America is like a box of crayons, full of the same shapes but lots of different colors. All of us come from many different national heritages, but our commonality is that we are all Americans, first, last, and always, or, more correctly, that used to be the case. If we want America to survive as a unique and exceptional country, then we must sustain that American viewpoint.
I do not think we want to “balkanize” America even though we continually hear that we are “multicultural” and that “diversity is our strength.”
Multiculturalism And Diversity
Does the term multicultural describe the reality of American culture? I do not believe it does.
Multiculturalism has many different meanings, so I am not on firm ground when I use the term. However, I can say, based on my own experience living in seven different countries, that American culture is vastly different from other cultures.
As for diversity, I believe immigration from different countries is very sound in principle. However, the concept of the “melting pot” is still necessary for America to meld all of us together as a cohesive nation. We don’t want to be a tossed salad to use another awkward metaphor.
Culture, American-Style
For me, our culture is the aggregate of our music, our art, our literature and poetry, and so much more, all of which are uniquely American. One of the more interesting phenomena in our world today is the popularity of American culture. It seems that everyone wants to be like Americans and wear jeans and listen to rock music. This phenomenon has only magnified with the Internet and the rise of social media.
Our culture has changed dramatically since the founding of the American republic. And the changes have not been all for the good. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression may drive much of our culture in America, and much of our culture is unseemly, profane, and inappropriate.
A Call To Action
Here is a call to action for all of us. The mark of a concerned citizenry is to allow the freedom of expression. However, we should counter its perverse use with truth, beauty, and goodness whenever possible. We do not want our culture to go off the tracks indefinitely.
External Link: https://theasianantiquarian.com/
Internal Link to The New 3Rs for America: https://whitebeardwisdom.com/the-new-three-rs-for-america/
