America

In America: The Multinational Society Reed describes a battle occurring in the United States. A battle being waged over what it means to be American. A fight over what our culture is and where it is heading. Reed describes an America rich in different cultures. A place where a Spanish speaking family has a kosher hot dog next to Afro-American man, in a city with a large Muslim population. America is certainly an amazing place. A land were many can come together and be one, all at the same time as retaining their ethnic identity and culture. But this was written a long time ago, does it still hold up in 2015?

As someone who has had the opportunity to live in over 4 different countries I can attest there is nothing quite like the United States. A place made by immigrants, a land so vast it spans two oceans, a place where many become one. I absolutely believe America is still this land, but with this it still has the same problems. Just as Reed explains America still struggles with its acceptance of others, in fact I know I do. A land with so many outsiders yet we reject anything that is seen as foreign. Which is rather comical given the fact that our culture and society is built from things not originating here. Cultures that are found across oceans and spanning languages. This culture which truly is a melting pot somehow likes to reject the new. We see ourselves needing isolation which is ridiculous considering we are one of the least isolated places in the world. We fight and struggle with things deemed “un-American”. However what is un-American? Is it anti-religious, not white, I don’t seem to get it? If people here were so content to shut the door now that they are here they might as well leave. Do what so many others have done and go to your land of promise. And when they go they should feel free to take their closed-mindedness and racism with them. Because if there is one thing that is truly anti-American, its monoculturism.