The Namesake: Culture is Beautiful

I think I picked up this movie because I have a name that I consider unique and meaningful. It is not only rare but it carries with it a lot of history about my family and their culture that I do not understand. Watching this film about an Indian man, well he is born in America with two Indian parents, who learns about the meaning of his name and the importance of his parent's culture to his identity. In this country (America), we do not have what other countries have in terms of cultural depth and significance. We are certainly a melting pot but with this comes a loss of cultural identity and traditions. In The Namesake, we see the man's parents marry at the beginning through an arranged marriage. While there are downfalls to this situation, both people end up happy. Their son marries a Bengali woman but one whom he has fallen in love with. This relationship does not last. I am not suggesting that either arrangement is better than the other, it obviously depends on the people involved. But I do believe that there are cultural traditions that exist because they function best in that specific culture. Americans tend to frown upon arranged marriages, or anything that is not led by free will and a person's individual right. However, this is our culture and we see it as best for us and maybe it is and maybe it is just that we, as a country, have developed from a people who sought freedom from a monarchy and became one with capitalism. This film shows us cultural diversity and how beautiful it is.