Comments on: Let Me Be http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/ keepin' it real in the Bronx, Queens, and beyond Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:11:07 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Shanee Peroune http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/comment-page-1/#comment-6602 Shanee Peroune Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:17:59 +0000 http://hellgatereview.com/?p=258#comment-6602 Hey Andrea, I really enjoyed this essay. I thought at the beginning of your essay that it would be about Indian-Guyanese culture in general but you really personalized it. I found it endearing to read about the different types of traditional foods. I am Guyanese so I could relate. I also completely understand your struggle with your parents. But I am glad that by the end of the essay you confide in your brother. It shows that you have some sort of support, which needed. Further more, it is re-freshing to see that although you haven't had many experiences outside of what your parents allow, you still keep your head on your shoulders. I have a few friends that was in a similar situation to yours and they did not do as well. Not being able to try new things and make mistakes could be life threatening because it makes you less aware. So with that I definitely see the bigger picture of your essay. Finally, I like your hope to branch out and explore your horizons. Although, i don't think that you should wait on a husband to take you out of parent's grips. It's better to get a feel for life first rather than add someone to the equation. Your essay was a great read! Hey Andrea, I really enjoyed this essay. I thought at the beginning of your essay that it would be about Indian-Guyanese culture in general but you really personalized it. I found it endearing to read about the different types of traditional foods. I am Guyanese so I could relate.

I also completely understand your struggle with your parents. But I am glad that by the end of the essay you confide in your brother. It shows that you have some sort of support, which needed.

Further more, it is re-freshing to see that although you haven’t had many experiences outside of what your parents allow, you still keep your head on your shoulders. I have a few friends that was in a similar situation to yours and they did not do as well. Not being able to try new things and make mistakes could be life threatening because it makes you less aware. So with that I definitely see the bigger picture of your essay.

Finally, I like your hope to branch out and explore your horizons. Although, i don’t think that you should wait on a husband to take you out of parent’s grips. It’s better to get a feel for life first rather than add someone to the equation. Your essay was a great read!

]]> By: Steph D. http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/comment-page-1/#comment-5691 Steph D. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:22:44 +0000 http://hellgatereview.com/?p=258#comment-5691 I really enjoyed your essay because even though I'm not East Indian I can relate to your story. I grew up in a Jewish/Persian home where girls are also born and raised to be good mothers and their main obligation is to take care of the house and kids while the husband goes to work. In our culture the men are the main breadwinners of the family. Fortunately as the years go on and parents are becoming more modernized, surrounded by American culture, girls are now not only allowed to go to college but they are encouraged to go to local colleges and pursue good careers. I think it's really sad when kids aren't given the freedom to make their decisions in life. Although I believe their should be strong guidance and discipline from the parents, there is a point where the parent should step back and let the child decide for him/herself. I enjoyed the end of your essay where you realized that you weren't the only one going through the same situation and you weren't the only one that was keeping your feelings bottled up for so long. And it no longer bothered you. I really enjoyed your essay because even though I’m not East Indian I can relate to your story. I grew up in a Jewish/Persian home where girls are also born and raised to be good mothers and their main obligation is to take care of the house and kids while the husband goes to work. In our culture the men are the main breadwinners of the family. Fortunately as the years go on and parents are becoming more modernized, surrounded by American culture, girls are now not only allowed to go to college but they are encouraged to go to local colleges and pursue good careers. I think it’s really sad when kids aren’t given the freedom to make their decisions in life. Although I believe their should be strong guidance and discipline from the parents, there is a point where the parent should step back and let the child decide for him/herself. I enjoyed the end of your essay where you realized that you weren’t the only one going through the same situation and you weren’t the only one that was keeping your feelings bottled up for so long. And it no longer bothered you.

