Is cultural diversity good for our nation?

Question

"E Plubibus Unim" is stamped on all of our coins. It means "Out Of Many, One". This implies national unity and assimilation into our unique American culture. The idea was that people from different cultures would come to the US to blend into the "melting pot" that defines America. Isn't culteral diversity just the opposite, if people hang on to their native languages and have allegance to their native countries?

Answer 1

Cultural diversity is fine; it's that people don't want to assimilate themselves into the U.S. culture.  You don't have to relinquish your whole past but people don't want to relinquish ANY  !!!  Thus, the crux of the problem.  When you have to start apologizing because you speak English,...

Answer 2

Cultural diversity happens whether we know it or not,  but there are some rules of sociology that impacts the effects that groups have overall

1.  assimilation:  In any society you have a larger group and that group is considered the "norm".  The outside groups that are most unlike the norm are less likely to be assimilated into the "norm" group

2.  Change in cultural identity:  this happens most times with foods, if a culture introduces a new food, the norm group may take the food, and add things they are more familiar with to make it more like a "norm" dish.

3. languages:  they creep into the norm language, good example is the word beucuop.  it is a French word that was adopted by the Vietnamese, then bought to America by vets. (means many)

so it may seem that there is no cultural diversity, but it just sorta sneaks in, and is adopted by the majority thus claimed to be normal.

Answer 3

The ONE is one country, which we are; I always thought the MANY were the states, the entities that made the country up.

Yes, there used to be the idea that after people came here they had to turn themselves into people who were identical to everyone else in every way.

This was a dumb idea.

Yes, cultural diversity is very good. It doesn't mean political allegience to their home countries, but hanging on to their traditions and other aspects of their home CULTURES (hence, the word 'cultural' in the phrase).

Diverse places have many advantages -- people are more varied and unique, rather than everyone having the same habits and likes.

It's a good thing for people to realize how much of their culture is arbitrary and specific to their culture, rather than the default assumption that their culture is universal, or the only legitimate way to be.

From the mixing of people of different cultures, great cultural advances and innovations.

When everyone is the same, it's more boring.

When there are more choices available, people can mix-and-match.

Answer 4

Yeah the melting pot ruins the cultural part in the sense that no one is going to be 100% anything unless you choose to marry someone else that's 100% the same culture as you. But I also think diversity is good because our country in general needs to be more aware of the other cultures in the world. Generally speaking we are the most close minded nation in the world when it comes to other cultures. It's sad.

Answer 5

Cultural diversity is good for any nation if social intergration happens. All to often you get ghetto's where anyone not from that particular culture is not welcome.

Unfortunately social intergration does not appear to be happening, in England or America.

Answer 6

E Pluribus Unum assumes those here come for loyalty to American principles of freedom of expression, opportunity to progress and responsibility to participate as citizens to foster this Republic. For the first time in our history, a treaty exists endorsing a second language in all commerce, where before this treaty, everyone learned English,  keeping the right to their native language welcome in their homes.  I see cultural diversity as America's welcome, but English as America's language for commerce.  And I see preference for an immigrant's native land contrary to legal American citizenship, with those preferences justifiably unwelcomed.  One's native land will remain a love and loyalty to immigrants who didn't flee oppression, who are free to follow developments in their former lands.  America requires and deserves loyalty to our principles and participation in our government to function as intended.

Answer 7

Only in the area of food.

The different restaurants of different nationalities makes dining out more interesting.

Answer 8

I've never looked at it like that. What you said makes perfect sense. It helps some up what people who don't know how to say it without sounding stupid or racist feel. I feel like it is important, but only to the limit of being equal. Making people accept others. People do in need hang with there own people. We need to accept ALL diversity, but I don't think that will occur at any date soon.

Answer 9

dear gary g.

you pose a very interesting question.  cultural diversity is being jammed down our throats.  youi make a good point in asserting that persons of many backgrounds can assimilate into our culture.  Everyone is welcome to be a part of what is American.

Thanks

Mother Earth

Answer 10

well i live in new orleans and since hurricane katrina we have had a lot of hispanics come to the area to help rebuild =]]. and i feel as if they should be able to speak their native languages in public as long as they also know how to speak english. because if your moving to another area or country you need to learn to speak the language of that country. plus nothing is wrong with them still being patriotic to their country either. their native countries, languages, foods, and etc. are theirs. just because they move somewhere else does not mean they should forget where they came from. soo in closing lol i believe that cultural diversity is wonderful for any nation it gives spice and you dont see the same type of people everyday. also you can learn soo much from other cultures =]].