Are different cultures in America really trying to blend together?

Although I believe we do need to reach a certain amount of harmony among races, I do not think that people should give up their cultural heritage altogether. America is unique in that we have the opportunity to learn so much about nearly every culture in the world. We need to take advantage of this opportunity and not shove it away in the name of "blending together." The way to racial harmony is through acceptance. The way to acceptance is through education. In order to achieve racial peace, each community needs to take on the responsibility of education. More events such as cultural fairs and the like should take place. Only through education are we ever going to see racial harmony.

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Often a person's culture is a part of their identity. Why should a parent stop a tradition just because they are in a different country? After a few generations the old culture usually wears off and a family may become more American, but this is a country of immigrants, so there will always be different cultures coming to America. We need to embrace each other whether or not we decide to conform to each other's cultures.

It used to be that way. The - American was to show that even though one came from somewhere else, you considered yourself American. Irish American, Polish, etc. This was used by immigrants and then their children. The grandchildren usually considered themselves just American. The only change was people that used to be called Negroes, then black, decided on African American. Only fair, as they are Americans of African descent.

Nowadays, however, it seems that the titles are used to be divisive. People whose families have not stepped foot in the "old country" for generations have started with this.

I also do not see the recent immigrants trying to blend in as much as the ones in the late 1800s and early 1900s did. It seems to be the "old country" first and foremost. I saw something on TV about a lady who had lived here for 30 years (think it was ABC) and she could not speak any English at all. Got the news from Hispanic Television and worked and shopped only at places where Spanish was spoken. That kind of bothers me.

I don't think the "melting pot" is working anymore. (Does that mean I have to learn German? Or Dutch? Or whatever they speak in Switzerland? Hope not.)

People have a tendency to associate with others with whom they are most comfortable. The early immigrants tended to group together according to their race, religion, nationality, etc. as evidenced by the local neighborhoods at that time. Not to say this is racism, but a feeling of comfort. Each is proud of their heritage and should be. But over time, they began to associate with others and felt comfortable with them. Then comes trust and harmony. We each have something we can learn from others. We should all consider ourselves Americans first.

Give me a universal definition for "American", then I will consider doing away with labels. It must acceptable to ALL citizens, of course. ;)

I'm sure those of indigenous descent would disagree with just about any European import what that means.

I think it's a fallacy that what makes the US great is one monolithic culture; what makes it great is that people from any nation and from any cultural group can become a citizen and not surrender one's identity to the majority. Denying one's heritage or censoring people for claiming different identities is not very democratic or American in my book.

Furthermore, people like to assume that the "normal" or "standard" American culture is WASP or Northern European in tenor and derides anything different as "foreign" or usurping in nature. It is that very attitude that makes me more vocal about my own heritage.

I also find that attitude to be very insecure and provincial. Fear is the impetus behind racism, not the cultures themselves.

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I cant speak for the entire country but here in phx az we seem to get along quite well. Everyone is proud of their heritage and what not but well there just doesnt seem to be much concern about race reigion or sexual identity here.

it is one thing to have pride in ones heritage, and another thing entirely to feel the need to adopt said heritage as ones own. the u.s. has long been referred to as the "melting pot" of cultures, everyone merging and melding to become americans. in reality, we are more of a tossed salad, with individual groups (cubans, blacks, mexicans, russians, germans, chinese, etc) remaining as their own subset but working to harmonize with and complement the others.

it isn't referring to oneself as xxx-american that perpetuates racism, it is the inability of individuals to function with civility when it comes to other subgroups. in order for harmony to be achieved, these groups need to have some commonality (other than proximity to one another). there is fear in the unknown, and it's important for the subgroups to mingle with one another, even if for something as simple as grocery/clothes shopping, going to a ball game, etc. until they are willing to extend themselves outside of their comfort zone, i do not believe we'll see anything different than the status quo.

I think we are trying but there are always going to be the tough people or the ones who still believe in prejudice and wrong doing and stuff like that.

"-american" is a government plot to keep us divided so we cannot unite against them. Most of the people in the US are not racists.