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Hindus in U.S. Exemplify Capitalism's Basic Virtue
November 10, 2005; Page A17
Francis Fukuyama's formulation of the fundamental
criteria of citizenship in European nations -- "blood,
soil and ancient shared memory" -- captures perfectly
the fatal flaw at the heart of European
multiculturalism, and reveals the hypocrisy of the
European contempt for the American experience ("A Year
of Living Dangerously," editorial page, Nov. 2).
Critically, what is missing from that formulation, and
from Prof. Fukuyama's prescription for cure, is the
role of capitalism, and the worship of the almighty
dollar.
As Hayek and his disciples have pointed out,
capitalism is the most democratic and virtuous of
social systems: dollars are not black, white or red.
And a society that accords social and cultural respect
to those who succeed in the economic sphere is, by
definition, more inclusive than one based on any other
set of criteria.
Let's take a really (one would think) remote cultural
group in America: Hindus. Something like 40% of
hotel/motel properties in America are owned by Patels
and their cousins. And they contribute to American
society at every level: philanthropic, cultural and
social -- because of the respect they are accorded for
their economic success. One generation: from immigrant
to university donor and honoree.
But societies that place economic success well below
"blood, soil and ancient shared memory" in their
pantheon of virtues are fated to spend eternity trying
to square the circle: integrating those who do not
share in those historical criteria, and never will.
-WSJ
