Quote:
Originally posted by Strange Famous
Of course, the British Isles were invaded and populated many times by different tribes; the case is rather less blurred with America though.
It was a land populated by the Indians, invaded by the Spanish, and then the rest of Europe, in modern history - the difference with Briton is that by and large the cultures of the various tribes and invadors, over time, merged into each other - where as in America one culture virtually destroyed and dispossed another.
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Of course the case is less blurred...but only be virtue of the fact that the British have had about a 1000 years, give or take a few hundred to blend together.
America has had, what, about 200 years, give or take a few depending on what area of the country you're in?
Heck, even in Briton you still get groups that strongly identify as cultural groups; e.g. the Welsh, the Scotts, the Irish, etc.
My own feeling is that our "melting pot" is our greatest strength and our greatest weakness.
As you've correctly pointed out, in Briton, there is a
blending. This is what allows the decendants from all those tribes from so long ago to live in relative harmony today
But isn't this
exactly what the original author
wants immigrants to do?? Blend and make ONE culture instead of creating what amounts to tribal enclaves?
But for this, he is called "racist".
Well, if THAT is some people's definition of racist; to want a unified culture where differences are celebrated, but not focused on, where we speak one unifying language in our official business, where immigrants are welcomed but not catered too, then sign me up. I must be "racist" too.