America has traditionally been referred to as a "melting pot," welcoming people from many different countries, races, and religions, all hoping to find freedom, new opportunities, and a better way of life. However, throughout the years this traditional term, has turned into a “cultural mosaic”, meaning that the immigrants retain their own national characteristic while integrating into a new society. And that is what happens when a new international student starts a career in The United States of America, searching for better opportunities in his life. The adaptation in the American society is a process of identification to a new environment. This environment has some characteristics that make him want to be part of. Such as language, culture, religion, etc. However, there are other factors that are difficult to understand. The first time I was in the United States, I wonder why in a college cafeteria it was common to have different groups sitting together according to their Nationality especially. The Latin Americans were in the corner, the Asians were next to the door, the Anglos were separated into different groups such as - the hockey players and the basketball players- and also there were a group of African Americans in the west part of it and other nationalities, too. What other factors are there to be considered in this particular situation? Is it race still a division between students at Universities or Colleges? Can we shared the same place and be all integrated in different situations?
I noticed that students seem to be comfortable talking in the same language with people of the same nationality, especially at the first period of the arrival time to a different country. It is easier to express your ideas in your own language. Your primarily needs can be solve more easily, especially at a cafeteria. In The United States has so many people that speak different languages and it is common to find students that share your same system of communication that you can find people in the campus talking in other languages you had never imagined to listen.
Another factor is some racial- nationally stereotypes and prejudices that determine our view, such as that the black people are fond of basketball, or dancing while the Anglos like American Football, hockey. Asians are good at Martial Arts and South Americans are good football players. Is that always true? No. But some students are very fond of sports so they choose their fellows according to their likes and they come together. Students shared some national affection about the sport they practice and they show it wearing the t- shirt of their favorite national team. Even in this point, there are some who identify themselves with a team that doesn’t belong to his country!
Finally, there is apparently a great necessity to be part of a group. A group which the students choose to identify themselves. Some groups are according to your abilities (chess, reading, gambling) and some others are about the sport you practice. It seems to be an obligation to be part of a group to feel the sentiment of campus’ life. And sometimes the nationality seems to be a factor here as well. Could we change this? Is it possible to share the same like a Latin American boy and a North American boy? YES, I BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE. Because, I saw many exceptions in the campus but it is a matter of time to change it. American people has always had people from many countries and as Douglas Rivelin said, “Immigrants come and change America and are changed by America.”
I agree that the United States has been a country of opportunity that attracts many individuals of a variety of cultures from around the world. We claim that everyone is equal, which is true most of the time. However, it is not without some form of discrimination and separation that come about as a result too. There will always be people who does not have a liking for people of a religion, race, ethnicity, or culture that is different from theirs or for just a particular one. I think in schools and colleges/universities, most people don't think about differences that they have between themselves and others around them. They are there to learn, study, and make/converse with friends inside and outside of classes. Dispite students doing this, groups are often formed based on similarities in race, religion, sports (as all stated in the article) or even majors. In my experience at Merrimack so far, there have been people that hangout with others of the same major or academic classes most of the time. Or even if people hangout because they live on the same floor of their dorm house. Like in my perspective, I wouldn't expect to see a commuter science major student who studies biology hangout with a dorming liberal arts student who studies theater/drama. I don't think race is such a factor that causes division amongst people in schools and colleges since most people do not think about it as they hangout with a variety of friends, but there is still some kind at a low magnitude. So yes I believe that we can share a same place and be all integrated in different situations. And stereotypes are not always true. People that are black are not always good in basketball and the same goes with Asians and academics. The concept of stereotypes arise from the majority of people observing race as a primary factor in the relationship with some other aspects. Like blacks with basketball since there are many in the NBA. Stereotypes tend to overshadow facts and what is true, and should not be taken too seriously. We cannot assume that a group of people are good at something based on race. It's illogical and unreasonable thinking. Finally, I believe that having a number of different cultures is a good thing rather than a bad one because people of one culture can learn or gain insight about another culture that is completely different from them. Thus, this is why that the United States is one of the most diverse countries in the world due to our capacity for learning and interacting with people of all cultures and other differences that seem to separate people.
ReplyDeleteI have talked about the subject of accepting immigrants into our country, and Americanization and Pluralism, etc. in many of my classes. On the issue of the segregation at lunch, I agree that some people choose to identify themselves with other people of their same ability, etc. In class we have talked about how we have nothing against other people, it is just that we sit with people that we have the most in common with, and that is why the cafeteria looks the way it does. It has to do with your comfort level with the people that you are sitting with. However, programs like Conversations Across Cultures allow students to have the opportunity to meet people that have different backgrounds then you, and get to know these people on a personal level. Then, you can find things that you have in common with them. I think that with a little effort, we can get rid of this segregation in the cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that there definitely are racial stereotypes that are prevalent in our society. For instance, I have heard several times the stereotype mentioned in this entry that “black people are fond of basketball.” Even in television shows, this stereotype is made fun of. For example, in The Office, when the group is making a basketball team, one of the employees is black and everyone thinks he will be good at basketball. This may be poking fun at the issue, but it really does cross many peoples minds every day.
I think that we should be accepting of everyone and learn from each other. Even though we say that we associate with people that we have things in common with, we should also make an effort to talk with people from different situations and learn from each other.
In our society, people definitely polarize into groups. Naturally as people we feel the most comfortable with people who have the same interests and even in these cases native languages and cultures as each other. Despite what we naturally do, we need to expand our horizons and go outside of our comfort levels. We are all fully capable to meet and get along with people who are different on various levels. In my high school we used to have a day where at lunch you were encouraged with stickers and flyers to “mix it up” and sit with new and different people. Even though it failed, it is a great idea to meet new people and go outside of your comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteI believe that those who hold prejudices and stereotypes do not understand people of other cultures. They strongly believe in the stereotypes, possibly because that’s all they know of people from those cultures. The only thing we can do in this situation is to try to prove that the stereotypes do not apply to everyone and to be more tolerant. Growing up in a very diverse city, I’ve seen not only the stereotypes in real life, but also very many people who prove that they are not always true and not everyone applies. The more that people are exposed to this fact the more understanding people will be.
When a person's comfort level is manipulated lets say by a new situation such as meeting someone of a different nationality, they tend to revert back to what they know. That is to say that those who are not fond of change are unable to expand their cultural horizons. When some people see someone who is different from them, whether it be a distinction in race or religion, they subconsiously realize the difference and begin to stereotype. Stereotypes are made because it is easier to classify a person based on skin color or beliefs than it is to actually strike up a conversation with this person. If everyone could embrace change and have the courage to accept different cultures without judgement stereotypes could be eliminated. Today's society however proves the not everyone is a supporter of change; some would rather surround themselves with those just like them, with the same culture and the same interests. Some people are so crippled by their own social anxiety and meeting new people that they refuse to believe stereotyping is wrong. If people could understand that prejudgement does not result in the true definition of a person then it would end.
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