What is America's national identity?
I always thought that to be American meant to be white. Maybe this is because I was (and am) always surrounded by white people, I feel like they are the majority and I am the minority.
But that's false. In a few decades or maybe a century (provided the Earth still exists), whites are supposed to become a minority.
America was founded on a variety of cultures, races, and ethnicities coming together to found a new nation in which everyone can peacefully coexist. Is this the case? Not necessarily. But is it also the case that white people make up the epitome of all that is America? No.
The chancellor of Germany recently said that Germany will allow immigrants, but they must assimilate into German culture: learn German and adopt Christianity.
Perhaps Europe isn't entirely multiculturalism-friendly because it's Europe. In the words of NPR's Neal Conan, "Germany for the Germans, Italy for the Italians, France for the French."
But America's not supposed to be like that. America is made up of Germans, Italians, French, and so many more.
So why have I, up until now, thought otherwise?
If multiculturalism is such an integral cornerstone of America's foundation as a country, then why is it so difficult for the nation to accept it?
And what, then, is America's national identity?
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