East is East and West is West
Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.
Til earth and sky stand presently, at God’s great judgement seat.
But there is neither East nor West, border, nor breed nor birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!
Rudyard Kipling, 1889
Delving into my family’s roots in China and Southeast Asia, are much like the Kipling poem. Neither side wish to meet. They don’t want to talk about it. Both cultures seem equal in their wish that the past be forgotten and/or erased.
I can understand the feelings of much of the world’s populations, who have, over the preceding centuries, been ruled by outsiders and often relegated to positions of servitude. Today they are for the most part independent and self-governing. While there was obviously some benefits gained, they’d probably feel better if all the records of these periods were expunged.
The fact that a genealogical link between these opposing cultures may exist, is probably something they wish would go away.
I’ve found similar reactions when questioning my British or European family. While a few have thought it intriguing and even a little exciting, when it gets right down to it. no one wants to know!
So maybe Kipling had it nailed? “East is East and West is West!” Maybe I should just let it go at that!