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Originally Posted by Nmap
But - notice that second sentence. The one about America as a melting pot. That used to be true. The functioning of that melting point transformed the new immigrants into Americans. Again, just as you pointed out.
Isn't it interesting that the notion has moved from a melting pot to a salad, where each component maintains its identity. (Really - I'm quite serious.). So the new groups may not be going through the process. As they maintain their diverse identities, they may not integrate into a unified whole. Perhaps some of the friction we observe is a consequence of that.
Possible? (shrug) I'm not sure.
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Nmap,
I hear you, events like Ft. Hood make it hard to stay objective, especially when it seems one kid consistently starts all the fights in the sandbox. I think you nailed it with assimiliation, immigrants or their kids become Americans through shared cultural experiences, cub scouts, school, etc. The danger to both the US and Europe IMHO are some of these sequestered Islamic communities and schools where these people grow up apart from the American experience. This is a freedom we enjoy here, but in this case it is spawning conflict and mistrust, I don't see much Amish terrorism.
It's Veterans Day, and I'm of the opinion history can teach us a lot. Hideki Matsui came up big for the Yankees in the World Series last week. When he was up to bat I wonder what folks would have thought the evening of December 7th, 1941, if they were told a fellow by that name would be a star for the Yankees in 2009.