The United States is supposed to be a mixing pot. Throw it all in – they will blend! Reality tends to be a bit harsher, and mixing various cultures that downright refuse to mix just doesn’t happen. What’s left is what our citizens see today. There are various cultures in the USA, along with various religions and races. It is very beautiful, a mosaic of sorts. However, where the lines of race, religion, and creed fall, our mosaic is cracked. Everything that separates us really separates us – it is heartbreaking. People are people, despite what languages are used, and what customs are practiced, that is all we boil down to. For the most part, tension over such things is kept under a tight wrap, thin plastic just waiting to burst… and elections tend to bring out the worst.
When Barack Obama stepped up, his family’s religious history was blazed in the media. Islamic? In the states? Although never fully explained to most of the public, the reaction to such a thing was clear enough. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not gonna’ happen. But why not? Wasn’t this a country where all religions were accepted, where a person’s religious beliefs would not be suppressed in any way? Now I’m not saying I know anything about Obama’s religious preference, as far as I know he’s Christian – and either way he’s got my vote this election. My point is, though, that faced with the slightly unfamiliar, the average Joe American tends to duck, dive, and fire.
Mixing Pot?
By cscarson - Posted on October 4th, 2008
This was beautifully stated. It is encouraging to me to hear someone else voice a perspective that I hold dear. We are a mosaic as you said. I think it is wonderful that this nation is the most diverse in the entire world. We have such a unique opportunity to learn about one another, to become truly worldly in a sense. But yes, we do conflict with each other from time to time. Sometimes violently.
There will always be divisions between us. Some of us automatically create divisions between race, gender, color, religion, culture, etc.
I choose to divide people into two categories: goodhearted and not so goodhearted. It's been a challenge at times, because cultures really do range and our mores and values can be extremely dogmatic.
But I believe, truly believe, that if we take the time to really work through those differences, we eventually find something in common. It is that common ground I seek with people on a daily basis. And I am thankful to have such a broad spectrum of friends because of my effort.
It doesn't work all the time. It doesn't have to. But sometimes it does work. And to me, that makes the effort worth it.
i completely agree with your comment. As an activist working to minimize racism on my college campus, I find your words about the mosaic and divisions absolutely beautiful!
I am taking a United States History class at college right now, and most of the colonies were not set up for religious freedom, but rather religious reasons. What I mean by this is that the Pilgrims and Puritans wanted to practice their own religion, but other religions weren't welcome. They were not tolerant people is what I am trying to say. These intolerant people are the ones who created our nation and government, and that is why America is the way it is today.
I find it ironic and quite sad, that our nation was founded by people who were dissenters and needed a place to express themselves and to find freedom as outcasts of their own societies in Europe. And then that they did not accept others, such as the Native Americans who were here when they arrived.
I think your comment is great! I never really thought about the connection between discrimination today and the essential part it played in the birth of our nation.