Apr 15, 2008 08:44PM GMT
Question
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Religion - Other
Pop quiz: Why are ethnics/minorities the only race who assimulate into this culture?
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raves +4 May 28, 2008 06:09PM GMTLOL yes fair and balanced would seem like a barb ;)
I just see things like a scientist. All humans are basicaly genetically similar. Actually two Africans separated by geographic distance on that continent would have more genetic variability than a European and an African. So if we are all basicaly equal then something sociological has to cause the discrepancy in income, education etc.
I just do not see how people can see it any other way... -
raves +3 May 28, 2008 06:35PM GMTI think it has something to do with ethnic fear that the culture one is comfortable with may be overtaken by one seemingly foreign. But then i wonder if it's just a desire to hold on to status and power and not ethnic at all. If the richest 1% hold all the cards then who cares what they look like or what culture they come from. But then i heard a statistic that as soon as a dominantly white community evolves to becoming 8% 'minority' all the white people start moving out, so maybe it is all ethnic.
Say, i was hoping you might post something similar to your above comment in the domestic policy category of our forum sometime in the future. -
raves +4 May 28, 2008 06:42PM GMTwell I think some of it is evolutionary. when we were all in small tribes; we trusted those who were our family and distrusted strangers. Now our small family structure has been replaced but we still have those deep seeded genetic forces inside of us.
Nationalism and racism I think are an extension of these primitive emotions
I find the most fascinating thing about people is how strongly they will cling to any group identity.
People screaming at a television screen routing on their favorite team is one example.
We like to be in groups and we like to war against other groups
I don't think we have evolved much -
raves +3 posted May 07, 2008 04:58AM GMT
Answered Minorities do not assimulate into this society
Like Depeche Mode said, "People are People"
People are people
So why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
So we're different colours
And we're different creeds
And different people have different needs
It's obvious you hate me
Though I've done nothing wrong
I've never even met you so what could I have done
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
Help me understand
Now you're punching
And you're kicking
And you're shouting at me
I'm relying on your common decency
So far it hasn't surfaced
But I'm sure it exists
It just takes a while to travel
From your head to your fists -
raves +2 posted May 02, 2008 09:49PM GMT (edited)
Answered Undecided
American Heritage Dictionary
Assimilate:
1) Physiol - a.) To consume and incorporate into the body; digest. b.) To transform (food) into living tissue; metabolize constructively.
2. To absorb and incorporate (knowledge, for example) into the mind.
3. To make Similar; cause to assume a resemblance.
4. Ling. To alter (a sound) by assimilation.
5. To absorb (an immigrant or culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture.
Ok... now that I have a deffinition (#5)... "To absorb" that seems to be the part that makes new comers crazy. They think they have to give up their mother tongue (only if you want to) and culture (only if you want to), except we have some rules in America that will put you in jail if you don't leave some of it behind).
Look at two of the largest cities in America that received the majority of immigrants headed for the New World. They hold tightly to their customs, culture and language... But, in PUBLIC and at WORK they speak English (and are proud of it), participate in American holidays (but continue to practice their own as well).
"To absorb" does not mean to change beyond recognition. If you put butter on a baked potatoe... does it make it something else? Yet the potatoe absorbs the butter...
I know,... some want it the oth...American Heritage Dictionary
Assimilate:
1) Physiol - a.) To consume and incorporate into the body; digest. b.) To transform (food) into living tissue; metabolize constructively.
2. To absorb and incorporate (knowledge, for example) into the mind.
3. To make Similar; cause to assume a resemblance.
4. Ling. To alter (a sound) by assimilation.
5. To absorb (an immigrant or culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture.
Ok... now that I have a deffinition (#5)... "To absorb" that seems to be the part that makes new comers crazy. They think they have to give up their mother tongue (only if you want to) and culture (only if you want to), except we have some rules in America that will put you in jail if you don't leave some of it behind).
Look at two of the largest cities in America that received the majority of immigrants headed for the New World. They hold tightly to their customs, culture and language... But, in PUBLIC and at WORK they speak English (and are proud of it), participate in American holidays (but continue to practice their own as well).
