In this short piece,"Assimilation, American Style," by Peter Salins' acknowledges America being welcoming of all nationalities, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Salin puts into retrospect the fact that America has given everyone a fair chance at their own culture at their choosing. Salin compares America's "freedom" to other countries use of assimilation by making them "up or out": Immigrants "up" to native cultural standard or they are doomed to live "out" of the charmed circle of the national culture, as mentioned in the article. Salin believes assimilation is beginning to work its way upon the "American way"-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In this article, Salin attempts invoking that generations of new Americans that have been …show more content…
Second, they were expected to take pride in their American identity and believe in America's liberal and democratic and egalitarian principles. Third, they were expected to abide by what is commonly referred to as the Protestant ethic (to be self-reliant, hardworking and morally upright)." In actuality, Salins' arguments seem to be fair- minded, is that really the case here? Saying that they were to accept English as an national language does not make them as to "up or out" and stop forget about their indigenous language. New immigrants are just asked to teach and learn English, especially the young. Eventually, English will overtake their native languages after generations has surpassed. Also, being expected to obey the American identity and believe in America's liberal, democratic, and egalitarian principles, mean that they are to be proud of the values of America. Lastly, following the Protestant ethic means that they must uphold a certain image of what America believes is the sure way to live. All in all, Salin does not directly argue that immigrants must give up their native history and culture but that they must assimilate; furthermore, it is clear that "up and out" is in …show more content…
That might not have been the plan of each and every immigrant that has come over. Expecting immigrants to perform a certain way to be accepted in is just like "upping or outing." Just because they are not necessarily outing them they are not even allowing them in without meeting the expectations. I think this is exactly what assimilating means, immigrants making the process to resemble the "American way." I think that Salin overlooks the fact that America assimilates new immigrants because they ask for a less acute assimilation process than other nationalities, and though it is less extreme does not make it existent. Salin not being able to recognize the fact that assimilation is still a factor in new immigrants coming to America makes his claims weak. Although, they are agreeable, probably because we are Americans too and believe life is to be lived a certain way does not mean that it is the same for all. I think that if America is really non- assimilated and free that the immigrants should have the independence to take pride into whatever they see best fits them
Bourne suggests that the process of Americanization has taken a negative turn in America, since people are being forced to adopt the culture, not to integrate it into their own. Randolph S. Bourne criticizes the idea of the melting-pot in favor of a cosmopolitan America. His critique of attempts to assimilate immigrants to American culture demonstrates the fragile nature of the immigrant’s beliefs in the face of Americanization. According to Bourne, “It is just this English-American conservatism that has been our chief obstacle to social advance,” (Bourne 2/11). Bourne suggests that not everyone wants to be assimilated into American society. “The foreign cultures have not been melted down or run together, made into some homogeneous Americanism, but have remained distinct but cooperating to the greater glory,” (Bourne 4/11). Bourne points out that America is meant to become a cosmopolitan mixture of America. America is form by immigrants and is destiny to be a mixture of
The author is trying to convoy that life is lived in many different levels of understanding and meaning, and how there are advantages and disadvantages no matter which way a person lives their life. Ingram wonderfully displays the mass differences in worldviews and hopes to establish less confusion when attempting to share those views with Immigrants. The author is not trying to push worldviews upon anyone, however she is exploiting the vast ways people can learn and discuss different worldviews without causing discrimination or confusion. Being open minded to worldviews can allow you to gain perspective as well as experience when trying to understand other perspectives that may seem unfamiliar to
In The struggle to be an all American girl, author Elizabeth Wong reveals a theme: Love who you are because there is no one else like you. The story is about a girl who goes to a Chinese school but wants to go to an all American school. The story takes place at a school.
In America, it is a common misconception that all foreigners are similar; it is believed that they all have similar dreams and each of them end up chasing after the same jobs. However, this is not the case. Not only do immigrants from different countries hold different dreams, but those with a shared background even have varying hopes and dreams for the future. This is evidenced in Bharati Mukherjee’s essay, “Two Ways to Belong in America.” She utilizes several rhetorical strategies in order to show that immigrants have the ability to be assimilated into the American culture, but that they should not be deported if they choose not to conform to said culture.
America is the greatest melting pot. Everywhere you look we are surrounded by rich and diverse cultures. Immigrants arriving in this country today are struggling to assimilate and still maintain their own individual identity. For instance, Elizabeth, my mother, was born in Italy and came to the United States when she was 11 years of age. When it was time for my mom to start school, the guidance office recommended to her foster parents remove any clothing, jewelry, or personal items that were not congruent with the American culture at that time. As I reflect on my mom’s experience, it must have been such a difficult transition not allowed to maintain her own culture identity.
Junot Diaz is a Dominican-American author who claims that nations reveal who they are by how they treat their most marginalized areas. According to the beginning of the video itself, Diaz stated that being an American means believing ourselves in doing what we want to do. He then stated how the Civil Rights movement somehow helped the main promise of America. And also doing what you want to do. He then later states how minorities are suffering because they don't have better jobs.
