choice German phrases. I'd like to visit someday, but as far as passing on these roots to my sons? As far as Scotland, I loved Braveheart, and recall Mike Myers describing the persona of his Scottish father: happy one minute and could turn cranky in a split second. Am I like this because I'm Scottish or is it just my melancholic personality? I did want to get married in a kilt, until I found out a real one was $1000. I'd like to visit Scotland one day too, but just don't see the importance of being Scottish, especially if I have to eat Haggus!
So I am an American. My roots are in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution. Of course they are also in Sesame Street and Mr Rogers, the Brady Bunch and the Bee Gees. As sad as it may sound to some, I believe in 200 years Star Wars will be on the same fabled level as Paul Bunyon and Davy Crockett. And my community is my family, my church, my actor friends, whose values come not from the collection of facts and locations, but from places in the heart.