Beyond Sushiology: Does Diversity Work?

Jack Kemp

Referenced from Pat Buchanan's latest book, Suicide of a Superpower, in his discussion on the toxic effect of so much diversity in our nation that there isn't an agreed upon national identity as we once had. I suggest reading the whole article. And Buchanan's book (or just the online bookseller review, if you don't have the time).


The following quote is from the article about diversity and is found at: http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2002/winter_affirmativeaction_skerry.aspx
Beyond Sushiology: Does Diversity Work?
Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, Migration
Peter Skerry, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Governance Studies
The Brookings Institution

QUOTED SECTION:

For a more nuanced view of the profound demographic changes sweeping the United States, talk to a priest in a typical Catholic parish in southern California. The priest might, like the rest of us, wax poetic about his favorite local ethnic restaurants. But he will also note the daunting problems of, say, putting on Sunday mass for parishioners who speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. Should there be a separate mass in each language? Or should masses be multilingual, with different parts in various languages? Whichever he chooses, someone will feel neglected. And in any case, he must find priests with the needed language skills.

Language is only the most obvious problem introduced by diversity. In a small town in Iowa large numbers of new Latino immigrants create resentment among long-time Anglo parishioners when they bring little children to church and let them roam about during services. Such resentments are typically attributed to Anglo "insensitivity" or "racism." But as the Wall Street Journal recently reported, intense animosities have flared between newly arrived Mexicans and more established Puerto Ricans and Dominicans in a predominantly Latino parish in the Bronx. No wonder the Hispanic Jesuit Alan Figueroa-Deck, writing in the liberal Catholic magazine America, criticizes the hierarchy's "ideology of multiculturalism" and points to the remarkable success of Evangelical and Pentecostal Protestants in building ethnically homogeneous congregations among Latinos. Clearly, diversity's beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

End

A NOTE FROM DANA MATHEWSON:

I didn't read the entire article, so I don't know if Pat pointed out the fact that "Americans," meaning long-established citizens, have normally been very welcoming of new citizens (obviously I don't include illegal aliens here), as long as those new citizens are in the process of becoming what might be called "true Americans," the way they did back in the early days of the 20th century. Those people came here to embrace the American way of life; while they didn't forget that they brought a great deal of the culture of their former countries with them, they tried to learn English as quickly as they could, and they endeavored to dress like Americans, and they tried to adopt American attitudes. Admittedly some had more success with this than others. What's more, they quickly developed a great love for America, because America offered them advantages their former countries did not. And our schools taught them all this.

Now, schools teach that America is a blot on the world.

But you fellows know all this anyhow

A NOTE FROM TIM:

Yep; Americans welcome those who want to join us, not use us.

One of the reasons Italians suffered discrimination in the early 20th century was because they tried not to assimilate rather than because of racism as is alleged today. The relatively new nation of Italy had a bad unemployment problem and so adopted the solution used by Mexico today, encouraging her poorer citizens to immigrate to the U.S. The Italian government told these people that they could go to America, stay for five years, and come back as millionaires. Of course, once here these people had to go to work in the mines or factories, and it soon became apparent that faith had been broken with them. Still, many Italian immigrants came here believing they would simply earn their fortunes and return home. As a result they weren't very popular, especially among the Irish and other older immigrant poor.

My father's best friend was third generation Italian, and HIS mother, born and raised here, barely spoke English. My dad's friend and his siblings would refuse to answer her when she tried to speak to them in Italian. She never learned English because her family didn't plan on staying here; they wanted to remain Italian. It just didn't work out that way.

Mario Puzo discusses the Mafia in his books, and makes the point that these immigrants simply didn't understand that America was fundamentally different than their old homes. It's interesting to note that the Mafia died out here once the younger native-born generation took over; they were too American to feel a need for a criminal underground to provide them with a counterbalance to corrupt government.

In the end those who adopt America the fastest succeed the quickest. That's why this country has been largely free of ethnic and regional strife. We have always been a melting pot. Liberals are trying to make her into a salad - and we are starting to experience the difficulties that so many European countries have suffered.