Assimilation
Reader comment on item: Lodi's Pakistani Community

Submitted by Rubicon (United States), Dec 17, 2007 at 14:18

Without a doubt it is wrong to persecute people due to their faith, their method of dressing, their country of origin, or nationality, or their skin color, etc. America is supposed to be about inclusion.

That said, I also find it inappropriate for people to come to America, become citizens, etc. and not be able to speak the nations predominant language. Whether they stay mainly in their own community or not, this is America and their is a national language, whether its official or not. To not learn the language means someone is saying all I want to do is take, and not to give or participate.

Its easy to exclude people if they keep only to themselves. Its easy to ostracize people if they cannot converse with people in their community. That does not happen because Americans want it that way or do it deliberately. It happens just because if you stay away from people, they will naturally return the favor.

Additionally, these folks cannot have assimilated into America in almost any sense if they shun or watch any of their community who may have "snitched" and revealed the identity of a potential terrorist. Why would they object to the capture or imprisonment of a suspected or known terrorist? Why is protecting a Pakistani more important than protecting a fellow American citizen who may be murdered by a terrorist? If you come, accpet citizenship & all the priveledges that go with that, you also accept the responsibilities that go with that.

If you do not join in, you will always be seen as strange and people will always suspect you are up to no good. You cannot assimilate & enjoy all of America if you refuse to become an American. If you do not want to become an American, then why are you here & becoming an official citizen? Additionally,

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