Fox has a new tv show called “New Amsterdam,” and has anybody been watching it? I just watched last Monday’s episode, the fourth one in the series, I believe, and it really struck home to me.

The plot (and I won’t give out the ending), is about an Indian girl who gets raped and murdered. All throughout the show, her sister buts in with the traditionalist values and tries to get Amsterdam off the case by saying “We’ll take care of it! It’s a family matter!” They didn’t downplay, judge, or demean the Indians and their traditions. Rather, they give light to something people of race and different cultures still deal with: past traditions brought into the 21st century. Now, I’m not saying what happened is great and that it’s perfectly acceptable. But in the show in 21st century New York and in other places, there are people dealing with past beliefs.

(Starting with my grandmother) I’m a third generation Filipino living in the US. I was born here, but I was raised with both an American perspective and a Filipino perspective. I grew up with both, plain and simple. But often I get questioned about perfectly normal American things to do — dating, going out with friends, dress and attire, hobbies, etc. In the American perspective, I’m pretty normal, but in the Filipino perspective, I’m a rebel.

It’s hard growing up with two different traditions that bombard you constantly, and I’ve sort of found a balance (ha!). What’s really hard though, is trying to explain it to people who are raised 100% American. I get in trouble for perfectly American things/ideas, and when I explain where I’m coming from, it gets brushed off, forgotten, or disregarded. It frustrates me when I try to explain it, and people will say “Well, my parents are perfectly fine with it!” Um… DUH. My parents aren’t, and I’m trying to explain it to you; so you can understand.

It’s an interesting topic they brought up, and it’s something people should really take account to before judging and doing things that could get others in trouble.