Based on my own experience, I can say that
America is more a Salad bar than a Melting Pot, just for the single reason that
the trend is toward multiculturalism and not assimilation.
By assimilation I refer to the fact that immigrants
do not come to America to be like them, and that’s the meaning of the melting
pot, all the immigrant populations melted into a pot forming a unique nation, a
nation where all the citizens have the same rights and celebrate the same
special events.
That just does not happen. If you are an
immigrant in America, be happy for it, you are not alone. When you go to the
market you will see many people of your same skin color and nationality, and
how will you notice them? Very simple, they speak your same language and they
may be buying the same products, as you are, to cook the same meal just like
you.
There is nothing wrong with the idea of keeping
your same culture. You are in a free country. This country is letting you stay,
because it knows that you are there for a good reason. You can be from any country, America is
not telling you to quit your citizenship or costumes, so go ahead and celebrate
the holidays you celebrate in your country, there is nothing wrong with it.
But, whatever you do, always remember that it is
not your country and in the same way this country is letting you stay, you have
to be respectful to its people, costumes and specially its laws.
Manuel Cama.
