I have become enamored with the term diaspora. It appears in essence, if not structure, in most of my writing as of late. In my fantasy I speak of races–not unlike the Elven and Dwarven races of Tolkien lore–who have lost their ancestral holding and are scattered about seeking some friendly shore; some place that permits their culture to flourish without fear of losing itself to that alien fabric. I suppose this comes wholesale with living in Phoenix, AZ where, at the time of my own committal, the majority of people I encountered were also not from here.
I find that more Californians, New Yorkers, Iowans, and those from foreign lands such as Canada or Mexico live in AZ than people born here. This is the truth of all retirement driven state economies (See: Florida) but it does reflect that sense of diaspora and a sense of a melting pot culture struggling to define itself by a primary flavor.
As a dominant culture or cultural group fights to emerge in this new American diaspora we are left to hunt through the fog of cultural identity, leaning on the definitions crafted for us by others as even now we fail to identify ourselves.
That is what I’ve been –not– writing about. I believe 10 minutes is a good chunk of time to put some of this on paper and allow the logjam in my mind to clear sufficiently to let the good writing through.
Some Thoughts:
- Rest In Peace, Joe McKnight. The former NY Jet was killed in a road rage incident. His killer, Ronald Gasser, was arrested 10 years ago for a road rage incident in the same spot where he beat a driver senseless for a perceived slight. Gasser was charged and sentenced in that past issue. For murdering McKnight he was let walk free. Make of it what you will.