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The US has a diverse population, with people from across the world studying and working in every state of the nation. This cultural diversity has led to the creation of minorities and there are several challenges that emerge in terms of interracial interactions. The synergy and cooperation between different cultures within the grand American culture is critical for the progress of the nation and the welfare of its people, regardless of their race, culture and ethnicity.
In the course of my studies I have gathered substantial information to corroborate my belief that diversity in the U.S. will become more pronounced with the passage of time as the number of interracial relationships increase. Moreover, it has come to my attention that as long as society categorizes individuals into different groups, we will continue to face issues involving the fair treatment of people from various walks of life. The integrity of the nation is experiencing irreparable damage owing to the contemporary collective mentality and the division of people saps them of the strength necessary to overcome the intrusion of the government into their personal lives. Until the people pose a united front, they will continue to witness attacks on different groups instead of the peace that is achievable only through unity.
I learnt that there are numerous common points between my Cuban American roots and other cultures. For example, I learnt that many typically “American” holidays such as Christmas are celebrated in Cuba with equal pomp and splendor. Both the U.S. and Cuba stress on the freedom of its citizens and the people lead rich and colorful lives. It intrigued me to learn how closely related these two seemingly disparate nations in terms of religion and cultural values. I felt proud knowing that I have the best of both worlds within me and this has fuelled my desire to understand the disparate aspects of the cultures so that I may harmoniously integrate them within me and gain a new perspective in life.
If the current trend in the United States continues in society, by the year 2050 the nation would have become more of the melting pot that it currently claims to be. There are different races living in the U.S. at present but this number is bound to increase in the future. The rising number of immigrants within the borders of the United States as well as the expanding number of mixed couples will form a nation that is overall far less pure. In my opinion, such an outcome will lead to enhanced levels of tolerance and acceptance among the people and fewer acts of discrimination within the United States.
The problem of language owing to the diversity of the people is the primary hurdle faced by the United States. Even though English is the main spoken language in the United States, it is far easier to simply state that fact but very difficult to put it into practice. It is the responsibility of the United States to undertake the efforts required to advance towards a bilingual culture. Otherwise, problems on the home front will continue to increase and hurt the capacity of the U.S. citizens to earn good profits in the international market. Therefore, it is important to consider the case of other industrialized nations and take lessons from them. No system is entirely flawless but the United States can acquire a fair idea regarding how to proceed on the matter. In multilingual nations, the children are taught different languages at school from a young age. However, in the United States, children can only opt for further languages once they have are in middle school which decreases the ability of the child to gain and retain necessary details. Language can also be acquired through the process of memorization instead of practice. The change in current teaching patterns aids in the growth of a diverse social structure .
The benefits of this sort of diverse society happen to be far-fetched. The people gain more advantage in the workforce by employing citizens who possess a greater skill pool to make use of. The benefits extend to a more diverse job market which will enable people to deal with one another on the individual level instead of as a collective.
In order to foster a climate of cultural pluralism and acceptance in the U.S., simply accepting individuals from other cultures will not suffice but the people have to engage those individuals actively within their own lives. The current standards in U.S. society are long due for change and people need to be willing to make a difference in society. Pluralism in the United States can be achieved by peering beyond the superficial differences in culture and learning to overlook old patterns of violence and division. The modern world has changed dynamically and if the people in the U.S. do not learn to keep up with the times, their ignorance of one another is going to cost them very dearly .
The media enjoys an unprecedented level of power in the contemporary society but the wrong utilization of power is evident in the way that the media always notes the race of an individual who has committed a crime, especially if they belong to a minority race, knowing full well that they are simply perpetuating a cycle of prejudice and stereotypes. This practice further widens the gap between people in the United States. For instance, the headline for a recent news article in the UK read - “9 Asian Men Convicted of Forcing a 14 Year Old White Girl into Prostitution” . It does not seem relevant in this case to note the races of the criminals and the victim. Rape itself is a heinous crime whether it was committed by white men or men of color. Moreover, the story clearly intended to fan the flames of outrage by focusing on the fact that the victim was white. This sort of action by the media only leads to the incitement of the people and expands the racial division.
Not all is doom and gloom, however. There are a few bright moments when the media is able to help foster the appreciation of diversity. This is achieved when they highlight stories that focus on the unity between races and communities in the United States. One good example of unity is found in an article that highlights why the appreciation of cultural diversity is necessary, “First, black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian children need the same basic skills that we take for granted that white children need. This is an obvious point, but one that seems sometimes to be forgotten when the subject of multicultural education is raised” . In the article, it was necessary to mention the races of the individuals in order to highlight their solidarity.
People in the United States are able to work together for the purpose reducing the level of prejudice in the nation and enjoying the diversity. However, in order to do this, U.S. citizens must first change their line of thinking. Society needs to change how it views one another. We need to take responsibility for our actions instead of blaming it on a certain group, a certain way of upbringing or a specific cultural identity. Once individuals learn to value the self and become responsible, they will be able to gain a greater acceptance of other since at the time those “others” will become simple individuals living in harmony with them in the United States.
My journey of growth began almost seven years ago and in these few years, I have learnt to trust the individual rather than the collective mentality. I am now aware of how my words and actions affect others in society and have become self-responsible. I admit that I sometimes jump to conclusions based on first impressions and that “first impression” might extend to appearance. I am aware of my faults and am trying hard to change my personal behaviors without jumping to random conclusions.
There is a great need for a conscious effort on the part of individual citizens as well as the government to promote greater cultural tolerance and understanding. Educating the masses in the intricacies of interracial relationships and creating a fair handed approach towards minorities will go a long way in addressing the most pressing issues the nation faces today.
Works Cited
Adams, E., Sewell, D. T., & Hall, H. C. (2004). Cultural pluralism and Diversity: Issues Important to Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education , 22 (1), 17-28.
Chavez, L. (1993). Forstering appreciation for cultural diversity: Recognizing America's changing complexion. Forum Journal , 7 (1).
Keita, G. P. (2007). U.S. diversity breakthroughs and challenges. Monitor on Psychology , 38 (4), 46.
UK Politics Today. (2010, August). 9 Asian Men Convicted of forcing a 14 years Old White Girl Into Prostitution. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from UK Politics Today: http://ukpoliticstoday.blogspot.in/2010/08/9-asian-men-convicted-of-forcing-14.html
