by Randolph S. Bourne
First paragraph
First
and foremost one of the main reasons that Europeans came and settled in this country was mainly due to the fact
that England and other European countries restricted freedom of belief as well
as thinking along with other liberties that in this day and age we all take for
granted. They were supposed to abide by a system imposed upon them by the
monarch who ruled in the particular region whence they came. I can imagine
myself as a person from anglo decent living at this particular time in history
and even though that I would more than likely have a very different mindset
brought upon me by my experiences of having been born in that time period it
would make it very difficult for me to accept being hearded like cattle and led
to believe that my King or ruler in
charge was the only reason to be thankful for my existence and be content with
the fact that as a gift from GOD that he would be all that I would live and die
for. And maybe as wishful thinkers do today maybe get lucky enough some day
from this idiotic loyalty and possibly even be rewarded for this un recognized
loyalty!
Might it be possible that many people from so long ago maybe had these
very kinds of hopes or expectations? My opinion is that quite possibly this may
be the case for some, but I assure you not all. I remember the movie the
PATRIOT starring Mel Gibson which took place during the Revolutionary war which
although was glamorized to some extent if we put into account that for
Hollywood’s sake for the movie to sell had to be filmed in this fashion that I
am sure this must have been far more complicated than it was made out to be. A
movie can touch on some of the topics that led to this terrible but necessary
war in a few hours but it sure as hell would not be possible to achieve this in
such short order. However touching on the subject in question on the first
paragraph of Mr. Randolph S. Bourne he states and I quote…
NO reverberatory effect of the great war has caused American public opinion
more solicitude than the failure of the 'melting- pot.' The discovery of
diverse nationalistic feelings among our great alien population has come to
most people as an intense shock. It has brought out the unpleasant
inconsistencies of our traditional beliefs We have had to watch hard- hearted
old Brahmins virtuously indignant at the spectacle of the immigrant refusing to
be melted, while they jeer at patriots like Mary Antin who write about 'our
forefathers.' We have had to listen to publicists who express themselves as
stunned by the evidence of vigorous nationalistic and cultural movements in
this country among Germans, Scandinavians, Bohemians, and Poles, while in the
same breath they insist that the mien shall be forcibly assimilated to that
Anglo- Saxon tradition which they unquestioningly label 'American.'
Now correct me if I am
wrong, but if I did not know any better is it any different than it was before?
Are we as Americans not repeating the very same sins that our European
counterparts did 300 or so years ago only in reverse? Should we; the great
nation of unlimited freedoms not allow these who come to our shore’s their
freedoms as well? And allow them to
manifest their existence in anyway which way they choose to see fit in the way
that they want to live their lives in this great nation? Are we contradicting ourselves
after fighting to fulfill our way of living? Are we not now imposing our
Americanization onto others for the privilege of living here and they
themselves have this so called blessing of being called an American? A product
of our assimilation process to correct them? This is wrong in so many ways. I
myself am an American with a rich background in European culture. My lineage although
mainly influenced by Spain is no different than my other European counterpart
the Anglo-Saxon. And even though that my culture too has America deeply embedded
in its own culture, it is something that was more by choice than by force.
Every time I log online I read some topic or discussion with some American person downsizing,
criticizing or just exercising their bias towards some other poor souls that
just want the right to have what they themselves want. Do they too want
assimilation? Who can tell. Is the so called American dream that lures them
here in the first place their way of saying "Hey, I wan't to assimilate" or are they just looking for some type of freedom all of their own other than. This has never been anything new since early on in our American history. But if we analyze for a moment the very same term “shall be forcibly assimilated to that Anglo-
Saxon tradition which they unquestioningly label 'American.” In itself is flawed. Because you see; to be
an American and the very meaning of what it is to be an American is not Anglo Saxon alone. Race has
nothing to do with it in the very least. It is a way one chooses to live. A way
of living and does no ever represent a race. It was never ever meant to be, you
choose to be.
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