Copy and paste or upload (using Add Media) your dialogue with Laila Lalami’s “What Does It Take to ‘Assimilate’ in America?”
Lalami; What does assimilation mean these days? The word has its roots in the Latin ‘‘simulare,’’ meaning to make similar. Immigrants are expected, over an undefined period, to become like other Americans, a process metaphorically described as a melting pot. But what this means, in practice, remains unsettled. After all, Americans have always been a heterogeneous population — racially, religiously, regionally. By what criteria is an outsider judged to fit into such a diverse nation?
Wirbal; I think this is important to show really what assimilation is. We say America is this diverse population which we are. So then why do we make it so hard to make everyone the same. If we just let everyone be themselves and no matter what just accept them for who they are. Then we will actually have a diverse set of people instead of everyone just trying to mold into the same thing.
Lalmi; Immigrants contribute to America in a million different ways, from growing the food on our tables to creating the technologies we use every day. They commit far fewer crimes than native-born citizens. But hardly a week goes by when poor assimilation isn’t blamed for offenses involving immigrants — and the entire project of immigration called into question.
Wirbal; They are here to try and live a life why should we not offer that. We are considered land of the free and that is all they want. Like Lalmi says they contribute the same way any natural born american would. So then why should we blame them for something that is out of their control.
Lalmi; But for those who believe that assimilation is a matter of identity — as many on the far right do — nothing short of the abandonment of all traces of your heritage will do.
Wirbal; no one should have to abandon their identity. You are who you are and should not have to change that. When we are born we have an identity that may not define our actions but show who we are and our background we come from.
Lalmi; Debates about assimilation are different from debates about undocumented immigration, even though they are often mixed together. Concerns about undocumented immigration typically center on competition for jobs or the use of public resources, but complaints about assimilation are mostly about identity — a nebulous mix of race, religion and language.
Wirbal; People are still people. Yes some may not have come here legally but they are still people trying to make a life for themselves. If they are living and following the laws and just doing their jobs not causing trouble then who are we to say they can’t do something when they are just trying to make ends meet. When do we become the people to say that they can’t do that. If they can pay their taxes and pay their bills then they are doing the same things as everyone else in america. Every single person is competing for jobs or seats on busses or trains. Just because they may be different doesn’t make them any less human.
