Fuck the Haters: Multiculturalism is a Great Thing

What gives anyone the right to hate anyone else for simply being who they are? Whether we're black or white, woman or man, from the south or the north, who are you to judge?
I'm not going to be anything but what I am. I refuse to be anyone but who I am.

I will not lose weight because you're uncomfortable with my size.
I will not be more masculine so I fit the queer female stereotype.
I will not be more feminine to fit the girly stereotype.
I will not shut up to make anyone happy.

What caused me to write this post is all the hate I've gotten on a blog I posted about identifying with southern culture. Apparently some southern women (or men?) are feeling insecure and angry because I'm getting in touch with my southern heritage and am enamoured of aspects of a culture I experienced when I visited the south last year.

I didn't realize appreciating a culture would incite such rage! It's ridiculous.

The hilarious part, though, is that the messsages were all anonymous. These people don't even have the guts to put a face to their hateful words. That says a lot about them.

The lesson, here, is:

1 Keep being you. Revel in your fabulousness.

2 Fuck the haters. Let them stew in their putrid negativity. Don't give them the time of day.

3 Exploring your heritage and/or other cultures is a good thing. If anyone wants to keep you from that, it just means there's something wrong with them, not you. As long as you're respectful and genuine, you're doing nothing wrong. You're doing something wonderful.

Image: Rosario Dawson

I'm a Canadian Southern Belle

I'm Canadian, born and raised, but my grandparents come from all around the world. I never really had a fully realized 'background' or culture growing up. I'd say I was Canadian and people would respond, "but you're from where?".

Canadian culture is a mishmash of everything, and I love that. But trying to find who you are by looking to your roots is near impossible, when your roots are buried all around the world.

When I was 13, I started digging.

I tried Judaism first, because much of my family is Jewish (from different parts of the world, mind you). I learned Hebrew. I observed Shabbat on Friday nights. I even had a Bat Mitzvah. Judaism resonated with me, but it didn't feel entirely right.

I explored my great-grandmother's Polish/Russian heritage. I enjoyed the vodka and matryoshkas and pierogies, but that's as far as it went.

Pagan, Native, French, French Canadian, German... Something was still missing.

Then I discovered the south.

A place where a girl could be feminine, romantic and sweet, as well as strong-willed and brave. She could be stubborn, a little bit rowdy, could wear boots with her dress and eat deep fried everything if she wanted-- but she would always make time for her family and friends, her spirituality, and to offer a hand and a cold glass of sweet tea to anyone who needed it.

The cities and the tea are steeped with history. The people are friendly. Culture and hospitality are fundamentally important. I can appreciate that.

I realize that as a non-American, and being politically almost as far left as many Republicans are right, I don't entirely fit in. But that's okay.

My southern-ness and my Canadian-ness and the rest of the puzzle pieces that make up my identity can co-exist.