[What's this?] In the middle

OK...to me this is quite a sensitive topic to talk about and I think most people would find that as well.

Closed and open minded-ness....

Where should I start! Let's just say I REALLY HATE IT when someone calls me "closed-minded" and not just that, it's worst coming from a close friend. I find it in a way very disrespectful and it shows/tells me that my friend(s) don't accept me for who I am, or what I think and believe in. Isn't that just wrong! Friend(s) are not supposed to be like this. The thing is also I feel that some people misuse this word....a lot!!!! They misuse it because the reason(s) why they'd call someone "Closed-minded" are just simple and stupid (especially the reasons that I get called that "word" for) and don't deserve such a big/harsh word.

Now here's the crazy thing. Some time after being called "closed-minded" or sometimes in the same day some other friend comes and says to me "You're so far away from your culture now...and you've lived in NZ for too long that you've become westernized..."...and this was all said because I decided to learn the guitar, which somewhat gave me an idea that I'm "too open-minded". Is that even a good enough reason to say ALL that stuff...."westernized"? I remember asking that friend...what's the difference between playing a 3ood and a guitar? Aren't they the same family and it's music?! I got "The 3ood is part of our culture" as an answer............

So where does this put me between my friends? It's like I'm stuck in the middle. The too too "open-minded" friend(s) want me to become like them....and at the same time I have those other friends (I don't want to call them close-minded but sometimes...) that think playing a guitar is "westernization" and the feeling that I got -- "open-minded" want me to become like them. This is what I feel...like I'm not accepted by either side =S

Bottom line is...I am who I am and there's no way in hell I'm changing over stupid reasons like the one's above and the ones I didn't mention (here's my stubborn side for yah =P).

That's all!

=D