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Pastimes : Don't Ask Rambi -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Michael Sphar who wrote (60223)	7/26/2001 9:49:20 AM
From: epicure	Respond to of 71178

I agree with you that we need one language in common. But we need to be more multilingual as well (imo). We are depriving our children in the area of foreign language in this country. And we all need to be proud of our heritage. I think Southerners have every right to be proud. And Northerners. After all, we managed to murder each other wholesale in this country and then actually come together again and be a country. That didn't mean the South gave up speaking in a Southern dialect, or having it's own literary voice, or eating it's own regional cooking, or celebrating regional events. Diversity only (to me) means appreciating cultural differences like that. You can't assault your neighbor in the name of cultural diversity (which was what I found offensive about linking a rape case to some notion of diversity). Diversity is not clannishness. It is the opposite of clannishness. It is being able to appreciate your own clan AND the clans of other people, as well as the ability to see that really, in the end, all clans are one clan. We are all, in the end, human. I don't know what diversity means to you. Or to anyone else. But that's what it means to me. I would hate to see everyone melted down to forget the wonderful things about their separate cultures. But I don't want them to bring the damaging destructive baggage along with them- and I think it is possible to leave the damaging destructive baggage behind.

To: Michael Sphar who wrote (60223)	7/26/2001 8:48:05 PM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71178

I love when you get on your soapbox. And I think your emphasis on language as the key is right on. (ooo- 60s talk) We have always been diverse, but with the understanding that the diversity was within a common unity- When I watch the wonderful PBS shows that are done from Ellis Island, they always show these moving clips of immigrants with tears on their cheeks as they see the Statue of Liberty. For them, it was something important when they became citizens. Now I feel as if people must be thinking more that they are Mexicans (e.g., please) who qualify for the benefits of living here. I don't think people are leaving their old allegiances behind to be Americans first-- and of their heritage second. If that makes sense. While I think you write a great post, I, a pale pink woman of color, will not however hoist my skirt for you.

To: Michael Sphar who wrote (60223)	7/26/2001 9:53:12 PM
From: JF Quinnelly	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71178

As you know, SoCal has a plentiful supply of all of these groups. And they're often not shy about expressing exactly these opinions of each other. A Korean businessman here hired a lot of Cambodians and Vietnamese to assemble electronic components, as both groups have small hands and find the work agreeable. But problems arose in the plant; the groups segregated themselves, and each insisted on speaking their own language. The lack of communication caused all sorts of delays. The exasperated Korean gathered everyone together to cure the problem once and for all: "Okay! This is California! Everybody speak Spanish!"