| The political activity that pervades the United States | | | | moved toward acceptance of different people, |
| must be seen in order to be understood. No sooner do | | | | opinions, religions, cultures and even languages. |
| you set foot upon American ground than you are | | | | Contemporary immigration especially in the last three |
| stunned by a kind of tumult. ... It is impossible to spend | | | | decades has changed the demographic pattern of |
| more effort in the pursuit of happiness. | | | | immigration of the U.S.: before 1970's most Americans |
| Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy America | | | | were categorized simply as black and white; but now |
| Is American identity deteriorating due to huge waves | | | | America is more racially, culturally and linguistically |
| of immigrants to this country or will it continue to its | | | | diverse. Most of the recent immigrants to America are |
| existence despite the fact? Before answering to this | | | | Asian and Latino. There are also intermarriages |
| question it is crucial to know what is identity is: identity | | | | between people of color and whites which deepens |
| is defined the way individuals label themselves as | | | | the roots of immigrant in society. On the other hand |
| members of particular groups (nation, social class, | | | | Hispanics or Asian has higher birth rate compared to |
| subculture, ethnicity, gender, etc.). As the definition | | | | white Americans and it is highly probable that they will |
| suggest the concept of identity for a nation is not | | | | gain the majority of the U.S. population in the years to |
| simple and it becomes more complex in multicultural | | | | come. |
| societies like that of America. | | | | Diversity of races and ethnicities in America raise the |
| While most of the American population are immigrants | | | | concerns and anxieties over the future of unity and |
| from all countries of the world it is interesting to know | | | | American identity. What will happen to the future of |
| what keeps Americans together despite diversity of | | | | America and American values and culture? How the |
| races, ethnicities, cultures, languages and religions? | | | | immigrants who enter U.S. with different identities, |
| It is believed that Americans are hold together by a | | | | languages and cultures are incorporated and melt in |
| unified identity that makes them to identify themselves | | | | American society? Do they try to assimilate to the |
| as Americans rather than Hispanic, Black, Mexican or | | | | new culture or try to keep there own cultural heritage? |
| Chinese. Being fully an American citizen does not need | | | | Does the division of American society widens or |
| an ancestral linkage to the nation e.g. to be originally | | | | America will continue its existence as it was? |
| from America. Americans believe in "self- made man" | | | | It is difficult answer to these questions. American |
| and self creation, in individualism, in liberty and equality | | | | history has shown that different ethnicities and groups |
| of opportunities and self- expression. These values go | | | | had tried to incorporate to American society- no |
| beyond any specific culture, religion or ethnicity. So, | | | | matter what their origins were. Some are optimist |
| people from all countries can be American by | | | | about the future of American identity; they think that |
| accepting and practicing American values and culture. | | | | citizens of the U.S. have so much commonality that |
| America is said to be a melting pot that people of all | | | | would keep them together. They believe that the very |
| colors and cultures are mixing together; this mixture | | | | concept of polarization and disunity would give rise to |
| can be seen in American daily life in borrowing and | | | | movements to keep the nation's unity. Today |
| intermingling different styles, rituals, foods and customs. | | | | American media plays an important role in creating a |
| Of course it is over simplification to think that all | | | | sense of unity among people of different races and |
| minority groups experience America like WASP- white | | | | ethnicities. Many talk shows or soap operas try to use |
| Anglo Saxon protestant- the tragic experiences of | | | | actors, entertainers or hosts that are not white; they |
| Native Americans, Blacks, Chinese and other minority | | | | are people of color with different origins but despite |
| groups testifies the existence of discrimination and | | | | their differences they all have one goal: to propagate |
| racism in America, but it is supposed that minorities in | | | | American values and cultures and to create a sense |
| America are enjoying a better standard of living and | | | | of common experience of being an American. But |
| civil rights compared to other countries. Reformists and | | | | there are still others who believe that the new trend of |
| civil right movements tried to change the situation and | | | | immigration to the U.S. as it was mentioned is |
| create equality for different racial groups. While it is | | | | significantly different from the former generations and |
| argued that even in 21st century there still exist | | | | eventually would lead to the disunity of American |
| inequalities and discrimination in American societies, | | | | nation. |
| others believe that each generation of Americans has | | | | |