Is the true meaning of assimilation a willingness to jump into the human meat grinder a.k.a. war when drafted?

Question

Pat Buchanan argues that Italian, Irish, Eastern European, and Asian immigrants were assimilated by WWI and WWII. Many Irish were assimilated by the Civil War.

Answer 1

Not that I am aware of. Assimilation usually refers to a distinct cultures adoption of another distinct cultures "ways." For example, I would be considered assimilated. My parents are from Cuba, which makes me Hispanic. And that is a unique and distinct culture. However, I was born here, educated here, party here, and God-willing will die here. I consider myself American. My heroes are American, my favorite artists are American, if I fell out of plane in Cuba - Cubans would call me American. The real issue is whether assimilation is absolute. Nationalists like Pat "the Borg" Buchanan would like to make it so. "refusal is futile - you will be just like me". But every culture considered to be assimilated is never absolutely so. I dance Salsa and Merengue as well as hip hop and head stomping Rock. I love burgers, but give me a plate of mom's rice and beans any day. These are my examples, but I know this to be true for Italian Americans, who adopt American culture into their own but never abandon the way of their origin - so too for Irish, Asian, African, Eastern European - etc . . .and so forth. So who really can be assimialted?

Answer 2

I don't believe that participation in an adopted country's war is the true meaning of assimilation. The motivation behind the willingness to volunteer to go to battle may have nothing to do with thinking of yourself as 'a part' of the new homeland. I believe many of the immigrants that participated in the two World Wars did so out of a continued sense of loyalty to their homelands.

Answer 3

No. People get "assimulated" by being in a culture for a few generations and also by the people around them getting used to them. This is independent of war. War does draw people together at times but it was not your wars that allowed immigrants to feel American. Quite often in times of war, immigrants have actually been oppressed because of the paranoia factor and the perception of them being foreign.

As a Canadian, I'll tell you that the U.S. is a great country but Pat Buchanan is NOT one of the people who makes it great. I will not go into my opinion on George W. Bush but unlike Pat Buchanan I can respect him even when disagreeing with him on some issues. Mr. Buchanan is one of those people Americans wish they could deport, except nobody wants him.

Answer 4

assimilation (as defined in sociological terms) is the process of becoming familiar with the customs, traditions, languages, history, and values/morals of a new land that you have immigrated too. it has nothing to do with war, unless an immigrant becomes an american citizen and is then drafted or enlists.

Answer 5

Yep, Americans fight and die if necessary for Freedom.

Being a soldier in the army now is hardly being in a "meatgrinder".

There have been about 3,000 soldiers killed in the Iraq war to date. We lost more soldiers on Dday and also more during Pearl Harbor in one day!

By the way illegal aliens have killed more Americans from Drunk Driving in the United States than the number of soldiers who have been killed in Irag.

Maybe if they "assimilated" we could stop the meatgrinder that is illegal aliens driving drunk.

Answer 6

I believe immigrants need to fight for this country. Those who come into this country should be made to sign a contract stating they will be drafted into the military if they are needed. If they want to come into this country that badly, they can fight for this country too!

Answer 7

I believe it is.
Resistance is Futile, they will be assimilated.