>>I think each of us has been "stung" in one way or another by this discussion<<
I suspect that you are right about this -- I re-read some of the exchanges earlier today and was surprised that I participated in the exchanges in the first place. Will need to reflect on it further to fathom why I felt the need to do so.
>>The melting pot concept is still very real here. It has become more vocal, perhaps, as a result of the world getting smaller. But things are not that much different today in my estimation than they ever were<<
The melting pot concept is IMO one of the strengths of this country and much of the vibrancy that is the hall-mark of this country is the result of the immigration through the decades--I hope that this aspect never changes. It does of course bring the potential for conflict especially during times of economic hardship at which times immigrants are viewed as taking jobs away from citizens.
>>Each wave of immigration carries with it it's own form of
discrimination<<
I am sure that is so--though I can honestly say that I have never been the victim of discrimination during the 27 years that I have been in the US. In fact, during the course of my corporate career I have leap-frogged over others of various hues, on more than one occasion.
>> For our part, you are stung by the concept embraced by many..."Love it or Leave it". Me, I get stung by the concept that my immigrant parents broke their necks to find acceptance just so new citizens or long-term visitors I.D. me as racist or part of American Imperialism<<
I am not really stung by the "love it or leave it" aspect--because at a rudimentary level I don't disagree with it though it is not something that I would espouse since it does seem a rather simplistic solution. In fact, on at least one occasion, I said this to someone--an immigrant--who was being rather virulent in his criticism of the US--though I said it rather more delicately than some have during the course of these exchanges. Also, as I said before it is not an uncommon attitude that indigenous people adopt when they are confronted by criticism from immigrants to their country. What I am deeply bothered by is the notion that an immigrant or naturalized citizen or perhaps a citizen by birth, because he or she is of a different hue than the majority, should in some way have their right to express disagreement or criticism curtailed here in the US -- given that the right of dissent and analogous freedoms are so fundamental to the fibre of this nation.
As for your resentment in being blamed or accused of being a racist -- I understand your sensitivity and don't blame you for taking exception. |
