Why do we, as Americans, celebrate diversity over unity?

Question

I don't understand why ethnic groups celebrate diversity over unity. Seems like racism to me. I read Richard Lamm's speech and I am surprised that people are so ignorant. The speech can be found here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/lamm.asp
Any ideas why?

I don't understand why ethnic groups celebrate diversity over unity. Seems like racism to me. I read Richard Lamm's speech and I am surprised that people are so ignorant. The speech can be found here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/l...
Any ideas why?

Edit: Please read the link before responding

Answer 1

Everyone is unique. Celebrating diversity is our strength.

Answer 2

Carefully read Richard Lamm's speech. His whole point is that the encouragement of diversity is destroying the American culture, ideal and nation. He also points out that personal diversity is necessary, but collective diversity is destructive.

He is right. This nation was founded to be ONE NATION, and we are gradually being subdivided by ethnicity and beliefs. The founding fathers believed that ethnicity and beliefs were necessary personally, but that as a nation we must institute a collective policy to cohesively function. This is so true. It's called democracy. You put an idea forth to all the people, who then are to vote on it, with the majority vote ruling. If the voters consider what is best for the country as a whole, the theory is that what is best will always win out. This does not necessarily happen, but that is the theory, based on the precepts that all want what is best for the country.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating diversity. This is the land of the free, and thus all are free to celebrate this diversity. However, that said, this is still the United States of America. Thus, we have a nation where English is the common public language, and legal immigration is welcomed, as many of us would not be here if our parents, grandparents etc had not been allowed this freedom. But our ancestors who did not speak the English language assimilated. They learned. They did not insist that all around them speak German, French, Swiss, etc, to accomodate their "native" language. They understood that they were now in America. And they were proud to be in America. And they wanted nothing more than a better life for themselves and their families, which is what today's immigrants want. But, the immigrants of past generations also understood that to have that improvement, they had to accept the changes that came with coming to America. That included living by the laws, learning the language, and becoming an American. They were still diverse. They still spoke their native languages at home. But they were more interested in becoming Americans than anything, because this country had given them that opportunity.

Richard Lamm's point, as I see it, is this: If we continue to dilute America as the focal point, we will fall. As Abraham Lincoln said over 140 years ago "A House divided against itself cannot stand". America is becoming a house divided once again. We healed that division with much bloodshed from 1861-1865. We need to heal the division again. We can and must do it without that cost.

If immigrants do not wish to embrace American culture, American language, American customs, then they are not immigrants. They are parasites on our government. And parasites can kill. Never doubt it.

Answer 3

Because we are idiots. It s a bunch of bull crap shoved down our throats and up our asses in school and everywhere. I first encountered it in college when my interview for a Resident Assistant job in the dorm had all kinds of questions regarding "diversity" and "multicultaralism." I lied brilliantly and got the job. Do people really think that by glorifying fragmentation we will actually from a stronger society? I could not then nor can I know talk about how I really feel, I would be branded a bigot and a racist, maybe I am a little but these issues should not be taboo. I love his speech btw. I wish more politicians would speak candidly, apparently he had nothing to lose at the time and could speak honestly.


After reading the other responses I realize how right I am. Brainwashed fools!! Why do states with more homogeneous cultural mixes have lower crim rates? Think!! Look at crime statistics for Maine and other homogeneous states.

Answer 4

Fear-Everyone wants to be right all the time and instead of embracing all people and cultures and respecting the difference they have a Fear of the unknown -for example-ever ethnic group has its own traditions and you see it in religion too. So if you don't understand or take the time to ask why someone believes what they believe you are just scared of it. Not every child is taught to have an "open mind" some are taught selfish values (do whatever you have to do to get ahead and who cares about how it effects people around you.) So unless there is more education about how to think and draw logical conclusions this will be an issue for a long long time.

Answer 5

I have unity in my own family, but there is diversity also ,racial,religious,ideological but what keeps us together is our unity as a family.
We are family first and individuals second. We should be Americans first and Republicans, Democrates, black, white, immigrant,native born, rich, poor, Christain,and Jew second. If every human said "first I am a citizen of the world" then I am Arab, American, French ect. then the world would have diversity but with a common bond. When we put our diversities first we make ourselves weak and hostile to what unifies us.

Answer 6

You may wish to look at this video also .it explains more about what the post is asking also.

http://usawakeup.org/HowToDestroyAmerica.htm

Inability to speak English impairs the capacity of a citizen to digest political speech, to serve on juries, to participate in judicial proceedings, to serve in the armed forces, and to participate in a military mobilization. From the viewpoint of society, the fact that some citizens will escape the obligations and miss the opportunities of America will only enhance the prospect for isolation and ethnic strife By draining public funds, lowering wages and working conditions, displacing legal workers, and overwhelming communities, illegal immigration causes substantial harm to American citizens and legal immigrants.The aggressive way the illegals work at not assimilating into the American way of life causes many problems.both for the illegal and American citizens.
We will not allow this country to become your Mexico
I say Mexico because I live in AZ and our illegals come from Mexico.99% are from Mexico and the other 1% are fro other Latin country's.Truth not selective racism.

Excellant post Margie thanks

Answer 7

For the sake of political correctness as defined by the media, activists, activist judges, and liberals. In the past, immigrant worked at being assimilated into the overall population while retaining their culture and customs. Current immigrants do not want to become assimilated. They want to retain their culture, customs, language, and even their old country's flag. They become, for example, Cubans who just happen to live in the US. Political correctness says that the current citizens should learn the immigrants language vs the other way around.

Only in America!

Answer 8

celebrating diversity will be America's down fall. American must have unity. If we all speak english, so we can communicate, we all pay taxes, we all pledge allegence to the American Flag, we are all LEGAL., We all get along...for the most part.

Otherwise, diversity rips everyone apart.

Answer 9

You're wrong. This country was founded on the concept of diversity creating unity. That is why the motto is "out of many, one" (E Pluribus Unum) and why our flag (one piece of cloth) had a star and stripe for EACH state, with the liberal policy of planning to change it--as crazy as that sounds--each time a new state would be added.

Go back to the values our Founders gave us. Although they were all white men, they handled the diversity among themselves with genius--with aplomb, with all the maturity NOT evident in how all the white men of Europe spent their time in useless, destructive wars.

We owe them what we have today. We can discuss, disagree, contend, compete; yet we can then come to consensus on our core values as Americans and create an ever better nation.

Conformity be damned!

Answer 10

"No cries for more diversity for Asia or Africa" Really? Ever heard of the monk who SET HIMSELF ON FIRE at a demonstration for Tibetan rights in China? Ever heard of the discrimination against Mongolians? Ever hear about the push for diversity amongst tribes in Rwanda? Ever hear about how Persians are only about 45% of their own country (Iran)? Ever hear about the violence against the Kurds in Iraq? Ever hear about the UN actions against mass genocide in Sudan? If not, then I fail to see how what the point of asking this question was if you didn't even do your homework.

Answer 11

Media and politicians. They show you what they want. It's always been diversity over unity. Even back when the Irish where coming over. Population to % wise there are less people immigrating now than back then.