Should Immigrants Assimilate?

[righteousdude2]

......the lack of, and unwillingness of immigrants to assimilate into the American society is my biggest gripe.

When I was just a lad [many more years ago than I'm willing to admit] the parents of both my maternal and paternal grandparents came from Germany.

There were many holidays, and family gatherings at my mom's parents summer home at the lake, where the radio would be tuned into German music stations, and the older folks, along with my parents, sat around and talked in German.

You will not know how many times I wanted my parents to teach me German [and i they had, I'd have had a leg up when I took a foreign language course in high school and university], only to be told that we were Americans first, and English was the language, they wanted their kids to speak.

While it was disappointing, I can look back and say that what my family [both sides] did was make their children assimilate to American traditions and the language of the new country.

Maybe some of the rationale behind their way of thinking had to do with the fact that they all despised Hitler and Germany for the destruction and death they caused in the two wars, but whatever the reason; they wanted their kids to be Americans, and while I was angry with them then, I came to appreciate it the older I became.

In my way of thinking, this is not being done today. Too many immigrants, ones that have been here legally and citizens for decades, still haven't mastered the language and neither have their kids. This is a travesty, and while I have no answers or solutions on to change this mindset, I honestly believe that if you want to live here, while it is important to remember and hold to the traditions within the country from which you came, it is also very important that you join in with and participate in the traditions and ways of this, your new home.

If immigrants fail to assimilate, we will be more divided than we could ever imagine (IMHO), as we'll have communities with different cultures everywhere in this country and instead of being a melting pot, we'll be a pot of lumps, something like real lumpy gravey. :type:

 

[Bob Alkire]

......the lack of, and unwillingness of immigrants to assimilate into the American society is my biggest gripe.

Agree or disagree we aren't taught to assimilate into society but what great will come to society by shall we say assimilate into the new immigrants world, diversity makes everything better. How things change.

 

[Salty]

Todays political correctness tells us "be yourself".

If the Army finally got rid of the ridiculous slogan of "An Army of One". The Army is a team - we must work together. Can you imanage a plt sgt trying to give orders to his platoon in 5 different languages?

There are some things that must be uniform - and language is one of them.

On the other hand - I think it is great for a culture to maintain its heritage- history is important. But on the other hand a country can not celebrate each and every culture. Moderation is a must.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

On the other hand - I think it is great for a culture to maintain its heritage- history is important. But on the other hand a country can not celebrate each and every culture. Moderation is a must.

What would moderation be? Would it be okay for the OP to be bilingual in English and German? Would it be okay for him to speak German with German-speaking friends in a restaurant?

 

[Crabtownboy]

What would moderation be? Would it be okay for the OP to be bilingual in English and German? Would it be okay for him to speak German with German-speaking friends in a restaurant?

Interesting comments on the speaking of a language. I am reading a book, "Lion's Pride," about Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt comments on communities and small towns and villages where, during World War I, only German was spoken ... no English ... and how though they spoke only German they were loyal to the US in its role with the allies fighting against Germany.

My feeling is that for the most part immigrants have and are assimilating quite well. Look at our high schools and universities ... our best students are Asian-Americans most of whom are recent additions to our society.

 

[mont974x4]

Yes, they should assimilate. If they left their country to come to the US for a better life why do they keep insisting on making the US more like the country they left? It makes no sense.

 

[carpro]

I overheard this conversation between 2 people of hispanic heritage that I work with. A male and a female. Both are fluent in English and Spanish. Both are 2nd generation Americans.

The male was basically berating the female because, while her kids could understand Spanish, they rarely if ever spoke it, and weren't really fluent.

Here's the statement that got me.

"You need to know and your kids need to know that you are Mexican first. Do not abandon your heritage."

I did a slow burn , but kept my mouth shut. Basically he was berating her for assimilating.