The Promised Land by Mary Antin, published in 1912, began as an “extensive letter that [Antin] wrote in Yiddish to her maternal uncle… [which was] then translated into English and published, as From Plotzk to Boston [in] 1899" (149 Kellman). Written as an autobiography, The Promised Land recounts Antin’s emigration to the United States from Russia, as well as chronicles the process and reasoning, to her assimilation into the American culture. In chapter 9, Antin unravels the first four months of her arrival in the United States, attempting to establish a compelling argument as to why she believes that complete assimilation is the proper course to becoming a successful immigrant. By focusing on the first steps she took to assimilate, changing
Since its inception, America has been characterized as a unique country created through immigrants adopting similar values and traits, a process known as Americanization. However, America cannot be fully understood unless one identifies the foundations of this assimilation process. Both Frederick Jackson Turner and Ralph Waldo Emerson attribute Americanization to the effect of the individual’s relationship with nature, but Jane Addams argues that true Americanization is a product of the unification of people through charity.
Colombo goes to write “Immigrants take on new identities- and a new set of cultural myths- because they want to become members of the community, equal members with all the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of their fellow citizens”(569). The American dream always takes place in immigrant’s lives. Many immigrants want to live the same as those, which they think they need to have the same lifestyle and identities as Americans. They want to do and be like everyone else. Like the quotes say “equal members”, which is true when immigrant do want to be like their fellow citizens.make more clear Immigrants want to become more like the Americans, which makes then think it is impossible to accomplish. When immigrant’s moves they can adapt to some styles like for example Tizon explains it in his essay. Tizon goes on to says “first was the abandonment of our native language and our unquestioned embrace of English, even though for my parents that abandonment meant cutting themselves off from a fluency they would never have again” (645). The fact that Tizon’s parents had to move and learn a new language and somewhat leave their native language, by learning English immigrants learn new identities how to become more American. People have to change their personal lives that they were used to be living.
Transformation is a desired factor for immigrant acceptance in a foreign country. For instance, Chris was I nativeborn Americans raised to live by a certain set of standards and beliefs. However, after living with Ravi in India, he learned to adjust his living standards and beliefs to coordinate with Ravi and his family. In the passage "two ways to belong in America," Bharati has a similar experience to Chris in America and says, "I need to feel like a part of the community I have adopted. I need to put Rootstown, to vote and make the difference that I can. The price that the immigrant willingly pays, and the exile avoids, is the trauma of self transformation" (page 275). In other words, the transformation that immigrants desire to undergo is the hardest yet most effective way to becoming a citizen of the country.
The documentary Century of Self Documentary written, directed and produced by Adam Curtis, goes to explore how Freud's developed theories were used by his nephew in order to manipulate the people. Edward Bernays was truly the father of public relations. He associated products with desires and got everybody hooked on consumerism. Edward Bernays was smart to investigated and applied techniques of mass-consumerism. He believed that deep down into all humans there is fear, using that tactic to control the minds of the American people.
However, once they arrive that is exactly what we ask them to give up. To assimilate to adopt our culture and our past leaving theirs behind. This poses the question should immigrants be forced to assimilate into their new country? Assimilation takes away from America’s diverse society, creates racial issues, and is not necessary to be successful. Immigrants should be allowed to preserve their cultural identities.
“America has always welcomed anyone willing to assimilate to its national character.” For those who gracefully fall into american society and globalization this quote by author Nancy Pearcey may seem unassuming and seemingly unambiguous. A true statement in fact for those looking to fully integrate into american society, cut ties with their own cultural delineations, and adopt western ideas. With that said for those looking to hold on to their cultures while in American society or simply live in their society and embrace their own culture it has not always been so easy nor has America been as welcoming. This struggle is both witnessed and described in the novel's Power Politics by internationally acclaimed author Arundhati Roy and The Joy Luck Club by the illustrious author Amy Tan. Although analyzing the topic from different directions and perspective a common theme can be seen being highlighted in both books. That being that American integration and assimilation is not always easy, wanted, or welcomed.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of “culture” is “the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time”. On the other hand, accroding to Raymond Williams, it is more complicated. However, ther is something that is certain: Culture is ordinary, which happens to be the title of an article he wrote to define and explain what culture is.
The Quiet American is written by Graham Greene. This novel is about the conflict between Alden Pyle and Thomas Fowler. The novel’s events have already taken place and Fowler is the narrator of the story. Thomas Fowler, a man in his fifties, is a British journalist who has been covering the events taking place in the French War in Vietnam for over two years. He chooses to remain neutral between the sides of the battles he covers. He meets Alden Pyle, a young American who is well educated and secretly works in a secret agent service. Pyle has read numerous books written by a scholar named York Harding, who believes that a “Third Force” is needed in Vietnam, which is neither communism nor colonialism. Pyle is opposite of Fowler because Pyle is a believer of the “Third Force” and also, Pyle is naïve. Pyle fails to recognize the consequences of a majority of his actions. The conflict between these two not only involve their opposing beliefs but it also comes from their relationship with Phuong, Fowler’s live-in lover. Pyle and Fowler meet at a hotel called the Continental, which is where Pyle also meets Phuong. Pyle is captivated by Phuong and has the chance to dance with her. While Fowler is covering a battle for his journalism of the war, Pyle goes to tell him immediately that he has been in love with Phuong ever since he met her and that he wants to marry her. Fowler is annoyed by Pyle’s confidence that Phuong will leave him for Pyle. In an incident at a guard tower, Pyle saves Fowler’s life after he breaks his leg as they attempt to escape from soldiers. After hearing rumors about Pyle, Fowler starts to investigate Pyle’s actions and finds out that he is importing military supplies from the United States into Vietnam. Later, while ...