Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Bolded the parts where you make sweeping generalizations. Lots of 2nd and 3rd generation Americans, even beyond that, hold onto the culture of their ancestors. I see it every day in Chicago- I guess it's different in Sanfrancisco? I see it in China town, I see it in tons of Polish people throughout the city- basically anywhere that isn't a yuppie scene in Chicago you can see a lot of culture in different people's lives, even 2nd and 3rd generation Americans. I've even picked up a few Polish swears over a few years just overhearing them scream They may not be totally clueless to American culture as the people just getting off the plane or boat (and we have many immigrants anyway), but that doesn't mean that Chicago is starved of cultural diversity.
Of course it is a generalization but it is based on my observation of people I went to school and work with. I believe you might have picked up some Polish swears but I do not think from the 2nd and 3rd generations as they seldom use Polish on a daily basis... I suspect you picked them up from more recent immigrants.
Yes, SF is different as it has a larger percentage of foreign born residents hence it is more cosmopolitan than Chicago.
[quote=thefinalcut;9600337]Not sweeping generalizations but rather my experience with immigrants. yes, you might have picked up some Polish swears but I do not think 2nd and 3rd generations in America use them on a daily basis. You probably picked them up from recent immigrants.
Yes, SF is different as it has a larger percentage of foreign born residents than Chicago hence it is more cosmopolitan than Chicago.[/quote]
You might want to brush up on the definition of "cosmopolitan"
Not sweeping generalizations but rather my experience with immigrants. yes, you might have picked up some Polish swears but I do not think 2nd and 3rd generations in America use them on a daily basis. You probably picked them up from recent immigrants.
Yes, SF is different as it has a larger percentage of foreign born residents than Chicago hence it is more cosmopolitan than Chicago.[/quote]
You might want to brush up on the definition of "cosmopolitan"
Lots of 2nd and 3rd generation Americans, even beyond that, hold onto the culture of their ancestors. I see it every day in Chicago- I guess it's different in Sanfrancisco?
I agree that many do and that they can do so without losing their cultural identity. I have many, many friends of various backgrounds that have successfully done so, while at the same time I have several who have either lost their cultural identity and become "white-washed," or are stubborn and have clung to their culture so strongly that they've failed to assimilate properly. There is plenty of all of the above to be found out here in SF.
I've had more friends than I can count that are fluent in their native tongue yet sound just like me when they speak English, at home eat both their native foods and American food, maintain a strong connection to their ethnic community while at the same time interacting with their local diverse community, and celebrate Thanksgiving and 4th of July while at the same time observing holidays from the country of their ancestry. I've known people to do this that were Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Russian....whatever. People can without a doubt assimilate and become completely American while at the same time maintain their ethnic cultural identity.
I agree that many do and that they can do so without losing their cultural identity. I have many, many friends of various backgrounds that have successfully done so, while at the same time I have several who have either lost their cultural identity and become "white-washed," or are stubborn and have clung to their culture so strongly that they've failed to assimilate properly. There is plenty of all of the above to be found out here in SF.
I've had more friends than I can count that are fluent in their native tongue yet sound just like me when they speak English, at home eat both their native foods and American food, maintain a strong connection to their ethnic community while at the same time interacting with their local diverse community, and celebrate Thanksgiving and 4th of July while at the same time observing holidays from the country of their ancestry. I've known people to do this that were Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Russian....whatever. People can without a doubt assimilate and become completely American while at the same time maintain their ethnic cultural identity.
You don't really see third or fourth generation Americans teaching their kids the language of their 3rd great grandparents. After a point, someone just stops caring. Besides, so many cultures mix in the U.S that its kind of hard to hold onto just one after three or four generations.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
They may not be totally clueless to American culture as the people just getting off the plane or boat (and we have many immigrants anyway), but that doesn't mean that Chicago is starved of cultural diversity.
