"Western" vs "Eastern" Buddhism

What exactly is a Western Buddhist? Or for that matter Western Buddhism?
Lets face it, some pretty heavy-hitters have weighed in on this issue and in a side by side comparison of qualifications for addressing it, I don't think I'd stack up to well. To be honest, I don't really think I  have any qualifications, there are no initials behind my name, nobody has ever transmitted anything to me and as far as I know, nobody has listed me in their "spiritual will".

I decided this was the place to respond to some issues surrounding this topic as they arise.
All I really have to offer here is my own observations, which are based on my limited personal experience. As such, I've noticed they're subject to change. I have found that as I go about my life, getting exposed to new people, ideas and experiences, my perspective on things constantly seems to change, sometimes expanding, sometimes contracting, sometimes changing in the moment and sometimes shifting slowly over the course of the years. Based on this, I have inferred that since my sense of "reality" is based on subjective experiences, "reality" for me, is subject to change.
As you can imagine, this works out well for somebody who, for the time being, is OK identifying as Buddhist. (If you are the kind of person who is prone to fits of philosophical logic, or is scientifically minded, try not to let what I'm saying worry you too much, its my reality after all, not yours!). I guess this is a long-winded way of saying I might not identify with these thoughts by the time I'm finished typing them! 

Lately I've been thinking about what being Buddhist constitutes for non-Asian Americans. While the topic is a little sticky, its also interesting and informative to delve into. I currently live in Southern California, I've also lived in Northern California, Seattle, Eastern Washington State, Idaho and Alaska, my home State. As might be assumed the general rule is, the farther north you go the "Whiter" and more Caucasian things seem to get. However, what many people fail to realize, is that places like Alaska and Eastern Washington also have large extant indigenous populations (Nope, John Wayne didn't kill em all). Here in Southern we have one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse populations on the planet and it makes for some interesting cross-cultural dynamics. One of them is the opportunity to hear how other people contextualize you according to their experiences and beliefs. I want it to be clear that my experiences and the thoughts they've helped form, are personal- I'm not speaking for anyone else, but I do want to address at least one idea I've heard lately about Western Buddhists from some very lovely acquaintances who happen to be Asian Buddhists.

Myth: "All Western Buddhists are converts from Abrahamic Faiths and are unable to let go of this theistic perspective. "

Truth:  I'm not, so that means we're at least one shy of "all", and I have a hunch that I'm not the only one.

I also have a hunch about this stereotype, Its called "the squeaky Dharma wheels get the grease". People who convert are, by definition, experiencing major shifts in perspective. These shifts are sometimes accompanied by a lot of "compare and contrast" and vociferous identification- I don't think this is a bad thing, its just a thing. There are probably many converts who aren't vocal about the experience... you're just not hearing from them.

 I was not, nor have I ever been Christian, Jewish, Muslim or  Catholic. My parents did do a very brief stint as Baha'i's, but I made a choice for myself at the age of twelve, that I was fine with Buddhism. Many Western Buddhists I've met are from a non-specific spiritual backgrounds and I also know some very fine, upstanding Western Buddhist who inherited their beliefs from their Western Buddhist parents, it happens.

I think some of the confusion here may stem from differences between Eastern and Western cultures in concepts of social identity. I can easily imagine how someone coming from a culture where group identification is a prevailing norm, might have a to assume that there was some similar, coherent, prevailing social structures binding together all of us "individualists" and I'm sure there are but in this case I don't think its a predilection for theism.  As far as I can tell, the best part of two cultures or for that matter, two people coming together, is the space it opens for us to explore our differences, review our assumptions and deepen our understandings. I'm grateful that I live in a place that provides so many ample opportunities to do just this and that I get to participate in a faith that equally challenges me.