Featured The RIGHT reason for coming to America; and the wrong reason!

Not really. It's still happening, but it takes time. I work with a lot of hispanics, mostly second and third generation immigrants. Most of them don't speak spanish at all, but they still eat plenty of Mexican food. It's part of their historic culture and no one expects them to give it up. Yet they live as Americans, work as Americans and many of they have fought for America. They are totally assimilated.

"Assimilation is a process in which persons of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds come to interact, free of these constraints, in the life of the larger community."

Not subjective at all.

 

That is what you consider to be assimilated. Others have different expectations.

 

What are your expectations?

 

Total assimilation? Does that mean that no immigrant can hold to any of the cultural values, traditions, and customs of their homeland? Is that even really America? Hasn't America, from day one, been all about diversity and welcoming and inclusive of other cultures?

Total assimilation? No individualism? No other heritage or customs? Why, those are part of what makes Americans Americans.

America is only richer for her differences and diversity. No nation in the world has the same idea as becoming American -because he allows and promotes such wonderful diversity.

I am a dual citizen of the US and Ireland. I am an Irish citizen - but I will never be Irish no matter how hard I want to be or how hard I try.

People can come to America and be American without forsaking their heritage - what a great country to allow that!

 

Depends on your deinition of "totally". I consider one totally assimilated when they #1 speak English and "come to interact, free of these constraints (their ethnic heritage), in the life of the larger community." They are free to hold onto their ethnic heritage, but not to the exclusion of everything American except their geography.

 

The OP specifically said that maintaining custom and traditions was divisive.

 

And so it is, if it's to the exclusion of everything American.

 

That is not mentioned in the OP. Here is the quote

Just the desire to keep your customs and divisions is said to be divisive.

Perhaps RN2 could explain what he means by 'total assimilation?'

Can one 'live as an American and still celebrate Cinco de Mayo? The Chinese New Year?

 

When your audience is hyper critical, I agree his post should have been a couple of pages longer in order to cover ALL the possibilities and different levels of assimilation.
And since we are being so precise, he did not say "desire" to keep. Hold yourself to the same standard you're holding him to.

And if they celebrate cinco de mayo and refuse to celebrate July 4th, I'd say they are not.assimillated.

But maybe you're right and a definition of "total assimilation" is in order.

 

Fair enough. I'll correct my error:

Just wanting to keep your customs and traditions is said to be divisive.

 

Maybe we also read into the the post his history and previous rantings?

 

Could be, but that's on you.

 

Just a disclaimer - I don't consider my self as part of the 'we' who is hypercritical. Disagreeing is not hypercritical.

 

Funny. I'm Irish by heritage with a very Irish last name. Bu I am completely American by birth and in every other way. If I moved to Ireland, I'd be willing to bet I could never be Irish either. But an Irishman could move here and shortly be considered American.

My wife and I do intend to visit Ireland for our 50th. Is it really as green as it looks in pictures?

 

An Irishman would not have to stop being Irish to be an American - that has been my point from the first post.

Pictures don't even come close

If you do come please let me know so we can meet up. I'm only about 35 minutes from the airport.

 

I appreciate the invite. It will be a couple of years, but I'm really looking forward to it. Living in West Texas, all that green may be more than I can handle.

 

True. But that's my take on it.

And that's allowed.

 

Well ain't that just the dumbest statement of all time coming from a man whose ancestors immigrated here and raped, killed and pillaged the Native Americans rather than assimilate. Not to mention all the other cultures that are here who haven't "assimilated".

 

As are we all.

 

Another dumb statement. Your idea of what is assimilation isn't binding to anyone but you. Biggrin