The United States a Diverse Society

The United States a Diverse Society

Cheryl A. Boyd

ETH/125

May 21, 2012

Scott Bell

The United States a Diverse Society

• 1. What information about diversity in the United States has helped you better understand or relate to others in ways that you may not have in the past?

The information that has helped me to better understand and relate to others in a way I may not have done in the past is the understanding I have gained through learning about ethnic groups and cultural differences.” Ethnic groups are groups set apart from others because of their national origin or distinctive cultural patterns (Schaefer, Richard T., 2012, pp. 8)”. Understanding the reasons why people are different and understanding why they believe the way they do helps you to accept differences and want to know more. Learning the different ethnic groups such as Hispanics or Latinos, Native Americans, Irish Americans, Asian Americans, Polish American, and more help me to relate to the diversity because I find that through my heritage I am part of the diversity.

Understanding that each group’s customs or culture is a direct reflection of their origin and comes with these groups from their homeland also helps me to understand why some people are different. Each of these groups is trying to keep the culture and heritage alive while also assimilating into a new culture and home. I have also learned that there are things in the past that I am not proud of that my country has done but I still feel I am a good person. A good example of this is the Muslim population in America today and what most of these people have had to go through since 9/11. Most of these people are Americans that were born in this country and are Muslims. These people were just as shocked and horrified at what a few radicals did as I was. They have come to be considered the enemy in their own country much the same as the Japanese Americans in the past.

Understanding what these people have...