Current - #201 - #4 - I'm at a loss as to how to deal with various ethnicities....

I’m at a loss as to how to deal with a….“different”, politically encouraged, enthusiastically defended, independent ethnic group.
I’m at a loss as to how to successfully deal with a culture or language other than “American”.
I’m at a loss as to what we’re supposed to do with people who live amongst us but are different and/or simply not interested in our rules, laws, or customs.

“They” are, as discussed, a “different”…. politically encouraged …. enthusiastically defended … independent ethnic group.
Some of them may already be American citizens!They “live amongst us”!!
They share the “bounties” of being in America….. and many share in the financial costs of America.
Some risk their lives and fight for the American ideal.

So what’s the problem? ……..
“I’m at a loss as to what we’re supposed to do with people who live amongst us but are different and/or simply not interested in our rules, laws, or customs.”

If your original culture is personally crowded and filled with people, you speak in a normally loud voice to be overheard. Now, however, you are not in a personally “crowded” space but, because of your normal habits, you still speak with a raised volume.
In your original ethnic culture, a large family is warranted because of a normally high childbirth death rate or there is a desire to have a family “group” to support you in your old age. Now, however, the success of available, modern medicine makes childbirth death significantly less of a threat, and still you believe in large families. Old age in the American society is now publicly supported and the need for a personal family “group” support system is no longer necessary. Now, since your move to America, you may not need to have extra, inexpensive labor to run your farm or increase your income from a “family” shop. You may not “need” to have a large family.

BUT…. If you enjoy a large family , and can support a large family, and have a large family for reasons other than “extra”, inexpensive labor; in America, it is looked on with admiration. It is NOT the large family, but rather the “reasons” for having a large family that creates the problem. Being proud, being financially able, and above all, being loving and fond of your large family is a thing of profound admiration.
The size of your family is determined by the time and efforts you have to share with each member of your family…. Being loving, being financial able to support your family, being personally responsible to see your dreams come true for all the members of your chosen family are all admirable reasons to decide the size of your family.

BUT….. If you carry with you your original cultural and original environmental “baggage” into your new country, which , luckily provides an entirely different set of conditions; and you make decisions based on your “original” culture; you are creating “ethnic problems” with your more established neighbors . Our cultures look at things differently. You may be just as “right” in your own ideas, in your own “original” culture; but this new society thinks things differently! This is a different “culture”.
“I’m at a loss as to what we’re supposed to do with people who live amongst us but are different and/or simply not interested in our rules, laws, or customs.”

Well, what to do?
This is the reason for discussing this issue.
This is NOT racist! This is NOT discriminatory! This is NOT against immigration! This is NOT “anti” anything!!!
This is an attempt at finding reason and logic in what is a “Loss as to what we are supposed to do…”
Does the process of “assimilation” into the American culture have any present value? Are we to grow up as a nation of “dis-similar” people with different desires and different ways of life? Is this good or bad for the country now known as America?
Again, “I’m at a loss as to what to do, even how to think!”

And again…. Is “assimilation “ a valuable thing? Is it good or bad for America?