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You really think that its safe to assume that in the old days, that assimilation was THE model of society? Assimiltory pressures, then and now, are balanced by individuality, and sub-cultures. I think the real "problem" is not a sudden upswing in non-assimilated behavior, but a intentional misreading of history that forgets that the past was more like the present than they'd like to admit. You say melting pot? I'd like to talk to you about the vast numbers of ethnic neighborhoods, newspapers, import/export businesses, radio stations, etc....that have served immigrant populations since when they first came over. I'm quite aware that the assimiltory pressure was much more blunt in days past-mostly from industry. But at the same time, that pressure was resisted and met in ways very similar to today. Nor did TV and mass media play so sharp a role in creating the second generation experience, a major uniquely modern assimilation pressure. Just look at the rate of bilingualism in second and third generations...and you'll see all the evidence you need of "melting pot" pressure still at work.
This is classic arguement by nostalgia. The recollection of the past is differnet than a factual represntation of the past.
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