Our country was founded by Europeans and the culture slowly formed into how it is today. We have immigrants but they don't change our culture. American culture is very specific it's not just a bunch mixed together
@fronan yes but we have a culture. Do you think that Canada has no culture? Australia? Any of the countries in South America? We are not just a bunch of disparate foreigners who have never mingled. We had a distinctly American culture by the time we fought the revolution. Just because we have not each and everyone lived here since time immemorial does not mean we do not have our own culture. In fact, we are such a large country we have many cultures, but "American" is paramount. There was a time when immigrants had to learn English, give up their foreign citizenship, and assimilate.
I think assimilation is important to be a successful citizen but encouraging them to completely lose their culture and language is the same as when we took all those Native American children stripped them
of their possession, cut their hair, and forced them into our schools when they were there first.
Assimilation does not mean losing an identity, it means gaining another. A Mexican, for instance, does not have to switch burritos for hotdogs and never again speak a word of Spanish to assimilate into America. They essentially need only to stop thinking of themselves as Mexican. What happened to the native Indians cannot be brought into the current argument, as they were not brought into America.
What does accepting the culture mean? Because I don't think it means what you think it means (I believe the word you were looking for was assimilation). One could respect the culture but not partake in all aspects of it, but still be a good functioning part of the society. The point is assimilation rarely works in practice, and even then it has to be really ruthless. Even if someone is willing to assimilate himself, it is more often than not that the society itself wont accept it, due to racism, religion etc. So the only practical alternative is integration and mutual respect, in a way peaceful coexistence.
Not true at all. If we are a nation of immigrants, and assimilation doesn't work, then we must be an incoherent fustercluck of hundreds of millions of people with nothing in common.
Wait, no we are Americans because, until recently, immigrants assimilated. There is nothing "ruthless" about expecting an American citizen to be an American citizen. Your last line describes assimilation, by the way.
You know that's not true right? In Ancient Athens strangers could not vote, participate to political life and did not even have the right to buy a land. They only were "welcome" to increase trade and Athens' wealth... (History student here)
I don't get why there are so many complaints on FS about people not assimilating. Aside from some people not learning English as quickly as we would like, people are free to celebrate their own culture and it really doesn't hurt anyone else.
It's also hypocritical for a nation which is heavily monolingual to pitch a fit because people who move here don't already understand English. We have plenty of native born people who suck at speaking English.
You have those thank may think ANY "outsider" is bad, and you have the thoughts that everyone should speak and act the same, of course. You could call it racism, xenophobia, whatever. One of the requirements to become a citizen is still to learn English. The problem most of us "complainers" have is that more and more immigrants (keep in mind I'm only talking about legal immigration) have less and less desire to become "Americans"; they want to remain whatever nationality/ethnic identity, but want to live here (because its better than where they were) and think Americans should bend and form to fit THEM. Unfortunately we have some Americans who also think this. I, and most everyone I admit knowing, welcome immigrants and ethnic diversity, but simply demand you make an effort to fit in with the rest of us, not make an effort to force us to fit in with you. That's a rhetorical "you", not aimed at any specific fs user.
None of these comments that I've read say give up your own culture or language, stille20. They're mostly saying learn out language and learn our culture. They moved here by choice, I'm assuming, so they should learn our language and culture. I teach in a predominantly hispanic school and most of the parents have lived her 10+ years and still can't speak English. We have to spend a lot of money to hire translators to translate for them. It's rude and a total waste of money that could be spent on education or any thing more important than hiring translators.
Exactly right. Bring your culture, but integrate it with what is already here, and accept our culture and integrate it with what you bring. That is why America was once known as a "melting pot". We are a bowl where your mashed potatoes and peas mix with your meatloaf, not a divided cafeteria tray where you end up picking at one or two items you like and miss out on the full flavor.
My questions is where in your own lives do you see these problems? I mean I use to live in a big immigrant heavy city. The only big issue was kids in school who didn't know the language and had to be taught... but I see a lot of post that suggest that immigrates need to learn how to fit in. I just don't see it.
And it takes a long time to learn the language.. so do we expect them to stay in their country until they learn English... now of my ancestors were held to that standard.
I'm not thinking small when I ask that question.. I'm thinking in terms of sociology. People care most about what's right in front of them... my question is, in your own lives are you finding you are directly effected by this? rebel mentioned the school issue.. I get that, but considering the demographic of this site... why would a 14-22 year old be so concerned about this issue? English is passing Mandarin as the most widely spoken language because of the internet and American culture is rapidly pervading the rest of the world... so what is the fear?
You are still asking "in your own lives." That is small thinking. Just because something does not noticeably and directly affect you personally does not mean it is not an issue.
Okay, you're not listening... I'm not asking if the issue exists. I'm asking why it would be in the forefront of the minds of young people. For example, Gay rights issues existed for a long time before it became a nation wide discussion..... but moving on, because we have gone way beyond where anyone else would bother to read this conversation.
Back to stille20's comment "And it takes a long time to learn the language" It doesn't take 10 years to learn a language, more like 1-2 if you're trying. My ex-husband, from Lebanon, was fluent in English within 2 years. And spoke it very well within 1 year. The parents at my school don't even try. English language classes were offered and they cancelled them because only 2 parents showed up. It's just rude.
This is becoming more prevalent because of those in our country who do not believe in assimilation. If I could move to, say Germany, and would have a better life and the Germans would not require me to learn German or accept their culture, I might not bother with the language either. I blame certain Americans, not the immigrants.
of their possession, cut their hair, and forced them into our schools when they were there first.
Wait, no we are Americans because, until recently, immigrants assimilated. There is nothing "ruthless" about expecting an American citizen to be an American citizen. Your last line describes assimilation, by the way.
It's also hypocritical for a nation which is heavily monolingual to pitch a fit because people who move here don't already understand English. We have plenty of native born people who suck at speaking English.
And it takes a long time to learn the language.. so do we expect them to stay in their country until they learn English... now of my ancestors were held to that standard.
Ok, with that off my chest here are a few links I've found that explain the issue pretty well: http://www.weareoneamerica.org/immigrant-integration-depth
https://www.gcir.org/integration
This one, I think, plays the race card but still makes some valid points:
http://m.mic.com/articles/56845/integration-is-just-as-important-as-immigration#.VR0k1akj3