There is a strange phenomenon occuring in this country where the first generation immigrants (mainly hispanic and mostly illegal) look down on 2nd generation and later hispanics that have done what immigrants have done for centuries in America...assimilate. It's a not so subtle form of discrimination for being an American in America.

If this trend continues, we will lose our national identity as a "melting pot" and become a nation of ethnic enclaves who don't assimilate and each enclave will speak it's own language and have it's own schools. Those enclave will then discriminate against anyone not a member.

Then, America will truly be lost.

 

[Bob Alkire]

Interesting comments on the speaking of a language. I am reading a book, "Lion's Pride," about Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt comments on communities and small towns and villages where, during World War I, only German was spoken ... no English ... and how though they spoke only German they were loyal to the US in its role with the allies fighting against Germany.

My feeling is that for the most part immigrants have and are assimilating quite well. Look at our high schools and universities ... our best students are Asian-Americans most of whom are recent additions to our society.

Don't want to give Teddy a hard time, but my grandparents came from Germany and one family move into Highland Park section of Richmond, Va., they would not allow German spoke in the home or teach their children anything about Germany, because they wanted to be Americans so bad.

The other set of grand parents ended up in Mo. and they were the same way. My grandmother in this family was real upset that it took her till she was in early 40's to lose her German accent. So their was many who did assimilate in.

To show how we aren't into assimilating, I've traveled this country for 47 years coast to coast board to board and it use to be that 2nd generation most of the time didn't speak with an accent, today many still do but can not speak their parents or grandparent language. It is their culture to speak in such and such way, I'm not picking on any group but most across the board.
Asian- Americans were leading the way when I was in school and if I recall correctly, my mother had said there was 4 Asian-Americans in here high school in Mo. and they were honor grads.

 

[mont974x4]

Assimilation does not mean one has to abandon their heritage. It means learning how to be a citizen of your new country.

 

[Bro. James]

Right here in River City

Going back to the seventeenth century when the New World was being colonized: the gold for these ventures was put up by those who wanted more gold. Many of the workers were enslaved to the crown or merchant/bankers. Some folk had contracts. The Mayflower Compact has some interesting insight.

Anyway, we have exploitation of the "have nots" by the the "haves" which continues even today--worldwide. A lot of folk have immigrated to this country since 1620, speaking many languages. If one lives in Miami, the language is Spanish--the same for LAX, and others.

I was educated in the 1950's and 60's. Three years of English was mandatory to graduate. We also had Spanish, French, German and Latin offered as electives in high school. What happened?

Should we make the appropriate second language mandatory to get through elementary school? Children can be taught language--prenatally, yet we seem more interested in aborting them, along with the Ten Commandments.

The fact that we have a communication problem is evident in everything we do. This tells me we are not very interested in solving the problem. We may have to come out of our religious and cultural comfort zones.

We seem to be on the edge of a cultural witch hunt. Curious: many of the Spanish speaking people from Central America are fleeing to the U.S. because of the drug cartels who are moving the much needed narcotics to our youth. Many parts of Mexico are run by these cartels.

The ones with the gold still make the rules.

This is another symptom of our amorality.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

[Crabtownboy]

Yes, they should assimilate. If they left their country to come to the US for a better life why do they keep insisting on making the US more like the country they left? It makes no sense.

You may be confusing making a better life ... better employment, better paying jobs, etc. with culture. There is no one American culture. If you go to New England, then the South, then the Southwest, then the Northwest and then to the Midwest you will find various cultures and with that I am painting with a broad brush. There are differences in cultures between state and state, i.e. go to Vermont and then Texas and see the difference ... then go to the Cajun country in Louisiana and then to the Gulla culture on the Outer Banks of NC. All are different.

 

[mont974x4]

Nope. I was not confusing anything.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

In speaking of assimilation, I am reminded of Fiorello La Guardia Republican mayor of NYC 1934-1945. He campaigned for mayor giving speeches in English, Italian, and Yiddish.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

you know when my great grandparents came to this country they went to night school to learn to speak, read & write in English. That schooling was payed for by them out of their own pockets. And though they spoke with heavy accents, they were proud they were Americans & they spoke English (broken accent none the less) to their children as the 1st language in the home. Quite an accomplishment.

