The Modern Myth of Assimilation
>Assimilation
Assimilation no longer exists because of two factors
>1. Mass immigration
For previous waves of immigration assimilation was a necessity to not be a complete outcast. If you did not assimilate by learning the language, adopting the customs, and behaving in a compatible manner you would remain a social outcast. However when large groups of people from your country of origin immigrate you no longer have to assimilate because you have a group you can rely on for socialization, employment, etc.
>2. The internet
In the past if you immigrated to the USA or anywhere else for that matter, you essentially lost all ties to your home country. For example an Indian immigrating to America in the 80’s would not have been able to communicate with his family or friends back home without great expense. Now with the internet an Indian can call his family for free using a messaging service like WhatsApp, he can read the local news online, can watch Bollywood films as they’re released, and can order Indian food from home. All of this removes any type of assimilation pressure he would have once felt. He can essentially live an Indian (or African, or Arab) life in his new country with ease.
Assimilation of immigrants is an outdated concept, and you’re even starting to see it with second and third generation immigrants reverting back to the culture of their parents and grandparents. People who tout this as a “what’s the problem? It’s skin color” have the most facile understanding of culture imaginable. Left unchecked they’ll form cultural enclaves, and eventually will seek out political power to further ends alien to their host country.
Assimilation no longer exists because of two factors
>1. Mass immigration
For previous waves of immigration assimilation was a necessity to not be a complete outcast. If you did not assimilate by learning the language, adopting the customs, and behaving in a compatible manner you would remain a social outcast. However when large groups of people from your country of origin immigrate you no longer have to assimilate because you have a group you can rely on for socialization, employment, etc.
>2. The internet
In the past if you immigrated to the USA or anywhere else for that matter, you essentially lost all ties to your home country. For example an Indian immigrating to America in the 80’s would not have been able to communicate with his family or friends back home without great expense. Now with the internet an Indian can call his family for free using a messaging service like WhatsApp, he can read the local news online, can watch Bollywood films as they’re released, and can order Indian food from home. All of this removes any type of assimilation pressure he would have once felt. He can essentially live an Indian (or African, or Arab) life in his new country with ease.
Assimilation of immigrants is an outdated concept, and you’re even starting to see it with second and third generation immigrants reverting back to the culture of their parents and grandparents. People who tout this as a “what’s the problem? It’s skin color” have the most facile understanding of culture imaginable. Left unchecked they’ll form cultural enclaves, and eventually will seek out political power to further ends alien to their host country.
