Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism in America Multiculturalism in America Introduction Constitutional acceptance of cultural diversities has always helped many countries to grow rapidly in the socio-economic front. The present day world has realized the need for conglomerated cultural participation in socio-economic and political arenas to substantiate the comprehensive development of different communities. Multiculturalism broadly refers to a society which caters multiple cultures. Policies that comply with multiculturalism are very important to a country like the USA where people from diverse regions around the globe live and work together. The US population includes people of different origins and cultures who follow different religion and traditions. Therefore, evolving a system where various kinds of people live together in harmony becomes essential. The very concept of multiculturalism was brought in by the evolution of such a social system in the USA.
The Cultural Influence
A general concept can be framed that the association of many cultural models in civilized communities give birth to a commonly accepted new one in the absence of specific dominance by any of them. In many events, collective immigration to a particular province of the country can also force a situation in which a new culture is forced upon the existing community. The paper named ‘ American Identity, Citizenship and Multiculturalism’ which was presented by Diana Owen, the associate professor of political science in Georgetown University in the German-American conference, 2005 mentions a term ‘ melting pot’ which was used by the playwright Israel Zangwill to describe the process by which immigrants from different parts of the world came together in the US. This particular term denotes a process through which the distinction of cultures in the country would disappear in the long run by the merging of those distinct cultures into an exorbitant one. We can say that this process has taken place in the US for good though there is a possibility for counter arguments. On the whole, a unique culture has developed in the US subsequent to its long term multiculturalism policies.
Modern world’s economic progress is doubtlessly connected to the contributions of multiculturalism in the reconstruction of political structure of many leading nations. The fact that a person of African origin became the president of the USA proves that multiculturalism is effectively working in the nation. It has definitely contributed to the socio-economic uplift and unity and integrity of the states. The 19th century was the period when the rate of immigration to the US was at its zenith. Thinking back from now, this process may be denoted as a ‘ brain drain’ to the US from rest of the world. The swift development secured by the US and its emerging as a world superpower proves this argument.
As stated above, the US population consist of a mixture of people of different ethnicities; and they have discrete perceptions which are the core elements of the innovations that happen in the USA. As it is widely noticed, the American policies to accommodate distinguished cultural models have helped the country enviously grow in all the spheres of development. We need not search wide to digest the fact that Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Sam Walton of Walmart and the scientists of NASA all belong to the USA. The finest example of the concept is that people of all divisions enjoy freedom of thought and religion in the USA.
Conclusion
Although the process of multiculturalism has evolved in the USA, it is still not an official federal policy. However, this has not affected the society inversely at all. Admittedly, there is an overwhelming aggrandizement of Latinos and Asians. However, multiculturalism averts adverse effects that can be caused by the over dominance of any group. Over the decades, multiculturalism has emanated as a peculiar characteristic of the US society. People in the country today tolerate each other, they share their ideas, and that has eventually provided a lot of far flung benefits to the whole United States of America. As a result of the new developments, equality has sprung up in all sectors including education, business, employment etc. Ultimately, recognition of people of African origin was a milestone in the US history. Considering all this, it can be concluded that multiculturalism is evitable in the US.
References
Owen, D. (2005). American Identity, Citizenship, and Multiculturalism. Paper presented at the German-American Conference cosponsored by the Bundeszenrale fur politische Bildung and the Center for Civic Education, September 11-16, Freiburg, Germany. Retrieved from http://www. civiced. org/pdfs/germanPaper0905/DianaOwen2005. pdf