April 27, 2006
Ethnic Food
I’ve never really liked that phrase. Going out for ethnic food implies that food you normally eat (American food) lacks ethnicity. So Americans don’t have a culture of our own? Our food isn’t ethnic?
If it was simply isolated to take-out menu selections I don’t think this would bother me so much. The real issue is that our “multicultural” society, the great “melting pot” of the world has always had a pot to sit in, a framework that held us altogether. Yes a culture of our very own! Despite all the special interests groups that exists, the divisions amongst our political parties, red state/blue state, MAC people/PC people – at the end of the day we are all Americans.
That is until we decide that our culture, the American way of life that so many have fought to defend and are still fighting for; is simply a neutral, self-defined postmodern creation. This is part of the problem with the immigration debate that continues. Assimilation means becoming a part of the culture that already exists or seamlessly melting into the pot. Declaring your own special interest group, setting yourself apart and demanding rights does nothing to forward the cause of freedom.
As a natural born citizen of this country I realize I will never fully appreciate the struggles that others go through to experience the prosperity and liberty the USA provides. And as a citizen I long to see us all united with a clear purpose as Americans; not as some ethnic-free place to eat.
Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.