formality

languages often bear the cultural baggage of the communities that led to their creation, and who they serve. and many eastern languages have formal and informal ways to address people; those your peers and those your seniors even if simply by order of birth. French, a western language also has this though. amreekis lack a lot of formality that abounds here in desh. here respect is deserved by age, and if not received, is announced to be offensive. but that's not it... there's more to the formality than respect for the greying hair. its an offence if not a misdemeanor to ask your guests to behave themselves, to open their shoes if they come into your home, your bedroom, your bathroom. an offence if you trash someone's illusion that they are your friends, even if there's been a hiatus in reaching out and sharing for almost a decade (they still expect you to lend a ear to their bitching), an offence to criticize the norms in this country that defy logic, an offence to point things out. also an offence to grow up - so you don't agree with your parents, so you unknowingly rebel against everything they deemed sacrosanct. social revolutions have been rare here. we don't annoy our parents, our bosses, our elders. we live parallel lives that disagree with their values and their traditions, but we smile and touch their feet and keep those lives hidden from them cos it would hurt them. we need a crowd of youngsters, bursting at the seams, willing to displease; somewhat like the babyboomers when they were in college in the 60s. we need rebellion, complete disregard of filial and emotional obligation and blackmail, we need less formality.