Melting pot, multicultural or just a big mess?

[Robert_Sock]

Is America still to be considered a melting pot, a multicultural salad bowl or is it just a big mess with unwanted refugees and illegal immigrants?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_pot

How did America become such a great nation with so many “misfits?”

Remember Mike Piazza when he was with the Dodgers? He publicly insulted many of his teammates by calling them bunch of misfits in regards to their nationality. Anyway he was quickly traded to the New York Mets and whenever he faced this one pitcher (I can’t remember his name but I believe he was from the Dominican Republic) he would get hit with a fastball on the very first pitch. I never condone this type of aggression, but I think that the pitcher was making a point that we all can learn from.

No matter our social status, we’re all in this together!

 

[Rhubarb]

It wasn’t that long ago that the Irish were piling out of their potato boats taking all the low paying jobs. We’ve all seen the “Irish Need Not Apply” signs in history texts. And the Know-Nothing party that was virulently anti-immigration and nationalistic-let - they didn’t want any of that Catholic multiculturalism.

I think this mentality has been with us a long time, I’m afraid. I completely agree with you that these are pitiful reasons to divide us.

 

[RPRPsych]

It wasn’t that long ago that the Irish were piling out of their potato boats taking all the low paying jobs. We’ve all seen the “Irish Need Not Apply” signs in history texts. And the Know-Nothing party that was virulently anti-immigration and nationalistic-let - they didn’t want any of that Catholic multiculturalism.

I think this mentality has been with us a long time, I’m afraid. I completely agree with you that these are pitiful reasons to divide us.

True, but at least the Irish had a semi-common Western culture and heritage to share with their adopted country. The route to assimilation was easier than for those who (a) don’t speak or understand English easily, (b) practice non-Christian religions, and (c) have ideologies or values that put them at odds with contemporary Western culture.

(I’m not just talking about Islam here; I once read that “honour killings” and similar practices were common even among Sikh immigrants to the U.K. )

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

Is America still to be considered a melting pot, a multicultural salad bowl or is it just a big mess with unwanted refugees and illegal immigrants?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_pot

How did America become such a great nation with so many “misfits?”

Remember Mike Piazza when he was with the Dodgers? He publicly insulted many of his teammates by calling them bunch of misfits in regards to their nationality. Anyway he was quickly traded to the New York Mets and whenever he faced this one pitcher (I can’t remember his name but I believe he was from the Dominican Republic) he would get hit with a fastball on the very first pitch. I never condone this type of aggression, but I think that the pitcher was making a point that we all can learn from.

No matter our social status, we’re all in this together!

Looks like Roger Clements was the pitcher. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Piazza

As for America, it has alays been an open border policy for as long as I can remember. If the USA were to close their borders, that would help matters. Other countries do it, and I don’t see why the USA can’t do it, too. Maybe not forever, but for at least a few years.

 

[mikekle]

It wasn’t that long ago that the Irish were piling out of their potato boats taking all the low paying jobs. We’ve all seen the “Irish Need Not Apply” signs in history texts. And the Know-Nothing party that was virulently anti-immigration and nationalistic-let - they didn’t want any of that Catholic multiculturalism.

I think this mentality has been with us a long time, I’m afraid. I completely agree with you that these are pitiful reasons to divide us.

Just like we see all the anti-mexican rhetoric today by many people, its the same thing, just a different group.

I bet in 50 yrs, it will be directed at yet another group too.

They cant really close down the US borders, thats one of things this country was founded on.

Surprisingly there is even a bible verse that mentions a large nation made up of many different ‘peoples’…

**15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. **

 

[RPRPsych]

Just like we see all the anti-mexican rhetoric today by many people, its the same thing, just a different group.

I bet in 50 yrs, it will be directed at yet another group too.

They cant really close down the US borders, thats one of things this country was founded on.

Surprisingly there is even a bible verse that mentions a large nation made up of many different ‘peoples’…

**15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. **

I thought that verse referred to Imperial Rome?

 

[_thaddeus]

Is America still to be considered a melting pot, a multicultural salad bowl or is it just a big mess with unwanted refugees and illegal immigrants?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_pot

How did America become such a great nation with so many “misfits?”
…
No matter our social status, we’re all in this together!

Free land ! ‘Every man for himself and the Devil take the hindmost’ Oxford Dictionary of Quotations - ‘early 16th century’ proverb. ]

I’m not sure I understand your last line.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Free land ! ‘Every man for himself and the Devil take the hindmost’ Oxford Dictionary of Quotations - ‘early 16th century’ proverb. ]

I’m not sure I understand your last line.

We are all living in a single world and we need to built our esteem (Love) for one another. “It’s a small world afterall!”

 

[Theo520]

As for America, it has alays been an open border policy for as long as I can remember. If the USA were to close their borders, that would help matters. Other countries do it, and I don’t see why the USA can’t do it, too. Maybe not forever, but for at least a few years.

We’ve had immigration law with standards/requirements and quotas for quite some time. Literacy was a requirement, job skills, and basic health. Also, there were no welfare programs that would feel a burden.

Now, the land is all settled and we don’t have an industrial revolution to soak up the labor.

 

[Robert_Sock]

We’ve had immigration law with standards/requirements and quotas for quite some time. Literacy was a requirement, job skills, and basic health. Also, there were no welfare programs that would feel a burden.

Now, the land is all settled and we don’t have an industrial revolution to soak up the labor.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

[Theo520]

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Exactly, we should look out for our citizens (neighbors) as our priority. Importing cheap labor from another continent only harms our neighbors, who need the jobs (even if we have to pay them more)

 

[Captain_America]

We’re falling apart, into socioeconomic & values tribes.

I want to discontinue using the moniker “Captain America” on this forum for exactly this reason: I’ve lost entirely any faith in this nation.

Instead of democratic politics, it’s just a big mugging: my little group overpowers yours by grabbing the courts and executive branch and a major political party. We toss out nonsense ideas and no one stands up to challenge them. We spy on our fellow citizens. We feel torture’s a useful thing. We suppress free speech. We deny the good of western culture, of our own culture.

 

[Captain_America]

Looks like Roger Clements was the pitcher. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Piazza

As for America, it has alays been an open border policy for as long as I can remember. If the USA were to close their borders, that would help matters. Other countries do it, and I don’t see why the USA can’t do it, too. Maybe not forever, but for at least a few years.

This wasn’t true. Recall the immigration policy of the 1920s.

One real problem is that modern transportation means you can physically be in a country, but easily return home. So easily that the country in which you live is simply not your home.

The result is generally much less commitment to the new country; I believe there are Californians who have run into Latino criminals who just don’t care, for instance. Less motivation to learn a new language, to get along with fellow citizens.

I think that it’s rude to speak a foreign language with another person, while amongst others who don’t speak it.

Has nothing to do with the language or the language-bearer, but simple social courtesy.