By Mia Cho
Editor-in-Chief
I am a Japanese and American dual citizen. I’ve struggled with understanding my own cultural identity like many bicultural Americans. More specifically, since I was very young, I’ve had difficulty reconciling the differences between the Japanese and American values I’ve grown up with. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve realized that although it hasn’t been pleasant, this constant tug-of-war between the individualistic values of my American culture and the collectivist values of my Japanese culture has shaped me into the person I am today.
Japanese culture upholds that the needs of the individual are secondary to the needs of the community. On the other hand, in the United States, pursuing one’s individual desires and liberties oftentimes takes priority over what’s best for society at large. I never thought about this disparity until March of 2020- the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of anti-mask sentiments.
In Japan, the government never legally enforced mask-wearing, yet everyone still wears masks for the safety and respect of others. On the other hand, some states in the United States have mandated masks, yet some refuse to wear them out of their own self-interest.
Throughout the pandemic, I was at war with myself over which culture and values were “right.” I never came to a conclusion because I realized that generalizing complex cultural ideals as “right” or “wrong” only contributes to the pervasive judgement in our world. Despite the uncertainty, division, and turmoil that plagues our current world, I hope my peers and I can keep an open mind to make our world a more accepting place.
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