Congratulations to Thomas Swift for his critical analysis of the problems with multiculturalism. I'm generally in agreement of what he said, except for a parting shot he took at gays (though I agree that we should not be injecting sexuality studies at earlier and earlier grades).
As Swift says, by worshipping at the alter of ethnic and racial diversity we encourage people to identify with people of like ethnic and racial demographics, to the detriment of relationships with others outside those bounds. It is what Arthur Schlesinger Jr warned us against--the Disuniting of America. Our country more than any other I've know of is founded on common adherence to certain principles, not on ethnic stock. And it is this that makes our wonderful diversity possible. I hope our Minneapolis schools are saying the Pledge every day. I was the only Jewish kid in all my classrooms, from K to 6, and one big thing that made me feel I was one with all my classmates (as much as anyone can be one with another) is that we said the Pledge together--"with liberty and justice for all!" I still get chills. BTW, another commonality was....the English language. I pity an immigrant kid coming into the Minneapolis schools who is encouraged to see only bad in his new country's past (the indians, the slaves, the voteless women, rape of the environment, the railroad barons, etc., ad nausium), and is encouraged to think of whence the child came as a promised land that epitomized values that will show America the way. Sorry, my grandfather came here to get away from the oppressive Old World, and he loved this New World....though he would have liked it to be more socialist. But he thrived in its freedom and opportunity, and I'm thankful he came. I get excited when I see the Somalis over on Cedar Avenue, in the African markets and in the hi-rises, experiencing our democracy and opportunity and entrepreneurship. I remember from a 6th Ward debate seeing the printed signs hanging up in a hi-rise's meeting room, in three different languages, laying out the rules for democratic discussion (one person speaks at a time, don't shout, listen to what is said). I feel like its Orchard Street and Hester Street, all over again. Sometimes I think our pragmatic (and self-seeking) newcomers will save us (multigenerational) Americans from our effete tendencies. Bless them. On their way to becoming part of a greater US. Alan Shilepsky Downtown _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
