Look at the person on your right. Now, look at the person on your left. Was that person a White man? More likely than not, your answer would be, no. But, and I have to stress that you think about this question very well, is that person an American? We live in a country where one is not allowed to examine whether (s)he is an American or not by mere skin color. Instead, we are asked to dwell on the history of that person’s American heritage when considering what truly makes him/her an American.
We have had to tackle the issue of racism in this class in every lesson that we have had so far. We have been asked to maintain a non-judgmental stance when coming across readings that tend to raise an issue about skin color and cultural identity. Now, by reading the article “The Cult of Ethnicity, Good and Bad” we are asked to maintain the same open-mindedness as the article begins to highlight the struggles of ethnic groups within our borders and country history.
America is admittedly a melting pot of the best (and the worst) cultures in the world. When one is asked to give an account of what truly makes this nation great, the article readers can truly believe that our culture can be a living, breathing, and continuously evolving land of ethnic colors, traditions, and beliefs. It is this very ability that allows us to enhance the good portions of ethnicity while discarding the bad. We have been a nation of immigrants since before the time of the Mayflower. Thus, giving our cultural heritage a rainbow of ethnic influences. All of these immigrant characteristics, which they were all allowed to express and share freely with the country allowed each ethnic group to embody the greatness that is a true – blue, unquestioningly, a citizen of America.
To quote the author’s words
The US escaped the divisiveness of a multiethnic society by a brilliant solution: The creation of a brand new cultural identity. The point of America was not to preserve old cultures but to forge a new, American culture.
While the Eastern and Western European blocks of the world constantly struggle to maintain peace in their ethnically divided regions, This article proves that we have successfully managed to rely on tolerance, acceptance, and understanding when it came to ethnic diversity and its accompanying practices. Even when the great racial and ethnic divide tends to rear its ugly head, our logical leaders have always managed to appeal to our sense of decency, thus quashing any ideas that a white person man have to protest against any ethnic moves that (s)he may find personally or traditionally offensive. After all, if we were to object to everything another ethnic group did in America, we may as well cordon off our borders and throw out anybody who does not agree with us.
It would seem, that due to the events of 9/11 though, we are very close to doing just that as a nation. Perhaps it is a case of frayed nerves, or maybe we have way too many immigrants in our midst now who lack the guiding hand of a person who would properly guide them into melding with the idealism and traditions of America. Whatever the reason, I agree with the writer when he implies that we are slowly becoming a nation non-tolerant of the growing ethnic group voices in America.
When I turn on the news these days, I see the rising anti-ethnic voice that is turning into a groundswell. This is the kind of news that is ignored by CNN and other big cable news networks but makes the headlines of local news channels because it shows the start of growing unrest within our citizen’s ranks. It is a situation that should not be ignored. Dividing our nation between the Hispanics, Latinos, African Americans, and Whites — these are ethnic classifications that George Washington never envisioned would happen to the country when he drafted his idea for One People.
I can understand that the ethnic classifications were developed as a way of paying respects to the cultural heritage of the immigrants. It allows them to keep a sense of who they once were before they came to America. But, in my honest opinion, the day they took their Oath of Allegiance, they should have chucked that ethnic identity at the door. Nobody is Muslim, Arab. African American, Haitian, or whatever, they simply become Americans with an ethnic history.
Practicing ethnic identity should not be an issue. We do live in a country where freedom of expression is encouraged and admired anyway. What I do not like is the fact that it tends to become political platforms for people who do not seem to realize that by rocking the boat and upsetting the applecart, the only people who get hurt are themselves.
Admittedly, the world looks to us for leadership in all trying times. The countries that are currently divided by ethnic strife, look to us and see how we somehow manage to keep our heads above water and get along with other ethnic groups. But that might not last long anymore. Arthur Shlesinger knew exactly what he was talking about when he wrote that article for Time Magazine, the U.S. has no choice but to continue to find and tread that fine line that allows our multiethnic groups to walk in the same streets without committing mass genocide on each other.