Does Multiculturalism Strengthen or Weaken America's Identity? Explain Why and Provide Some Specific Examples to Support Your Answer

Desiree Sassolino

Week 1 Assignment

Does multiculturalism strengthen or weaken America's identity? Explain why and provide some specific examples to support your answer.

America is full of different cultures of people. We as a nation welcome all walks of life from all over the world. I feel multiculturalism is what makes America, America. It was multiculturalism that starting this country, with people coming here from all over the world to start a new life, a better life, for them and their families. Coming to America meant living the “American Dream” to most people. Some felt the coming here would help their families thrive with all the different opportunities. Now, these opportunities have gone down drastically, and yet people still come here to “get away” from the life they had in whatever country they are from.

Multiculturalism helps teach the next generation of “Americans” about new cultures and traditions. Our children are learning about different countries and traditions just through their friends at school. Personally, I have a 4 year old daughter, and I am extremely happy that she is learning about all these different cultures. It teaches her to respect others for who they are and not to judge because they may look different than her. Thus, bringing more peace into our world. Knowing who people are, and their cultures and customs, may change how some people feel toward one specific group of people.

On the other hand, any issues that one culture has towards another, is being brought to the United States and causing tension between cultures. There seems to be a rise in hate crimes and racism in the US, and I feel the main cause of it all is the fact that we, as a nation, are so diverse. Americans are blaming other cultures for things going wrong in our nation. For example, people are blaming illegal immigrants from Mexico for the lack of jobs available to Americans. Yes, Mexicans do work in a lot of American jobs, but what Americans don’t...