¶ … Cultural and National Identity
In the midst of globalization, cultures are coming together unlike ever before. As a result, refugees and immigrants are faced with challenging circumstances that threaten to weaken their national or cultural identity. This essay will explore two examples of how individuals strive to maintain their identity in this new and changing world.
In Cyberspace in Diaspora, we learn about the Eritrean Diaspora and how they are using the internet to maintain their cultural and national identity (Bernal, 2006). Through the internet the Eritreans debate issues concerning the history, culture, democracy, and identity of their country. This community has raised money for war, arranged demonstrations, created nation-building projects, and have influenced to Eritrean government, all while residing in various countries around the world. They also have a web board titled "Dehai: Eritrea OnLine" (www.dehai.org) which they use to maintain a sense of community and communicate about political and cultural matters.
Another example can be seen in Spirit Catches and You Fall Down, which tells the story of Foua and Nao Kao (Fadiman, 1998). They are part of a large,...
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