How can an Immigrant become a good American yet still keep their old traditions?

Question

I am not looking for people to give dumb *** remarks and start shouting racist epithets, I really want to know can a person assimilate into our society and still keep his/her former identities and customs?

I was just wondering, I am born and breed in the good ole USA.

Answer 1

Quit demanding and be more humble and follow our laws.

Answer 2

Goodness sake, son, you ARE being a good American by sharing your old traditions! What do you think makes America GREAT! OUR FREEDOMS!

Learn both! Keep the best. There is NO WAY everyone will agree with your decision (nor you with theirs). SO?

Enjoy. We live in a country where the best of every culture comes to us, and competes, and those with any real value get assimilated and become part of our greater culture.

When was the last time you entered a city and couldn't find a taco, or see someone in a parka, or see a thousand inventions brought here from around the world!

If you are legal, you are my neighbor, my brother, my sister, regardless of our ancestry. You are a U.S. citizen.
We welcome you customs.

Try the following: go to the immigration department and see where many people from your nation of ancestry have settled. Go there. Visit. Talk to people. I wish you well, my friend. Mexican traditions are easy if that's your ancestry, as legal immigrants have been adding to our country for almost two centuries, but others, such as European, African, or Asian (including a suprising number of Russian immigrants) have also found places in our society, with all our support (except for a few kooks, which also have the freedom to share their opinion).

If you are illegal. Get out. It is wrong for you to avoid the felony background check, the check for minimal job skills, the check for serious contagious diseases that all legal immigrants go through.

I wish you what you deserve, and what is just, regardless.

Answer 3

Learn English, but keep using your native tongue as well.

Try American foods, but invite others over to sample your local delicacies.

Gain citizenship, vote, and be a part of the community as a whole, but also connect with others who have the same traditions and language.

Write down your traditions, pass them on to your children, there's no need to forget them, just remember to pick up some new American traditions or at least of an understanding of American traditions and values.

Answer 4

Seriously, the first thing the new legal immigrant should do is to assimilate to the American ways, business, talking English in public, closely observing and practicing the norm of the every day society. In the privacy of their own homes, the immigrant can and should continue to practice their old traditions. Why do you think the majority of the blacks are still where they are? For any citizen of the United States of America, at least in public, assimilate, bend with the wind.

Answer 5

drake, i empathize with your situation. as an immigrant from a different country myself, i more than often ask if i should follow what my native inner voice is telling me or my american inner voice is telling me. the answer isn't simple, sorry to say. Follow what your heart tells you--I'm sure there's part of your native culture you like and dislike--and i'm sure there's just as many pros and cons that you see in american culture. Sift them through, make the decision which is important and positive for you--and there you go-- It makes you a strong , well-- a strong you. Those opinions may change over time as you are immersed into a new culture. But don't let that get you down. It makes you stronger.

Basically, experience, learn, and sift through your pros and cons from both cultures. That makes you the unique you!

Answer 6

You can assimilate and still hold on to your ancestry many do it. I would not live in Canada and fly an American flag in front of my house but I would teach my children about my homeland and its traditions but I would also learn the American traditions and have honor and respect for America and its traditions. You can achieve a balance.

Answer 7

The truth is that America is a country comprised mainly of immigrants! Many people come here and retain their former identities and customs...and that is what makes it a unique and interesting place. I think the key to being a "good" American is having national pride, but also pride in yourself and your customs. People here are generally interested in how others live, and would probably find your traditions interesting. Just remember to be equally tolerant of others and their differences. Americans don't like it when people come here thinking that they are going to change everyone around them and "convert" them to their way of life. Our beauty is in our diversity. Welcome!

Answer 8

I'm from the North East..and while growing up there were many Portuguese and Italian immigrants. They were all hard workers and great neighbors. They had the most respect for their property and property value actually increased in their neighborhoods. Immaculate yards, well behaved and respectful children.. .they're all good Americans.

Answer 9

While in general society use English and follow positive traditions of area lived, but at home or in Spanish Neighborhood have a fiesta.

Answer 10

It's possible.My mother or mor meaning mother in Danish is from Denmark.Danish is second language at home.We celebrate many customs from her native country.My far or father is Native American we also practice some of his customs.We speak some Ojibwa not much as it's a lost language.We speak German when our German relatives visit.There is nothing wrong with people keeping their native tongues and customs.It doesn't mean you are less American.Do we expect other people to speak Danish the answer is no.My mor struggled for years to learn english.She is still very shy to speak it in front of strangers.She is afraid to offend.So many times when we are shopping she speaks to me in Danish.Some people have been very rude and hurt her by yelling at her to talk english.She wasn't talking to them she was talking to me.So why do they feel the right to yell at her?Many on this forum don't like me and that's ok.I am who I am and I'm proud of who I am.Will I quit speaking Danish to make myself more "American" no.It is part of me.

Answer 11

My neighbor said he doesn't want to assimilate much of our culture (or lack thereof). He said if our values and morals were higher he would stay, but now that he has lived here for several years he doesn't want any of his future children to be raised in the U.S. He has a great job but will transfer back to his country asap.