Why is it considered racist, to feel alienated by outside cultural influences?

Question

This describes, the increase of Latino culture in the US, and Islamic culture in France and UK. Why are so many people wanting to throw the prejudice card out at someone, who doesn't enjoy the changes in one's society. By this I mean, when certain cultural influence's affect the way of a nation's previous society. Why is that considered racist? Is it because I enjoy the culture I grew up with, and don't want to lose it? Does that make me an ignorant and biased individual to want to preserve "my" culture? No offense to Latino's/Muslims but if I wanted to live in a highly Latino/Islamic influenced society. I would move to one. Why are so many people disgusted at the idea of assimilation? I enjoy the nation of Turkey, and I am learning about Turkey's culture and it's history. I am essentially trying to adopt the culture of Turkey, because if I want to be Turkish, what right do I have to tell Turks how to speak or pray, or live? Does Pro-Assimilation make someone prejudice? I think not.

Answer 1

No, you're not racist :)

But society changes...this way or that way. And no culture is free from outside influence.

I don't quite know what these people are trying to change but you can always preserve your own culture while letting others do that for themselves.

Answer 2

It isn't. All the concerns you listed deal with culture and behavior, none with race.

The term acquired Herculean power in the sixties as a sound bite, political stain-machine and editorial weapon. People really like having effect when they write or speak. Honesty, contextual integrity and accuracy all become unimportant. They want the biggest bang for the buck regardless of side-effect or loss of credibility. So they use it unsparingly.

For those more concerned about accuracy and keeping things in a realistic context, this issue doesn't begin with personal feelings anymore than milk originates at a grocery store.

To get a fair grasp of the big picture - why there are so many poor of other nations and why are the immigration numbers suddenly exploding - a study of global population growth, it's needs, desires and available resources is the place to start.

Have a look at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

Also, consider that at this time last century, the global population was higher than it had ever been in history (at 1.7 Billion) and that since then, we've added another 5 Billion (6.7 Billion).

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/worldhis.html

If you look at charts showing increases in agricultural yields that are essentially 100% due to the use of cheap petroleum, those increases correspond almost perfectly to global population growth.

What does all that mean? Simple: if oil gets expensive, so will food; in a BIG way! Notice what has happened to prices of milk, beef, corn chips, etc, in the last 24 months? Those increases are directly related to the cost of oil per barrel and the effort to find renewable energy (corn ethanol).

The pressures we're facing concerning immigration stem from these shifts.

Some real sticklers are coming down the pipe as China and India - who, combined, have about 2.6 Billion people - begin to buy cars and hence, oil, at U.S. rates/capita. Instead of 200 million people dipping from the well, there will soon be over 3 Billion, causing oil prices to skyrocket, food to be priced nothing like it is today and SOOOOOO.....

MORE WORLD MIGRATION!

More of the same. Dang! Well, we've fooled Mother Nature for over 150 years. No one alive today has even heard firsthand accounts of what she can really do. But without a replacement for oil, what can we do?

BTW, this is a "Return-To-Nature" prophecy, not a "Doomsday" one. Same old, same old, only none of us has ever seen anything like it.

Better start teaching these countries about that year-long birth-control injection and FAST!


....

Answer 3

It's not racist at all. The first responder is right...it's about political correctness. Both the US and UK govt are have no balls. I am American and I believe if you are here in the US, speak English and assimilate into this culture.

A statement by Theodore Roosevelt, 1919:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Answer 4

i dont think its racist to want to keep what you concider to be your culture. On the other had you have got to reolize that people also want to keep their culture. Assimilation takes time and it usually grows with each generation.America as a whole is changing to a more diverse society which can be good for some and not so good for others. its all a question of numbers if there are more latinos and more muslims in one part that culture will influnce every aspect of society within that region. If you want to keep your culture do it you have the right to. America will change and there is no stoping it it will but if you want to keep it the way it was it will be hard because you will probably be the only one staying in one place and the world will move in another direction. goood luck i hope you find peace.

