Three Models for Integration

They are: monoculturalism, multiculturalism, and the melting pot.

The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have multiculturalism as a state mandated policy.

How has this affected their countries? Is that coming to the USA? (whixh now has an obvious melting pot scenario)

For the next few days I will research multiculturalism as a government policy in more detail.

Those from Canada (hint, hint) please explain to me more how this policy works and contrast it to the way we deal with immigrants in the United States.

I am an American-American

I used to be embarrassed by the way Southerners, when asked their cultural background, answer, “I’m Amurican!” Now I realize they are the few in this country who answer that question correctly.

My husband is an immigrant, but I proudly say that my husband is an American!! (he became a citizen BEFORE I married him)He is proud of this country and has assimilated proudly without forgetting his old country. Being an American doesn’t mean you are a traitor to your old country. In fact, I have a greater respect for his country, since he had respect for mine. He is honest and hard working and fought for this country. He is a true hero to me, and though from a culture so far away from mine, I feel that together we share a love for our country, old for me, new for him.

I am not an Anglo-Scottish French (and who knows what else) American and my husband not an Uzbek American. We are American!

This Book Looks Interesting

It was written in 1992, but its description of the history of immigration in the United States is still very much relevant. I haven’t read it yet, but Brimelow, himself an immigrant, states that the United States never intended to be a multiculturalist society. He also writes about the trend in multiculturalism and bilingual education in the schools. After reading about Gramsci, my interest has peaked even more about these educational methods. As a former teacher, (I am now a full-time housewife), I was personally affected by this trend. My European students were forced to leave their former culture behind, but the Mexican students had Spanish speaking teachers, Spanish letters, Spanish parent teacher meetings, and literature about Mexicans or Hispanic culture. When I complained and said asked why the Russian students did not have translators, assistants, and translated letters, I was told that it was not my business. I happened to speak a little Russian, but used it to only help the newly arrived students. I think a student who has been in America after 5 years should not need a translator!! I will note that my most successful students were Korean. They needed a little help here or there (I admit I used my Korean only after making many attempts to communicate in English)but usually were ready to pass out of ESOL within one year. Mexicans usually took 5 years. No exaggeration! That does not mean Mexicans are not as smart as Koreans. It is just that the expectations on them are lower. I have had two Mexican students pass in one year because their parents put that expectation on them. Are Mexican immigrants purposely being dumbed down to keep them as a subordinate class? That is a shame. These are the people whose ancestors who were expert mathematicians!

I admit, I used to be a multiculturalist. However, once I entered the real world, I realized multiculturalism was hurting rather than helping Americans to achieve success and the American dream. I still cook Korean and Indian food, I guess during those multiculturalist years I got so used to eating spicey food that I can’t taste American food anymore, but I make sure to teach my children the values of hard work, education, meritocracy, patriotism, and religion. It will only help, rather than hurt them. (I believe Anglo-Saxons aren’t the only ones to have those values by the way!!)

I hope to find this book soon.