My response to an article promoting forced assimilation of immigrants into our America culture:
Canada has always considered itself a mosaic, while America has thought of itself as a melting pot. In a mosaic, everyone maintains their own cultural identity, which makes sense for Canada since there is a clear line between the French and English cultures. They just handle all other cultures the same way. But here, as a melting pot, the idea is to blend together – to have immigrants add their unique spice to the soup. What we look for is the very best every culture has to offer to be added and blended in the mix. In that manner, American culture is always changing, always becoming stronger, always evolving into something even more wonderful and incredible that it has been before. True culture is never imposed on folks, it grows from the traditions we honor and the new additions we embrace. Our holidays, the foods we eat, the words we use here in our country are largely borrowed from other cultures. And those things we create ourselves, such as New Orleans Jazz came out of that melting pot. Like any melting pot, slag often rises to the surface and, to make the metal as strong as it can be, you have to remove the slag. That’s why we don’t do the Makarena any more. But what’s left is the alloy that has forged the America we know today. That is how it has always been. It is our most deeply held tradition built on our most fundamental values. But I do agree with the author of the quoted article in one respect. If you don’t like it, you can leave.