When I ran an electrical supply house in Manhattan, the unions were giving free English language classes to immigrants & I offered to sign these guys up.....none bothered to take me up on the offer.

Fast forward to last week, we have a main street in my town & immigrants have moved in with businesses (ok by me) except all their signs are in Spanish (no English). Do I now have to learn their language? What has happened to this country? Are we no longer proud of being US Citizens?

 

[righteousdude2]

Yes, and Yes!

Do I now have to learn their language?......... What has happened to this country? Are we no longer proud of being US Citizens?

I think we are moving to a place in America, like another commenter said above, where we [Americans] will be required to assimilate with the new immigrants if we ant to be able to communicate, do business [look at most US businesses and the government agencies: they all hire people who can translate for their customers and consumers], and not be frustrated or stressed by the lack of pride that immigrants of old had in becoming an American.

The pride is not going to be there if, in fact, our politicians "give away citizenship" to the cheaters who broke the laws, and are going to be made citizens by circumventing the system that once pushed the citizens to be to assimilate while they worked towards citizenship.

Cheaters never prosper, and the same can be said that cheaters never assimilate! Why should they? There's no incentive to assimilate. :tear:

 

[Arbo]

Should Immigrants Assimilate?

I'd be curious to read people's opinions about those with dual citizenship.

 

[Bob Alkire]

Should Immigrants Assimilate?

I'd be curious to read people's opinions about those with dual citizenship.

I don't know about dual citizenship, but anytime I lived in another country, I tried to assimilate into the community in which I lived. I found that I related to the locals better trying to enjoy their way of doing thing better than trying to share my way of doing things, unless they ask, I did as much as I could their way.
I still don't enjoy soccer, wine and Italian food, but I enjoy the people and did what they did often. Go to Israel and try some of their food, eat it and smile(some is good but they and the English aren't number one when it comes to dining).

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Cheaters never prosper, and the same can be said that cheaters never assimilate! Why should they? There's no incentive to assimilate. :tear:

It appears to me anyway, that what your saying is that cheaters do indeed prosper & that they view the USA as any transient would (make as much money as you can then head for home!) So why are illegitimate US Citizens supporting this nonsense?

 

[thjplgvp]

I have to admit I smiled a few times reading the comments. First if you are in the southwestern USA 69% of the Hispanics in your area are second and third generation and legal while 31% are most likely illegal. But our Hispanic neighbors understand money and saving it, you would also if you came from a near third world country. Have you been to the poles and watched our democratic process in action? Would you like a Spanish Ballot? Have you been in line at the supermarket or Wal-Mart and watched that specialty employee who gets paid more for being bi-lingual speak a foreign language in order to spend those food stamps or vouchers that you and I subsidize with our taxes? Have you been to a hospital and found that while you cannot proceed without insurance the person next to you can say “no habla English” and gets waited on without any hassle. Why would anyone assimilate when by assimilating life becomes more difficult? There is a saying “Why buy the cow when the milk is free”? It should be easier for a citizen to live in America than a non-citizen but unfortunately it is not to be. Therefore no matter how much others do not like it foreigners are unlikely to assimilate in society if it is more lucrative for them not to.

 

[Arbo]

I don't know about dual citizenship, but anytime I lived in another country, I tried to assimilate into the community in which I lived. I found that I related to the locals better trying to enjoy their way of doing thing better than trying to share my way of doing things, unless they ask, I did as much as I could their way.
I still don't enjoy soccer, wine and Italian food, but I enjoy the people and did what they did often. Go to Israel and try some of their food, eat it and smile(some is good but they and the English aren't number one when it comes to dining).

:thumbs: to everything (except the bit about soccer [I still think of it as football], wine and Italian food).