]]> By: Bipasha Dey http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/comment-page-1/#comment-5690 Bipasha Dey Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:41:05 +0000 http://hellgatereview.com/?p=258#comment-5690 This piece of work really caught my attention because myself being an East Indian i can very clearly relate to the author's experiences. Even though our parents restrict our thoughts and actions and force us into acting upon their beliefs to protect us from doing wrong, i believe that it captures our thought processes into the jails of our mind. This allows us only to peak out of the window of the jail but prohibits us from stepping out into the world beyond the window. This really hurts the formation of a self identity which in turn keeps us from exploring into the real realms of the society making us mediocre people who only live in a cubicle from 9 to 5 and then go home, eat and then sleep. This type of dictatorship upbringing can most probably hurt our self esteem and just like the author only HOPE that some day life will get better. The best part of the essay is: "I feel that all parents should have more faith in their children, and they should also have faith in their parenting." This statement is so true and the only way our parents would understand this is if they try to clean up their clogged mind and open it up. However, that rarely happens because our parents themselves are usually stuck between the morals and cultural values of their original country and the country they currently reside in. They fear that the society will influence their kid's mind and therefore the kid will forget his/her real values and morals. The author's emotions are hidden behind the words of her essay and these emotions jump right out at the readers as they read along. I felt pity for the author and up to some extent that feeling extended to myself as well. Even though i rebelled my way out of my parent's dictatorship, the memories sometimes do haunt. This piece of work really caught my attention because myself being an East Indian i can very clearly relate to the author’s experiences. Even though our parents restrict our thoughts and actions and force us into acting upon their beliefs to protect us from doing wrong, i believe that it captures our thought processes into the jails of our mind. This allows us only to peak out of the window of the jail but prohibits us from stepping out into the world beyond the window. This really hurts the formation of a self identity which in turn keeps us from exploring into the real realms of the society making us mediocre people who only live in a cubicle from 9 to 5 and then go home, eat and then sleep. This type of dictatorship upbringing can most probably hurt our self esteem and just like the author only HOPE that some day life will get better.
The best part of the essay is: “I feel that all parents should have more faith in their children, and they should also have faith in their parenting.” This statement is so true and the only way our parents would understand this is if they try to clean up their clogged mind and open it up. However, that rarely happens because our parents themselves are usually stuck between the morals and cultural values of their original country and the country they currently reside in. They fear that the society will influence their kid’s mind and therefore the kid will forget his/her real values and morals.
The author’s emotions are hidden behind the words of her essay and these emotions jump right out at the readers as they read along. I felt pity for the author and up to some extent that feeling extended to myself as well. Even though i rebelled my way out of my parent’s dictatorship, the memories sometimes do haunt.

]]> By: Jennifer http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/comment-page-1/#comment-5683 Jennifer Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:01:54 +0000 http://hellgatereview.com/?p=258#comment-5683 I really enjoyed your essay even though I can not relate to it. I think that many immigrants come here with hopes of a better life for themselves as well as there children. I can immagine that it must be quite scary to leave everything and everyone you know just for better opppurtunities. I would assume that many of these parents are interested in keeping their cultural traditions and this burdin is put amounst the children. This is where the children must decide if they would rather have their individuality or countuie practicing their parents vaulues and loose them self in a sence? I really enjoyed your essay even though I can not relate to it. I think that many immigrants come here with hopes of a better life for themselves as well as there children. I can immagine that it must be quite scary to leave everything and everyone you know just for better opppurtunities. I would assume that many of these parents are interested in keeping their cultural traditions and this burdin is put amounst the children. This is where the children must decide if they would rather have their individuality or countuie practicing their parents vaulues and loose them self in a sence?

]]> By: Sonar http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/comment-page-1/#comment-5669 Sonar Sat, 16 Oct 2010 22:51:09 +0000 http://hellgatereview.com/?p=258#comment-5669 I commend you for your courage on writing about a personal dilemma that still affects you to this day. Introducing your piece with apt historical background information provided me with the insight to effectively understand the cultural and religious identity of you and your family. Coercion, of any kind, is rarely accompanied with an eager and compliant attitude. The feeling of being forced to do anything is almost always a drag, a resistant one. I can fully relate to your gripe about your parents being so restrictive when it comes to your social life and development. In addition to that, I comprehend, the feeling of being torn between pleasing your parents and detaching yourself to attain your dreams and aspirations. But I am certain that just as we grow up to eventually make our own fortunes in this world, establishing our own identity is just as natural and logical. I commend you for your courage on writing about a personal dilemma that still affects you to this day. Introducing your piece with apt historical background information provided me with the insight to effectively understand the cultural and religious identity of you and your family. Coercion, of any kind, is rarely accompanied with an eager and compliant attitude. The feeling of being forced to do anything is almost always a drag, a resistant one. I can fully relate to your gripe about your parents being so restrictive when it comes to your social life and development. In addition to that, I comprehend, the feeling of being torn between pleasing your parents and detaching yourself to attain your dreams and aspirations. But I am certain that just as we grow up to eventually make our own fortunes in this world, establishing our own identity is just as natural and logical.

]]> By: Engie http://hellgatereview.com/let-me-be/comment-page-1/#comment-5667 Engie Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:19:20 +0000 http://hellgatereview.com/?p=258#comment-5667 After reading your essay, I got the feeling that you were an optimistic and brilliant girl. It seems you know the disadvantages of your parents’ way of parenting you and your brother clearly. Meanwhile you also know how to pursue your own life with balancing your parents’ requirement and your own choice. That’s why I like your essay. I mean your essay not only lets me know more about different cultures, but also shows me how consciously and seriously you treat your own life. Stick to your own life. After reading your essay, I got the feeling that you were an optimistic and brilliant girl. It seems you know the disadvantages of your parents’ way of parenting you and your brother clearly. Meanwhile you also know how to pursue your own life with balancing your parents’ requirement and your own choice. That’s why I like your essay. I mean your essay not only lets me know more about different cultures, but also shows me how consciously and seriously you treat your own life. Stick to your own life.

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