March 05, 2004

The Borg that is America
Posted by McQ

Very interesting discussion of immigration and assimilation of Mexican-Americans at Daniel Drezner's blog. Pay particular attention to the email from the 2nd generation Mexican American.

Their children? forget it--they wouldn't know a Spanish word if they got hit by one. My wife and I, also Mexican-American, are fluent in both languages. My oldest son was fluent at one time, he is 28, but is rapidly losing the Spanish. My other son, has trouble with it, and my baby, my daughter of 19 yrs old, can more understand it than speak it. I have a grandaughter, no Spanish whatsoever. I look around at my contemporaries and find the same phenomenom with their children and grandchildren.

The American culture is overwhelming and very, very powerful. MTV, VH-1, and the like have immense influence on children as they grow up. Our children are no different than others and in that they probably know more about Janet Jackson, NSync, Kid Rock, pizza, downloading music, Bill Gates, etc. etc, in other words American popular culture, than they do about "their" Mexican culture and language.

I think his observations are keen and insightful. It should help lay to rest the doom and gloom predictions that American culture will be subverted by waves of immigration from "poorer" nations (personally I see that as a code word among a certain set for people who immigrate who aren't "like us").

Assimilation is the key to success here, and based on the thrust of the email it would appear to be working as it always has. It is usually the 2nd generation which is most effected by the culture, with the 3rd and 4th generations being as much a part of the culture as any other American.

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Comments

The immigrants are one of my favorite things about America.

I work with Indians, Chinese, Brits, Iranians and Koreans - and we all work well together because we share a common goal.

They are comfortably American, but all seem distressed about how their kids are "different."

I love having Indian, Thai, Japanese, Greek and Chinese food within a quick walk of my house. I love to spend the day in Chinatown or Little Italy.

America is a wonderful place to live, and large measure of that is due to immigrants.

America is like a big baseball team, and all of the world's best players want to come here. The best scientists, the most innovative business people and the hardest workers.

Long may it be so, for it will make us all richer and stronger.

And yes,there will be plenty of jobs.

There always have been.

Posted by: John Rogers at March 5, 2004 01:19 PM