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Well, for the previous 5+ decades, Cubans enjoyed special immigrant status that meant that they didn't have to live in the margins of society and were able to more quickly attain citizenship. This goes a long way to being more assimilated into society.
How many Cubans do you think actually came via wet-foot dry-foot? I can only name 3 members in my family that did, the vast majority came via airplane. Balseros which are Cubans that came by rafts, they generally stay in lower class and assimilate far far less. The vast majority of middle class Cubans came by ship or plane, with visas.
What about when a US citizen doesn't respect US law? What about Timothy McVeigh? Not assimilated?
No, he wasn't assimilated, obviously, and he was put to death for what he did. The Unabomber wasn't assimilated either, for that matter.
As far as I'm concerned, people born and raised in the U.S. who hate our laws, customs, values and culture can get lost too. I don't limit my contempt to ungrateful immigrants, or any ungrateful sons and daughters of immigrants either. Regardless of where you were born and raised, if you don't like it here, then please go away. There are more than 200 other countries to choose from. Besides, as we keep hearing on this forum, life is too short to hate where you live, right?
No, he wasn't assimilated, obviously, and he was put to death for what he did. The Unabomber wasn't assimilated either, for that matter.
As far as I'm concerned, people born and raised in the U.S. who hate our laws, customs, values and culture can get lost too. I don't limit my contempt to ungrateful immigrants, or any ungrateful sons and daughters of immigrants either. Regardless of where you were born and raised, if you don't like it here, then please go away. There are more than 200 other countries to choose from. Besides, as we keep hearing on this forum, life is too short to hate where you live, right?
Assimilation has nothing to do with crime. Sorry to break it to you, but the US is a violent nation. Crime is a part of our culture, and violence especially since the very beginning. Assimilation has nothing to do with that. So the dangerous areas of Detroit, Memphis, St. Louis, New Orleans, those areas aren't a part of American society? They very much are. America is a nuanced nation and when talking about assimilation you can't only be one sided. The Tsarnaev bro's were PoS's as was McVeigh and any one who has mugged, assaulted, raped or murdered in this country but thats got zero to do with assimilation. The Columbine shooters were not culturally separated from the rest of their white American peers, nor was Charles Manson. They were messed up in the head but they weren't "unassimilated."
Dzokhar Tsarnaev IS assimilated to US culture. Him being an Islamic terrorist has nothing to do with it. He still spoke English, wore American style fashion, used American expressions and slang. He's a horrible person and deserves to be put to death but that's got nothing to do with assimilation. Even carrying out an attack for religious extremism has nothing to do with it. The way you're saying it is like implying that "terrorism" is an innate part of his home culture as opposed to what it really is; a borderless evil that doesn't fully represent an entire culture. Thats like saying that killing Indians is representative of American culture. Its an awful part of our history but its hardly representative of our culture.
Assimilation has nothing to do with crime. Sorry to break it to you, but the US is a violent nation. Crime is a part of our culture, and violence especially since the very beginning. Assimilation has nothing to do with that. So the dangerous areas of Detroit, Memphis, St. Louis, New Orleans, those areas aren't a part of American society? They very much are. America is a nuanced nation and when talking about assimilation you can't only be one sided. The Tsarnaev bro's were PoS's as was McVeigh and any one who has mugged, assaulted, raped or murdered in this country but thats got zero to do with assimilation. The Columbine shooters were not culturally separated from the rest of their white American peers, nor was Charles Manson. They were messed up in the head but they weren't "unassimilated."
Dzokhar Tsarnaev IS assimilated to US culture. Him being an Islamic terrorist has nothing to do with it. He still spoke English, wore American style fashion, used American expressions and slang. He's a horrible person and deserves to be put to death but that's got nothing to do with assimilation. Even carrying out an attack for religious extremism has nothing to do with it. The way you're saying it is like implying that "terrorism" is an innate part of his home culture as opposed to what it really is; a borderless evil that doesn't fully represent an entire culture. Thats like saying that killing Indians is representative of American culture. Its an awful part of our history but its hardly representative of our culture.
No, Tsarnaev identified as a Chechen Muslim, not as an American. In fact he had a lot of trouble fitting into American society which alienated him.
What about New Jersey Italians? They're obviously different than Italians in Italy but most of them seek to stick together and not intermarry with anyone else and still act very Italian. Now I know this isn't the BEST example but in Jersey Shore the Italians on the show all wanted to specifically look for other Italians for their significant others. Jersey still has a large number of people with pure Italian ancestry who have not intermarried with other cultures. Their culture is also very distinct from "mainstream" American society and they've kept a lot of their Italian culture.
I dont agree. Appalachia is the area where most people report American as their primary ancestry so I'd say they're well integrated. Isolated I can understand but not unassimilated
Yes I live in West Virginia and most people here still have a mix of ancestries. Scots-Irish is often mixed in with Irish, German, English and Native American. A large number of people here are "white" but say they have Cherokee ancestors. The Trail of Tears did pass through WV and it was here that many were able to escape into the mountains. Also the people here who have accents do NOT speak in a Celtic or British accent. Not like how Spanish is the primary language of Miami and South Texas. And I disagree that people in South Texas shouldn't "assimilate" just because that area used to be Mexico, because after all the Native Americans now mostly speak English and live an American lifestyle.
Cajun country in South Louisiana is also a unique pocket.
Speaking the language is not the only criteria of assimilation. As another poster mentioned, Muslims in Dearborn are definitely not assimilated into American culture. Even the second generation, who speak fluent English, prefer Sharia law and don't believe in democracy/other American culture/values. They are still a small share of the population in the US, but they are just as unassimilated as their brethren from Europe.
Yes this is very disturbing. But maybe its just that an unassimilated Arab is farther from the cultural norm in the US than an unassimilated Mexican from South Texas or an unassimilated Cuban from Miami. The machismo culture is still very strong in South Texas for example and their cultural beliefs overall are the same as in Mexico.
Many people of all races prefer to socialize with others of the same race, ethnicity or religious background as themselves. This is true even for people whose ancestors have been in America for several generations.
So, I don't consider that to be necessarily an indication of non-assimilation.
How many Cubans do you think actually came via wet-foot dry-foot? I can only name 3 members in my family that did, the vast majority came via airplane. Balseros which are Cubans that came by rafts, they generally stay in lower class and assimilate far far less. The vast majority of middle class Cubans came by ship or plane, with visas.
Are you kidding me? The Cuban immigration policies didn't affect just those arriving by homemade boats since the 90s. It applied to any Cuban arriving by any means to any place in the United States for several decades. The entire policy wasn't about "wet foot, dry foot". The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 and the acceptance of massive boat lifts including Mariel lifts in the early 80s were all done under the umbrella of special immigration privileges that resulted in residency and a more rapid path to citizenship.
Why are Chinese not on this list? I passed through Chinatown, NY today and barely anyone spoke English.
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