Why do desi people support their ethnic country over their home country?

[CricFan2012]

Never completely understood it, although seen it first hand.

My parents were both born in Pakistan, moved to the west around 25 years ago, yet they watch only Pakistani cable, care only about Pakistani politics and visit their country every other year.

I sort of understand given they were raised their whole childhood in Pakistan and still have family, so they have close ties.

Personally, I have lived in Pakistan for half a year and have visited couple other times, last one being 6 years ago, not wanting to go there anymore for a myriad of reasons.

Being born in the west I speak fluent Urdu and was integrated early on to my ethnic culture yet I mostly dislike the Pakistani culture and consider myself Western.

It may seem hypocritical that I support the Pakistani cricket team, but my parents would get me to watch cricket with them from an early age, and I have since stuck by them, they also have played the most entertaining cricket so its easy to like them.

Now I want to know why is it that there's Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan people that are born in a western country yet support their ethnic country? Are these the people who have lived a lot of their life in Pakistan etc yet they are born in the west? This sort of explains it for me, but I also know some people who have never even been to Pakistan yet the only love they have is for their Parents country.

It's just cringeworthy for me to see these British Pakistani fans jumping around in the stands for Pakistan against England, it paints a bad picture for the other British people actually supporting their country.

Thanks, and hope this thread doesn't offend too many people, really looking for answers here

 

[KingKhanWC]

Never completely understood it, although seen it first hand.

My parents were both born in Pakistan, moved to the west around 25 years ago, yet they watch only Pakistani cable, care only about Pakistani politics and visit their country every other year.

I sort of understand given they were raised their whole childhood in Pakistan and still have family, so they have close ties.

Personally, I have lived in Pakistan for half a year and have visited couple other times, last one being 6 years ago, not wanting to go there anymore for a myriad of reasons.

Being born in the west I speak fluent Urdu and was integrated early on to my ethnic culture yet I mostly dislike the Pakistani culture and consider myself Western.

It may seem hypocritical that I support the Pakistani cricket team, but my parents would get me to watch cricket with them from an early age, and I have since stuck by them, they also have played the most entertaining cricket so its easy to like them.

Now I want to know why is it that there's Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan people that are born in a western country yet support their ethnic country? Are these the people who have lived a lot of their life in Pakistan etc yet they are born in the west? This sort of explains it for me, but I also know some people who have never even been to Pakistan yet the only love they have is for their Parents country.

It's just cringeworthy for me to see these British Pakistani fans jumping around in the stands for Pakistan against England, it paints a bad picture for the other British people actually supporting their country.

Thanks, and hope this thread doesn't offend too many people, really looking for answers here

You have answered your own question and yes its hypocrisy.

 

[troodon]

Identity crisis. Neither here nor there types.

Non resident south Asians try to identify themselves with color(brown pride), religion, language etc. mostly religion though.

 

[hafeezrocks]

But if you notice the Indians in Countries like West Indies and South Africa, they support their country of birth over country of origin.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

You answered your own question in that you support the team that your parents supported. Its not unusual concept, In American Sports a lot of people support the team that their parents supported even if they themselves have never lived in that city.

 

[CricFan2012]

You have answered your own question and yes its hypocrisy.

I had to point out that it may seem hypocritical to some people, but I don't feel its the case. I only support Pakistan in a sport that is barely played internationally. If my western country played decent cricket I would support them over Pakistan.

I enjoy cricket sometimes and that is why I support Pakistan.

 

[TSA321]

But if you notice the Indians in Countries like West Indies and South Africa, they support their country of birth over country of origin.

Probably because they’ve been in those countries for several generations.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I had to point out that it may seem hypocritical to some people, but I don't feel its the case. I only support Pakistan in a sport that is barely played internationally. If my western country played decent cricket I would support them over Pakistan.

I enjoy cricket sometimes and that is why I support Pakistan.

Most British Pakistanis only support Pakistan in cricket. You're no different to anyone else. Also dont forget many are dual citizens so opt for Pakistan as first choice due to family elders supporting them and England second.

 

[Major]

i think its because you need some sort of affiliation.

But this is where it becomes sad. The locals here will never accept you no matter how much you love Pakistan.
In the eyes of the local, you are just another burger/mummydaddy bacha.

 

[WC-Passion]

It's just because it feels more natural when most of your family is supporting the country which is the origin of your ethnicity. You want to follow them because you still are Pakistani in a sense due to your parents and ethnicity and you therefore might relate more strongly to that team's culture and players.

 

[Sirris]

It is true with all immigrants. Turks here support turkish football team. Then not to forget the Italians who are almost living here since 5 decades. No one cheers for italy as much as they do. Last world cup Italy didn't play and you could notice it since the Italians took no interest in the world cup.

 

[AFM]

It's also human nature to gravitate towards people of your own ethnicity.

It's why mixed marriages are so rare.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

i think its because you need some sort of affiliation.

But this is where it becomes sad. The locals here will never accept you no matter how much you love Pakistan.
In the eyes of the local, you are just another burger/mummydaddy bacha.