"To absorb" does not mean to change beyond recognition. If you put butter on a baked potatoe... does it make it something else? Yet the potatoe absorbs the butter...
I know,... some want it the other way.... Americans are supposed to let them speak their native tongue so that they are more comfortable.... while it makes other Americans... uncomfortable....
I listened to the video.. it talks about American being built on "the backs of orientals, black slaves..... it says nothing about the Polish, German, Italian, Hungarian, Irish backs that helped to make this country... actually it refers to them as "white"....
That video is extremely biased and boarders on being bigoted.(less) -
raves +3 May 03, 2008 02:22AM GMTTres... I hope you see my point as well. Italians are a minority... Germans are a minority... Irish are a minority... Polish are a minority... Jews are a minority... and on, and on.... Yet, these minorities are catagorized as "white" (the bad guy)... while the black slaves and Chinese, Korean and Janpanese are depicted as "the only minorities" that have been downtrodden.
I am not speaking of just new comers. I am referring to those who came here in the 1700's, 1800's and early to mid-1900's.
If we speak of one - we must speak of all the immigrants. The part I want to impress or refresh you on is that black slaves were not the only slaves. Many whites were captured and sold into slavery... people somehow seem to forget that... others, were so hungry for a better life in America that they sold themselves into slavery as indentured servants, and many were never released to their freedom... not even after their passage had been paid back tenfold.
I hope we can agree that America is made up of MANY minorities when you do not catagorize them by their skin color. It is as if, suddenly, there are only two races... black and white... and that just is not so.
By the way, it is a very good question. -
raves +4 May 03, 2008 10:42AM GMT (edited)Shadow,
FYI, German, Irish, Polish and Italian are not races they are cultures and heritages.
Do not blame me or other minorities for the structure of this society. The settlers of this country made the rules and they include all whites ( Italians, Irish, Polish, ect) in their definition of "white folk." It is a new phenomonia whites are now stating they are Polish- American, Irish-American etc. I have yet to see these catergories on any application in this country. It states "white" and give division for ethnic groups.
I do realize Jews and Irish immigrants who came to this country later were discriminated against yet they also benefited from skin color over readily recognizable minorities----people of color. To which has and is the minoritiy group. When whites and blacks were indentured slave in this country they were not divided by color and treated equally. They did not have racism in this country and race was not an issue. It was not until the justification of subjagation and racism this country changed to racial issues as we know it now.
America is not made up of many minorities yet, vast array of immigrants and few are natives. Is this a new trend to now accept everyone in this country is a minority? I see it as being politically correct, which is to sk...Shadow,
FYI, German, Irish, Polish and Italian are not races they are cultures and heritages.
Do not blame me or other minorities for the structure of this society. The settlers of this country made the rules and they include all whites ( Italians, Irish, Polish, ect) in their definition of "white folk." It is a new phenomonia whites are now stating they are Polish- American, Irish-American etc. I have yet to see these catergories on any application in this country. It states "white" and give division for ethnic groups.
I do realize Jews and Irish immigrants who came to this country later were discriminated against yet they also benefited from skin color over readily recognizable minorities----people of color. To which has and is the minoritiy group. When whites and blacks were indentured slave in this country they were not divided by color and treated equally. They did not have racism in this country and race was not an issue. It was not until the justification of subjagation and racism this country changed to racial issues as we know it now.
America is not made up of many minorities yet, vast array of immigrants and few are natives. Is this a new trend to now accept everyone in this country is a minority? I see it as being politically correct, which is to skirt the issues of separation in our country so many can now blame minorities, again, for what was done centuries ago---separating groups of people from others.
The term minorities in this country was not intiated because of skin color but because of power. Minorities have less power in our social structure.
(less)(less) -
raves +3 May 07, 2008 11:30AM GMTI hope you see my point as well. Italians are a minority... Germans are a minority... Irish are a minority... Polish are a minority... Jews are a minority... and on, and on.... Yet, these minorities are catagorized as "white".
