06-13-2016, 07:06 PM
(06-13-2016, 06:03 PM)Benton Wrote: Three hundred years of practice would say otherwise. The Irish didn't ruin the country. The Germans in the early 1800s didn't. The Chinese didn't. The Catholics didn't. The Germans and Jews didn't again in the mid-20th century. Mexicans didn't and — according to some — are providing a large portion of cheap labor helping keep the economy running.
All those groups came here in large numbers and integrated. That's what American culture is, a mix of everywhere else. THAT is what makes is special. The fact you can get a Korean pedicure while you wait for your table at the Mexican restaurant next door, now while smoking a Cuban cigar, drinking Irish whiskey, while watching the latest JJ Abrams (he's Jewish) movie on your Nokia (Finnish) smart phone. You can do that and best of all, you can even put your culture into it. Come from a strong German background? Great! Host a build-a-brat night in your neighborhood to meet other of a like heritage. Got some Cherokee? Attend a tribal dance or similar event.
The fact we can celebrate those differences makes us special. Not being bigoted or xenophobic.
That sums up my thoughts nicely.
It could just be my interpretation of the words, but I associate "assimilation" with a loss of culture and "integration" with more of a sharing of cultures. Its understandable that some don't appreciate the travesty that a loss of culture is when the United States' contributions to its own culture are minimal. Like Benton said, our entire culture is a mix of dozens of different ones, with a few of our own thrown in.
Imagine if we forced all the immigrants who came here before to assimilate and forfeit their cultures. America would be left with what today? Fast food, Western Movies and the Assembly Line?
