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Ok, but the pattern in the USA has been for it to welcome immigrants from other countries and allow, even encourage, them to climb and improve themselves at the expense of African Americans. We used to joke that immigrants knew when they had taken the first step toward being real Americans when they learned to say the N-word the right way......
How in the world did you turn this into a "race card" thing? Is the chip on your shoulder really that big and who is the "we" to whom you refer?
The "melting pot" theory is now the "salad bowl" theory.
And that theory is that one does not need to assimilate and that we can all co-exist happily without adapting and acquiring a common culture/language.
It's considered more "politically correct" to let cultures keep their identities.
Critics say it keeps a people divided rather than united and pits various cultures against each other with regards to politics. Seems like they are right.
The melting pot theory is really another nostalgic myth. It's always been more of a salad bowl. Assimilation never fulled occurred in groups to create a homogeneous culture. No, that's why we have distinct subcultures. We have many people who still identify with being Italian American, German American, French American, African American, Chinese American, Japanese American, etc. There are distinct neighborhoods that are still ethnic enclaves.
However, there is the unifying effect of language and consumerism. Each subsequent generation may still practice some cultural traditions of their original home, but they are more likely to speak English. Hence why, for example, the people on Jersey shore may identify with being Italian American...they speak English rather than Italian. Mass consumerism is really creating a global middle class. An upper middle class boy in Nairobi has more in common with an upper middle class boy in Seoul than a poor boy in Nairobi. The lifestyle of the West is pervasive and only growing stronger. Thus, a unifying effect via multi-national corporations. This is why some anthropologists bemoan the Walmartization of the suburbs (where Overland Park, KS looks and feels like Irvine, CA).
So really what is occurring is the increased superficiality of differences in culture. I'm currently witnessing it here in Seoul. Sometimes it feels like I perpetually live in K-Town Los Angeles. Really the standardization of consumerism dulls the cultural distinctions in the part of Seoul I'm in.
My hypothesis is that the salad bowl is an effort to maintain some cultural markers against the rising tide of standardization. I wholeheartedly think that this is a good idea. My parents house is another suburban tract house, but inside we have African masks and paintings. I still speak French with my family. However, my family has still assimilated if you will. I see in the neighborhood I grew up in suburban California that it was ethnically and racially mixed, not totally divided. My best friends were Mexican, Greek, German, Aruban, Korean, Chinese, Black...we got along well. It was common to have friends of various backgrounds. The common theme, again, mass consumption as a solidifying cultural ethos.
"Salad bowl" works for me. calibro1 raises some very interesting points. Is homogeneity really all that great? I too bemoan the "Walmatization" of America - but my background is Sociology.
I am a European (White) American. And if one were to take a brief look around my home, there are multicultural items - but mostly ones gleaned from my travels - not my heritage(s) - unless I happen to like it. I feel no real need to "represent."
I left the bland suburbs for the gritty, architecturally rich and ethnically diverse rust belt city of Wilkes-Barre PA. On my block there are people of Welsh, Polish, African American, Slovak, Irish, Italian, English Puerto Rican, Lithuanian and Korean backgrounds.
We have Catholics, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutherans, Unitarians, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Methodist, Wican and Agnostics
My neighbors tell me that every summer there is a big block party and everyone seems to help each other out.
Was Multiculturalism a project or an ongoing social event? I think it was and is an ongoing process.
On my block things are just fine.
No it hasn't. We've survived since the 1600s being multicultural. Don't worry.
That is only because those that came here were not trying to change America. Now many of those that come here do not respect the laws of this country and want to change this country.
If you dont agree with that happening they then call you a racist to try and silence you.
That is only because those that came here were not trying to change America. Now many of those that come here do not respect the laws of this country and want to change this country.
If you dont agree with that happening they then call you a racist to try and silence you.
BTW, the "real" Agrestic...Stevenson Ranch is not that homogeneous, it's pretty diverse.
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