I supported England as a young kid, but somewhere along the way I got fed up of being seen differently because of the colour of my skin. I don't particularly have any connection with Pakistan so I don't want to be accepted by your locals any more than I would accept them over here. If I was white I would probably be supporting England, that's the truth of it. My association with Pakistan cricket team is skin deep only and I'm happy enough with it.

 

[Slog]

But if you notice the Indians in Countries like West Indies and South Africa, they support their country of birth over country of origin.

There’s no country named West Indies

And it’s because these Indian origin people have been in these regions since before India was even a country. Remember India is only 70 or so years old and even British India is less than 200 years old. Before that there was no concept of India

 

[Badsha]

This is not a Desi thing.

Here in the states I support both U.S national team in sports along with Pakistan. I also support my state Carolina in national leagues.

I have friends who are proper Americans but in the football world cup they were supporting Croatia because their parents were immigrants. I know Italian Americans who still support Italy.

I know of so many Irish Americans that still follow local Irish news. Chinese and Korean Americans that still follow their local news.

I will do my best to carry on my culture no matter how long I live in America to my next generation. I love my culture and love being in the States as well. People think of it as an identity crises. For me this is just who I am.

Everyone is a unique blend.

 

[Pakistanian]

It's not just desi people, it's literally every single ethnicity in the world. Do you know how many Irish-Americans support the Irish cause and even lobbied for Irish immigration as recently as this year? It's human nature to support your ethnicity.

Why is it "cringeworthy" for Brit- Pakistanis to root for Pakistan but not for British expats living in South Africa or Australia supporting the English team?

 

[Pakistanian]

But if you notice the Indians in Countries like West Indies and South Africa, they support their country of birth over country of origin.

LMAOO NO. Those "Indians" have been there for 5-6 generations, their ancestors migrated there in the 19th century. The recent Indian immigrants definitely support India and many South African Muslims support Pakistan despite being there for generations, we had a South African Muslim poster on here who supported Pakistan despite being Indian.

You can't compare West Indian/African "desis" who have been in those lands for generations compared to us western desis who have been here for less than 3 generations.

 

[FreakCricket]

Most American Born Desi doesn't care about cricket at all its mostly Basketball or Football(NFL). I think there's more identity crisis in UK compared to US. Immigrants usually support their home country and their kids born in the adapted country adapt local culture, this goes for a massive hispanic population (south american mostly) in US which are crazy about soccer.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Most American Born Desi doesn't care about cricket at all its mostly Basketball or Football(NFL). I think there's more identity crisis in UK compared to US. Immigrants usually support their home country and their kids born in the adapted country adapt local culture, this goes for a massive hispanic population (south american mostly) in US which are crazy about soccer.

How is supporting Pakistan a identy crisis, please expand?

In the US, Mexicans support Canelo over any American boxer. Americans of a Jamacian background will support Bolt over any American sprinter...the list goes on. So im not sure what you are talking about.

 

[sjahmed23]

For sporting events I can understand but I also get irritated by the constant viewing of the Pakistani news channels and TV shows. My mom's been in the US for 20 years, barely speaks english or knows any famous american personality, and that's the samething with other members of my family. In-fact I have to watch Pakistani political talk shows and news constantly when I'm with her and I ask my self the same question you're asking. I don't think people living in Pakistan care or think about Pakistan as much as those living outside of it, or is it just too much free time?

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Most American Born Desi doesn't care about cricket at all its mostly Basketball or Football(NFL). I think there's more identity crisis in UK compared to US. Immigrants usually support their home country and their kids born in the adapted country adapt local culture, this goes for a massive hispanic population (south american mostly) in US which are crazy about soccer.

Isn’t it America where you get booed if you don’t kneel on the national anthem
Isn’t it also America where you had the whole east coast west coast craze because some loonies decided it was a good marketing ploy

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

For sporting events I can understand but I also get irritated by the constant viewing of the Pakistani news channels and TV shows. My mom's been in the US for 20 years, barely speaks english or knows any famous american personality, and that's the samething with other members of my family. In-fact I have to watch Pakistani political talk shows and news constantly when I'm with her and I ask my self the same question you're asking. I don't think people living in Pakistan care or think about Pakistan as much as those living outside of it, or is it just too much free time?

To be honest, if your mum can barely speak English it's no wonder she still watches Pakistani news and tv shows. If I you went to Pakistan you'd probably want to watch American shows where they spoke English.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

But if you notice the Indians in Countries like West Indies and South Africa, they support their country of birth over country of origin.

That will change if the UK is anything to go by. Back in the 90's the Indian cricket crowds used to be quite docile and made up of mostly first generation immigrants, but then Pakistan cricket crowds started hitting the front pages with their loud and colourful support base. In the 1999 world cup semi finals you had huge fireworks going off in the stands and pitch invasions with fans partying all over Manchester. Then the Indian fans decided we want to be seen like that, loud, brash and confident so these days they are also belatedly following suit.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Is that a crime?

 

[Pakistanian]

Don't be ashamed of claiming your heritage and there's nothing wrong with identifying.

Rocky Balboa was called the "Italian stallion' despite being a third generation American. You see Italian flags in little Italy's across America and in Mafia movies. They always refer to Italy as "the old country". Pakistan is the same for us.