What was also fascinating in this campaign is the divide between the media and the people; even if Trump had lost with 49% of the vote it would have been striking. Zero newspapers endorsed him, which means half of the US population is not represented in the media.
People like community. It's hard to have a community when people don't share similar backgrounds, when people don't share same values. People will feel less connected and less responsible for one another. People will also feel more distrust to one another. Social cohesion will break down. This is the reason why integration should be an essential part of immigration. Immigrants should adopt the leading culture, at least when moving outside of the confinements of their homes.
> "[...] integration should be an essential part of immigration."
This is an idea I have seen or heard a lot of during this election cycle. What exactly is it you want when you say it should be essential? What do you think the consequences should look like for immigrants who are having a difficult time integrating into the culture?
Further, what exactly is this culture? Speaking English? Watching sports? Joining the local church?
How do the Romans define what it is that the Romans do such that they can require it of someone?
What do you think the consequences should look like for immigrants who are having a difficult time integrating into the culture?
If immigrants move to another country in which they find it difficult to adjust, perhaps it would be better for them and for society as a whole, if these people would return to their original country.
Further, what exactly is this culture? Speaking English? Watching sports? Joining the local church?
It can be simple things, like shaking hands with woman. Wearing more or less the same clothes. Sending children to state schools and not separate schools. Learning the local language and speaking this language in public.
Adjusting to the social norms is good for immigrants as well, as they will find it much easier to find jobs.
I have a Thai girlfriend and when I am in Thailand we go to a temple quite often (I am not religious at all). I do the same rituals as the Thai people do, out of respect for their culture. I plan to live in Thailand in the future, so I am learning the Thai language. And I hope, sometime in the future, to work for some time in a Thai company, so I can perfect my Thai language skills. I also try to keep in mind other aspects of Thai culture.
I state these points specifically, because these are areas where many European countries failed, out of the failed idea of multi-culturalism [0]. I don't think the situation in the US is quite the same as Europe (yet), but perhaps it could be in the future.
How do the Romans define what it is that the Romans do such that they can require it of someone?
It's a quote from Saint Ambrose that basically means that one has to adjust to the society one moves in. You can't go to Saudi-Arabia and expect western behaviour, western norms would be tolerated. You'd find yourself in very big problems quickly. And it's the same in most countries in the world.
I get where you're coming from that it's better if immigrants pick up the culture and behaviors of the place they move to.
But what I'm asking about is what do you think it looks like when the government enforces this sort of thing? Maybe a department of cultural integration? How would they ensure they are effectively integrating people? How do we measure the effectiveness of people who work in such a department?
To me all the potential answers to this are very concerning. I'm fairly pro big-government, but the idea of America mandating immigrants behave in very specific ways in the name of cultural integration seems very dangerous in terms of the power it would over individuals.
But right now in the US we have laws around public schools helping non-English speakers learn in their native language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilingual_Education_Act). Municipalities frequently publish forms and other materials in multiple languages. We _could_ do away with stuff like this.
That said, I'm similarly worried about enforcing these things. My dad and his parents moved from the Netherlands to the US in the 50s. My dad started 3rd grade knowing 0 English. The whole family starting speaking it at home and now you'd never guess my dad was an immigrant. I think the zeal with which they assimilated helped my dad and his brother become the college graduates, upper-middle class people they are today.
People hate globalization and strangers.
What was also fascinating in this campaign is the divide between the media and the people; even if Trump had lost with 49% of the vote it would have been striking. Zero newspapers endorsed him, which means half of the US population is not represented in the media.
The melting pot has lumps and clots.