Do you think the prejudices that Adams discusses have set grounds for the way American society functions today? How does Adams support or not support this idea and how do you agree or disagree with what Adams says?
I feel like the prejudices that Adams discusses have set the grounds for the way America and Mexico have always treated each other. Although the tone of international politics changes bit by bit, the light in which we see and think of each other will always be tainted by the prejudices that we either harbor ourselves or that our cultures both acknowledge the existence of.
I agree, prejudices are seen everywhere in relation to immigration in America today. With just saying what country someone migrated from there is most likely an automatic preconceived notion about that person that comes to your head. The stereotypes do make an impression on us. There is definitely racial profiling. Right now with the high illegal immigration from Mexico national opinions have been more negative and generalized about the Mexican population as a whole and a problem I have also noticed is the assumption that any Spanish speaking person has come from Mexico. It makes me wonder if one day American culture will embrace Mexican culture how it has Irish who were once not very welcomed into the states. Or if it is a part of the evolution of America and we will mesh and maybe one day like many countries have two national languages. I think pride and acceptance are some of the main blockers of reducing prejudices because if you can't accept something it is natural to make it negative.
Jefferson, speaking of the separation of church and state said "Divided we stand,united will fall..." The same can be said of race and ethnic differences today. The most basic of human response, that of a child, looks for and exploits the differences in those around them. this is essential for both growth and survival. While prejudice can be and usually is absolutely negative; the use of the differences in experience are vital. If for instance the actual cultural melting pot so many times referred to before were to occur Americans would lose their greatest strength. Americans are innovators and tend to think outside the box. It is the extreme diversity seen across the spectrum of our society that allows the American style thought, or more accurately thoughts. Without the diversity of thoughts America becomes a homogeneous nation state and loses what makes it different. In many ways it is the individual prides that give the strength necessary to move forward. Rather than blaming the diversity for our issues, the battle can only be won against prejudice by accepting the differences and knowing that path leads to some unfortunate realities and we must defeat them individually. Only though education and enlightenment can the former destructive forces be overcome and positive results follow for all. Clearly this does occur from time to time since Americans since the first settlers began their march across the veritable ice bridge of the last several thousand years. In this way Mexico and all other American states have the history and opportunity to excel only in their ability to be different. The future for the Americas is a diverse one and one that will require all views and plans for salvation.
I really like what Michelle brought up with questioning whether today's Mexican immigrants will merge into the US population as the Irish did or whether they'll change the US and cause us to have two languages. It's a great question. I'd bank on the former, although I think all the Mexican immigrants will have a more profound and lasting effect than the Irish did.
Of the many stereotypes and prejudices that may exist, I think one that will always exist in America is a prejudice against immigrants. From the beginning, there's been some sort of prejudice against a group of immigrants, be it the Irish, the Germans, or the Mexicans, and I think that's something we'll continue to see. We may not know where the next waves of immigration will come from, but I think a prejudice against at least one of them will almost certainly develop.
When I compare the Europeans immigrating into the U.S. and other groups of people immigrating into the U.S. I wonder at the success of integrating into American society within the first couple of generations. I know this sounds no-P.C. however, if you look at groups such as the Irish, the Germans, the Italians and such, they all had one thing in common; they were Europeans. Just like the first immigrants into the U.S. who were the british. They all shared a connection somewhere in recent history because of their proximity, and so it was somewhat easier for them to integrate into American society. However, if we look at immigrants such as those from East Asia, Africa, and South America, they were not in as close of proximity as these immigrant groups. And the biggest issue is the fact that Europeans have almost always in history have attempted to find a way to place themselves at the top of the Human chain in almost any way they were able to find. And since up until decades ago, America has been a predominantly European-dominated society. So, in theory, simply out of habit, America will use who she can, then find any way possible to maintain the status quo so that those who are "supposed" to remain dominant will remain dominant.
I feel like the prejudices that Adams discusses have set the grounds for the way America and Mexico have always treated each other. Although the tone of international politics changes bit by bit, the light in which we see and think of each other will always be tainted by the prejudices that we either harbor ourselves or that our cultures both acknowledge the existence of.
ReplyDeleteI agree, prejudices are seen everywhere in relation to immigration in America today. With just saying what country someone migrated from there is most likely an automatic preconceived notion about that person that comes to your head. The stereotypes do make an impression on us. There is definitely racial profiling. Right now with the high illegal immigration from Mexico national opinions have been more negative and generalized about the Mexican population as a whole and a problem I have also noticed is the assumption that any Spanish speaking person has come from Mexico. It makes me wonder if one day American culture will embrace Mexican culture how it has Irish who were once not very welcomed into the states. Or if it is a part of the evolution of America and we will mesh and maybe one day like many countries have two national languages. I think pride and acceptance are some of the main blockers of reducing prejudices because if you can't accept something it is natural to make it negative.
ReplyDeleteJefferson, speaking of the separation of church and state said "Divided we stand,united will fall..." The same can be said of race and ethnic differences today. The most basic of human response, that of a child, looks for and exploits the differences in those around them. this is essential for both growth and survival.
ReplyDeleteWhile prejudice can be and usually is absolutely negative; the use of the differences in experience are vital. If for instance the actual cultural melting pot so many times referred to before were to occur Americans would lose their greatest strength. Americans are innovators and tend to think outside the box. It is the extreme diversity seen across the spectrum of our society that allows the American style thought, or more accurately thoughts. Without the diversity of thoughts America becomes a homogeneous nation state and loses what makes it different. In many ways it is the individual prides that give the strength necessary to move forward. Rather than blaming the diversity for our issues, the battle can only be won against prejudice by accepting the differences and knowing that path leads to some unfortunate realities and we must defeat them individually. Only though education and enlightenment can the former destructive forces be overcome and positive results follow for all.
Clearly this does occur from time to time since Americans since the first settlers began their march across the veritable ice bridge of the last several thousand years.
In this way Mexico and all other American states have the history and opportunity to excel only in their ability to be different. The future for the Americas is a diverse one and one that will require all views and plans for salvation.
I really like what Michelle brought up with questioning whether today's Mexican immigrants will merge into the US population as the Irish did or whether they'll change the US and cause us to have two languages. It's a great question. I'd bank on the former, although I think all the Mexican immigrants will have a more profound and lasting effect than the Irish did.
ReplyDeleteOf the many stereotypes and prejudices that may exist, I think one that will always exist in America is a prejudice against immigrants. From the beginning, there's been some sort of prejudice against a group of immigrants, be it the Irish, the Germans, or the Mexicans, and I think that's something we'll continue to see. We may not know where the next waves of immigration will come from, but I think a prejudice against at least one of them will almost certainly develop.
When I compare the Europeans immigrating into the U.S. and other groups of people immigrating into the U.S. I wonder at the success of integrating into American society within the first couple of generations. I know this sounds no-P.C. however, if you look at groups such as the Irish, the Germans, the Italians and such, they all had one thing in common; they were Europeans. Just like the first immigrants into the U.S. who were the british. They all shared a connection somewhere in recent history because of their proximity, and so it was somewhat easier for them to integrate into American society.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if we look at immigrants such as those from East Asia, Africa, and South America, they were not in as close of proximity as these immigrant groups. And the biggest issue is the fact that Europeans have almost always in history have attempted to find a way to place themselves at the top of the Human chain in almost any way they were able to find. And since up until decades ago, America has been a predominantly European-dominated society. So, in theory, simply out of habit, America will use who she can, then find any way possible to maintain the status quo so that those who are "supposed" to remain dominant will remain dominant.