Assimilation: what is your definition of it ?

Question

Yours, not the dictionary's
Does one have to renounce their heritage ?
Does one havet to renounce their culture ?
Note : This is not an immigration question !!

Answer 1

My definition of assimilation is the same as the dictionaries.

A "melting pot". Its best for the country.

What benefit is there to not learning the English language?
none
Who in the 21st century is against inter-racial marriage?
bigots
Who deserves to live without an earned income?
nobody

The rest of "culture" is as boring and irrelevant as someones personal preference for a hobby. For the most part, all Americana's wake up in a bed, eat a breakfast, go to school or work, watch the same TV shows, go to the same malls, drive the same cars, enjoy the same freedoms, and celebrate the same national holidays.

Have a job, speak English, respect the freedom of the US.

Then if you want to wear a turban, worship Buddha, study your ethnicity, or play the bagpipes - nobody cares.

Answer 2

To assimilate something is, in my opinion, to make that something your own or part of you.

In a multi-cultural society, and the majority of present-day cultures are multi-cultural, assimilation is a survival mechanism, whether you like it or not.

I don't think you have to renounce your ancestry, your heritage and your own culture completely, but sort of blend it with the other strains, especially where it is lacking or doesn't seem convincing enough. In most cases, this happens automatically, and the outcome is a new kind of culture, not so pure and whole, but probably stronger and richer.

When there is no assimilation (and it may take a couple of generations for it to happen), because political forces are working against it, there'll be racism and prejudice and ghettoes.

Whenever two different cultures meet with each other, each will assimilate parts of the other. For a period one may appear to prevail over the other, but after some time the balance will probably take hold, and another culture, a mixture of both, will emerge.

Answer 3

Hmmmm??? Good question I guess assimilation is adjusting to your new surroundings. Going with the flow I guess. Give up heritage and culture wow well I want to say no but I guess in a way you would have to in order to "Do as the Romans do" but no I guess you don't have to give anything up my family is of Mexican Descent and they all keep their customs and culture they came here to the U.S.A. and they learned English and followed all the necessary rules and regulations and became U.S. Citizens while still keeping some of their way of life. Maybe Assimilation can be a compromise where you can keep some of your heritage and culture while still following the laws of the new land. How about that?

Answer 4

for me, assimilation IS renouncing your heritage and culture and replacing it with that of the majority (in the case of Americans, the WASP way of life)...

to assimilate means to try and be as similar to those in the majority as possible, leaving no trace of one's own culture/ heritage

Answer 5

That is the true meaning of assimilation. there are a few cultures that don't, Hispanics, Asian. They continue to practice and live in there own culture, even forcing there young to speak the native tongue at home.

Answer 6

Hawaii, pre-WWII. My parents generation didn't even know how to speak Hawaiian. Hawaii is a better place now. Cultures are not forced to become gingoists.

Answer 7

I see it as a BAD thing! And I say it is dropping everything that your ancestors have ever done traditionally and being just like everybody else...in dress, language, and every other BORING aspect of life. We need the diversity and people tend to forget that.

Answer 8

You tell us