When have you see such a minority status on any job or census application? This is a new trend to be politically correct and has no weight in our country as a minority. They have cultural differences but are still categorized as white/caucausian. The you not have to assimulate because the culture of this country is established by white society. The history of racism in this country has always and continues to be directly focused primarily on blacks and whites because this country inforced and upheld the idea that blacks were subhuman. What I would like to impress on you is do not deny the horrendous acts on my people as marginal or trival and "we should get over it." Did your ancestorys get over there impact on this country and their claim they have made this country what it is? Now, this new generation wants to claim "minority" status by adding Irish-America or whatever culture they can apply. I do not deny we are a country of immgrants but I will not accept "whites" are not in the minority. We are minorities not because of skin color but because we...I hope you see my point as well. Italians are a minority... Germans are a minority... Irish are a minority... Polish are a minority... Jews are a minority... and on, and on.... Yet, these minorities are catagorized as "white".
When have you see such a minority status on any job or census application? This is a new trend to be politically correct and has no weight in our country as a minority. They have cultural differences but are still categorized as white/caucausian. The you not have to assimulate because the culture of this country is established by white society. The history of racism in this country has always and continues to be directly focused primarily on blacks and whites because this country inforced and upheld the idea that blacks were subhuman. What I would like to impress on you is do not deny the horrendous acts on my people as marginal or trival and "we should get over it." Did your ancestorys get over there impact on this country and their claim they have made this country what it is? Now, this new generation wants to claim "minority" status by adding Irish-America or whatever culture they can apply. I do not deny we are a country of immgrants but I will not accept "whites" are not in the minority. We are minorities not because of skin color but because we have less power than whites.
BTW, Blacks and indengious people are the ONLY RACES who have been enslaved. To speak of indentured slaves and enslavement is an insult because the premise and structure of the two is opposite. Slaves were able to purchase their freedom once their debt was paid, enslavement was to state the people were property and subhuman.(less) -
raves +1 May 13, 2008 03:29PM GMTTres,
You can not see my point... you have embedded your hate so deep within you that you refuse to understand that you can not blame everything on one person, much less one group or color of people.
You will continue to cry in the street until someone picks you up and takes care of you... No... wait....that can not happen now....you are big enough to stand on your own two feet. Grow up and get to work to make this a better place. Stop accusing others of not having done it for you already. Black people are not the only minority on the face of this earth. Open your mind and eyes. Look around and really see... or be doomed to a life of bigotry and hatred. -
raves +1 May 07, 2008 11:21AM GMT (edited)When answering this question the answer is directed at new immigrants and not towards the minorities in this country. I should have stated the question more clearly because I am only discussing the minorities who were born and raised in this country ---although the same does apply to immigrants.
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raves +3 posted May 02, 2008 04:03PM GMT
Answered Undecided
I don't understand the question.
Culture? What culture? America doens't have a culture.
If you move here you should be expected to learn the language well enough. But, there's nothing wrong with continuing traditions that are set forth from your own culture. -
raves +2 May 13, 2008 03:36AM GMTLanguage is the least of the issues although like race the one that makes minorities a target. You can recognize a black, an Asian, a "Mexican" even those "Mexicans" from El Salvador and Guatemala and those that talk "funny" or can't talk English but these are the most irrelevant of issues. American culture is our institutions and beliefs which are that all men are created equal and all have a right to pursue goals regardless of race or language. Justice and equality are concepts not germane to English. People need to learn our values as they relate to the constitution and the bill of rights before we mandate any language crap which is just another way of singling out individuals for not conforming to our ideal of what an "American" is and that's what the author of this poll is referring to. Why do ethnic minorities have to conform to a perceived culture when we can be "American" celebrating Kwanza and "hablando." Sabe?
Answered Undecided
"The things they disliked the most were to have their long hair cut, to give up wearing their blankets, and to cease smoking. But no white American ever thinks that any other race is wholly civilized until he wears the white man's clothes, eats the white man's food, speaks the white man's language, and professes the white man's religion"~Booker T. Washington