Answer 5

You just answered your own question. Where does assimilation end and where does it begin. When one culture is displaced into another who's to say who got assimilated and who's the dominant culture. The nice part about the US is the diversity of people that can coexist. Note, I did not say get along I said coexist. Not to like a certain culture isn't racist, it's preference, not liking or conversely liking somebody before you get to know them because of their cultural background is racist. But the word racist in itself is a minomer because "race" is an abstract and invented notion.

Answer 6

I agree. I am not a racist at all, in fact I was in love with and engaged to an Arab man in the past.

I am from a very very remote town in Northern Minnesota, and every year we have a cute little thing called the Blueberry Festival. The firemen host a pancake feed, there are quilt raffles, a parade, etc... would I be annoyed if some Native Americans wanted to come celebrate with us? Of course not, they would be welcomed in! However, I would be seriously offended if they proposed that we scrap the parade and instead have a pow-wow.

When my ex-fiancee visited me, he was fascinated by fishing, deer hunting, water-skiing, and anything that had to do with snow. He didn't come to Minnesota and make us adapt to his activities and diet, etc., he adapted to us. My little village in Minnesota was the exact opposite of Cairo, Egypt, and he loved it!

When people think of culture, I think they immediately think of African tribes, South American tobacco farmers, Asian markets, etc. Many are quick to demote the American lifestyle as a non-culture...sort of like we're media-frenzied, corn-fed, career-oriented non-people with no real history. But darn it, my culture is just as credible as any other and I don't want others infiltrating it either! Sure, live here, work here, but don't make ME learn about YOUR culture so that I don't accidentally offend you by shaking your hand instead of bowing.

Answer 7

It's not actually racisim to like one's own culture and not want to have it change it another. Racism is one of today's new hip words for assaulting people with. People don't want to be called racist, as general society looks down upon those people, so if you're called a racist, you'll try to avoid doing/saying what you did in order to be called racist.

I am pro-assimilation and pro-diversity. Can this happen? Sure. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. But that doesn't mean to forget your past. You can celebrate your own culture easily, just don't expect everyone else to make amends to fit your cultural design. If your culture hates fast food restaurants, and is against your belief, don't go to them. But don't have them torn down, because I like them. Learn to live with us.

Answer 8

You can still keep your culture and be able to embrace someone elses culture. I am Colombian but I was raised in the US so I have both cultures. I have the US culture first because I grew up in a small town 1.2 square miles where 85 percent or more of the population was white and the rest was black, asain and hispanic. I was close to a different town which had alot of colombian influence and I like having both influences in my life. And my white friends did too. We went to Latin festivals and we listened to spanish music and now I am gone and live in Texas but those friends still enjoy the hispanic culture and still do things that we used to do together. They keep an open mind and try different things out. That is the problem with some people they are so close minded they dont want to experience something new.

Answer 9

nicely i'm sixteen, black, and not racist; and that i've got no longer been on a date/had a gf yet. yet I stay in a predominantly white city with a small volume of minorities, yet basically 10-15 black human beings (8 of them being adult men). I have no charm for the black ladies AT my college, yet might kinda opt to locate a black female. My substantial objective team collectively as at this college, hence, is white ladies. the issue that I run into is that the white ladies are not particularly into the assumption of courting a black guy. yet yea, I see what you're asserting; and that i might answer Halle Berry to "Who do you think of is the favorite?" over each physique else. My advice to you is to maintain your self open. you will be in a issue similar to mine the place one team of folk merely isn't captivating. in case you boost your seek section to comprise the encompassing section (as i'm attempting to do), you will locate that there are a lot of human beings from ALL races that are captivating. (I merely desire i discover them). sturdy success!

Answer 10

I think it's similar to the way George Orwell defined the difference between patriotism and nationalism in his "Notes on Nationalism." Patriotism consists of believing one's own way of life is the best, but having no desire to force anyone else to live that way. Nationalism is more "outward-reaching."

So the question, then, is whether the immigrants really affect your ability to live your life the way you grew up. If they really impede your ability to keep your own customs, then it's reasonable for you to have a problem with them. If you can go about your business while they go about theirs in a different way, then you're bigoted if you have a problem with that. If your biggest gripe is overhearing a foreign language on the street, or having to press one extra button when dealing with an automated call center, or seeing people dressed funnily eating some weird foods, then I think you're being unreasonable.