5th Post
My grandmother is seventy one years-old. She moved to America four years ago. She has valued and accepted the procedure. She has been thinking about it as a positive and something that is beneficial to women. As a result, she wanted to make sure that all of her daughters went through that process. The beautiful thing about culture is that it passes from generation to generation. People find a meaning in it. So my grandmother wants to pass the tradition of FGM to the future generation. She has a different meaning of FGM than I have. We both have opposite views towards it. I look at it as a violation of someone’s rights both spiritually and physically. Two years ago, my cousin’s baby girl was born. We all were very excited, and we called back home in Eritrea and congratulated the family.
 Two weeks later, my grandma asked me to call my uncle. I dialed for her and gave her the phone. She greeted him, and finally asked to talk to his wife. My grandma asked her if the baby has gone through the procedure of FGM. I was shocked and was very amazed. My aunt said she will not let her daughter go through that procedure. My grandmother was very upset. I was sure that it was not the right time to talk to her, and so I made her Bun, a coffee ceremony to lighten up her mood. Then a few hours later, I was still thinking about FGM and what it really meant for her and I asked her why she was upset and why she wants the baby to go through that procedure. She explained to me that it is a positive practice of the tradition that was passed from generation to generation. She said, “we all survived the procedure. If that procedure did not do any harm to us, then what harm could it do to the baby?” she asked me. I replied, “Grandmother, maybe you might not have been aware of it, but it sure has done something wrong to you. That’s why they are prohibiting it within this country”. She was very upset. My sentences seemed to worsen her mood, and so I decided to stop and changed the subject. My grandmother was very upset. She finally said to me, “Gualey (daughter), you are living in a different country with a different culture and different tradition.
 “Americans” would never understand our traditional practices. But you are different from them. You can’t judge and reject your tradition. I was never harmed by any of the traditions and your mother and her sisters were never harmed as well. It’s the same procedure. So you need to keep your culture and traditions alive. It’s your identity -accept it.” Her point dumbfounded me. I believe the action is very cruel and I will stand against it. But I also can predict at sometime in the future, if I get to have a baby girl, I will face a climax point when my actions and beliefs face those of my society.
Your story about your grandmother is a great example of the degree to which ideals can be instilled in a person, whether they are right or wrong. We can try to convince them otherwise, but its rare that someone changes their mind after it has been set, even when facts are presented to them. I agree with your opinion of the tradition. It is devastating and unfair. Not only is it painful, but it invades the privacy of the individuals who are forced to receive it. I believe that people are entitled to their bodies, and that they should be at an age where they are able give their consent.
