Preserving Culture in a Foreign Land
Despite the fact that many groups have immigrated to the United States, coming from various ethnic regions, they have been successful in maintaining their traditions and have avoided assimilating into American culture. These immigrants typically establish themselves in neighborhoods built around their respective cultures, such as Little Saigon in Garden Grove, California, and Little Havana in Miami, which are home to the majority of Hasidic Jewish communities, as well as Amish communities and other Islamic-focused neighborhoods in Pennsylvania and Ohio. There is importance in preservation of culture despite moving to foreign lands so that one does not lose touch with their roots and where they come from. It also helps in establishment of a grounds for their culture being passed down on to their children and there is preservation of their lineage and culture (Young 98).Resistance to Assimilation
The groups who are usually resistant to change follow reasons such as the American society being discriminative of people from external ethnic groups and them having certain negative stereotypes against them therefore they find it better suiting for them to remain in their own cultural circles. Also, they argue out that them accepting to be assimilated into American culture leads to their self-esteem, history and culture being robbed of them as well as the process being insidious (Spring 66).Immigrants are also resistant to change since they feel that the American society demands of too much from them. In order for them to be fully assimilated and considered as Americans they have to learn English, have to follow a certain protestant work ethic and had to proudly accept and believe in American liberal, egalitarian and democratic principles. In some cases, some of these principles go against the moral, ethical and cultural beliefs of the people therefore the resistance to assimilation. For some, they immigrate into America when too old to learn a new language therefore are unable to cope with the requirements which seem demanding to some extent.Also, there are cases where despite adoption of American ways, there are no major improvements in the systems of work since there is still a culture of discrimination against some cultures. For example, Mexicans and immigrants from Philippines are usually looked down upon and despite them learning and accepting Americanization they are still assigned to work tasks which are not as promising as they are assured. Therefore, for some they feel some sense of betrayal in the American society when it comes to being assimilated into their culture (Huntington 6).Adverse Effects and the Need for Adjustments
However, there are adverse effects which come up with such resistance and refusal to be assimilated into adaptation of Americanized ways. Such is such as lacking of opportunities due to some requiring that the applicants be American as per the set doctrine of Americanization. Therefore, there is need for the immigrants to make adjustments so that they are not locked out of promising opportunities which can help them grow substantially (Omi 69).Draw the Limits of Assimilation
In terms of assimilation, there is need for one to draw the lines as to the limits they accept to be assimilated so that they do not lose their culture and sense of belonging. In moving to the United States, there are numerous opportunities which exist however are requiring of people to have adopted certain American ways so that they are able to have access to them. Therefore, there is need for immigrants to take up American ways however to have clear boundaries as to the extent which they can accept their culture and protect themselves from losing their culture and other aspects which define them as a people.Works Cited
Huntington, Samuel P. “25 The Hispanic Challenge.” A Language and Power Reader (2013): 6.
Omi, Michael, and Howard Winant. Racial formation in the United States. Routledge, 2014: 35-73
Spring, Joel. Deculturalization and the struggle for equality: A brief history of the education of dominated cultures in the United States. Routledge, 2016:54-99
Young, Robert JC. Postcolonialism: An historical introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2016: 97-107
