 |
 |
||
|
|
Defining tradition One man followed his grown children to the United States to escape war in Bosnia. A lifetime of experiences are left behind, but he is grateful his family can experience new ones in America. Another man left Bosnia to begin life with his new wife in Utica. At an age when many young Americans search for their own identity, he longs for the traditions that defined his childhood. His son, born into American citizenship, will be raised as a Bosnian, he says. Here, in their own words, Camil Pasagic and Mirsad Bektic talk about traditions: those that will change with the passing of time, and those they will cling to for life. ‘I don’t regret coming to this country’
Camil Pasagic followed his grown children to America from Bosnia. He wants his grandson to learn about Bosnia and its history. I ’m not worried about losing our culture because we all get together with the family and speak our language. The oldest people teach the youngest. That’s our custom. Bosnia was a state in Yugoslavia, so our culture is Yugoslavian, not Bosnian. There is lots of culture, lots of music. It’s important to keep up with our language. My grandson — he’s a good student. He speaks perfect English, and he speaks Bosnian. But I would also like my grandson to know our history — how we came here. (There are Bosnians who disagree with how Americans raise their children) but that’s not the opinion of everybody. In Utica, you have Bosnian people from lots of different places and cultures. Some people think differently because they live in a different situation. We were a people that were mostly Western-oriented. Our people have been in Europe, working there and visiting many different countries, like Germany, Switzerland, Austria. What I miss from our country is that there were a lot of different religions, but everyone was together. It wasn’t important what religion you were. But I don’t regret coming to this country. After what happened there, I have no regrets. I am grateful because America gave privileges to bring Bosnian people here, by giving us green cards and citizenship. If Bosnia stays how it is now, I won’t go back. But if it goes back to the way it was, I would go. The way Bosnia is now — we didn’t grow up that way. People from our part of Bosnia are hard-working. In a short period of time, they’ve helped this economy in a significant way. They improve things in the city. The children in the schools are good students. Now, there are about 5,000 Bosnians here, and the city starts again. It’s rejuvenated — it’s starting again. We’ll get more life in the city. People are buying houses and fixing houses. This is a rich country. This richness brings the chance to succeed, especially through education. Here, if your kid is a good student, he will be successful. Everything depends on yourself, how you are. ‘I teach my kid Bosnian’
For Mirsad Bektic and his wife Melisa, raising their 20-month-old son, Haris, with Bosnian traditions is a priority. He is an American citizen, but they will not let him forget his Bosnian roots. I try to keep tradition in my house. I teach my kid Bosnian. I want to raise him as a Bosnian, definitely. How many Bosnian kids end up in jail? Lots, because of learning the American way of life. Tell me one place in America that kids can go and not get into trouble. I was even just driving down Blandina Street, and there they were five or six of those kids on their bikes, blocking the whole road, for no reason. I will teach my son to think differently. It’s hard to explain. If I say that I’m going to raise my kid with the Bosnian culture, that means I’m going to raise him like I was raised. Nobody is saying they don’t like America, but the problem is the system. In Bosnia, it was more old-fashioned. I don’t enjoy my life now. I come home tired, and there’s nothing left for my wife or my son. I work seven days a week, and I don’t have time to spend with my kid. How long can I do that? Physically, I can. But mentally, how can I do that? I’ve got everything, but I don’t have nothing. That’s the whole story. I would exchange these things, these possessions, to have more time with my family, definitely. My soul is not happy here. If I’m lucky enough to go back to Bosnia, then my soul will be happy. Everybody asks me, why don’t you just go back. Because of my son. Here, he is going to get a good education. I’ve just got four years of high school, and I definitely want Haris to go to college. If I stay in the United States, the only reason is my son. For a better life, for a better education for him, I would do anything. The day my son was born, I was happy. He is my whole energy. Whether he will be proud to be Bosnian or proud to be American — let’s just leave that up to him. |
||
