Does multiculturalism deter from or encourage melting pot lifestyle?

Question

Some of us take multiculturalism as a way to express the individual and respect other cultures. Others experience the multicultural influence as a bully which forces us to tolerate cultures at the expense of having the opportunity to express our own unless we are to be viewed as arrogant.

Can Americans live progressively with multiculturalism and melting pot ideals, or do we as individuals have to choose what's right for ourselves and just deal with others’ attitudes.

Answer 1

Yes because at one tyme the term American meant white people and the others were not. America was a colony that became independent from the United Kingdom. American English has borrowed many terms and ideas from others. So most of our idea of living are based from studying other peoples culture beginning with Greek philosophy.

We are a Democratic-Republic meaning the majority can change the rules,but the few decide: Democrats and Republicans

Another is the salad,but who is going to be the majority.

Any ones that makes salad understands that not every vegetable and fruit will make a good salad. What are going to be left out and what is included.

People do not want to be left out and ignore but what will be included.

Simple answers never find solutions

Peoples values are always changing.

Manners and Etiquette are not valued as they once were by all Americans.

Answer 2

I don't think it's possible or desirable for America to become a "melting pot." Look at our history. Different people from around the world have been coming here since the beginning of colonization. Mostly English protestants in the northeast, while catholic French, Spanish and voodoo Africans were merging and creating a unique culture and religion in the south, while much of the west was a part of Mexico and later was infused with asians and European-Americans seeking gold. Look at New York city and all of the different neighborhoods they had- Jewish, Irish, Italian, Greek, and so on. This is all not even mentioning the original inhabitants of this land. We are ethnically, religiously, and culturally all different. I think it's fabulous and people who think we all ought to be white and Christian and forget our individual heritages need to read up a little more on their history. I think the salad metaphor works best, each "ingredient" retains its individual properties, yet it all blends together to create a unique flavor. Thinking that everything and everyone should be and think the same is the seed that leads eventually to totalitarianism and the loss of liberty. People need to read 1984, Farenheit 451, and watch V is for Vendetta to see how the fear of differences leads to opression.

Answer 3

I don't think it's a matter of having to choose what's right for ourselves. Many of our customs have evolved from people who have immigrated here. We seem to pick & choose what we like from other cultures & make it part of our own. Eventually we come to forget their origins. Just look at the food we all enjoy! From every country under the sun. We use words brought here by immigrants; e.g. saute from the French for fry. Christmas trees became part of Xmas via Germany (I think) if not from some other European country. Valentine's Day (St Valentine) originated in another country. At any rate, I'm sure you could come up with a lot more examples than I. Most legal immigrants assimilate within a generation.

I don't feel bullied into accepting an entire culture not ours. If you're thinking of the Mexican culture, I can only tell you that I'm happy they've brought their food with them. It's the attitude I have a problem with.

Answer 4

how would have culture or ethnicity be views as arrogant?

multiculturalism really isnt a melting pot... that would mean a culture was assimilated into american ways.

what your talking about sounds like accomodation in a sociological view. or like the "tossed salad" view.

is this an essay question on some kind of test?

Answer 5

Americans are sharing cultures everywhere. As quiet as it is kept, America has done that from the beginning. Races mixed and new cultures in food, styles and beliefs were started that make this nation's own unique culture.

When today's Americans believe the hype that races, religions and cultures should be separated and shunned, they are truly being unpatriotic.

Celebrate the differences. See everyone with a welcoming face. Ignore the negative propaganda.

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Answer 6

I think multiculturalism is an excellent concept that can promote mutual understanding and respect for all.
I also think that English should be the national language, and we should stop printing government and civic reports, ballots, etc. in other languages. With English as a national language, and multiculturalism as a national philosophy, we would have the best of everything: respect for each other's differences, but a common language to unify us.
I know that this is a kind of utopian concept, but I think it's workable if we all join together to MAKE it work.

Answer 7

We are what and who we are; we have been a melting pot from the beginning and this is what has kept us from becoming a solid mass of stupidity. If Wasps are intimidated, they need to review their own family tree and they will usually find that they are not the pure descent that they once thought that they were.

Answer 8

Multiculturalism is the antithesis of the melting pot.

Answer 9

Multiculturalism destroys the identity of the individual and is a Communist philosophy. It goes hand in hand with post-modernism.

Answer 10

Multiculturalism is valid when it is not against the law, public order and society.