# Should Minorities Be Encourage to Assimiliate **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 13, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511 "2010-11-13T01:17:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/1 "2010-11-13T01:17:42Z")
Should immigrants from other countries or ethnic groups with distinctinve cultures be encourage to assimilate by speaking standard English, adopting American manners, and largely acting in public same the American middle class? ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/2 "2010-11-13T01:20:47Z")
While I believe that all ethnic groups should maintain their native cultures in America, I do think they need to learn to read/write and understand English. As for manners and largely acting the same, meh it’s part of what makes them different. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/3 "2010-11-13T01:22:11Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Should immigrants from other countries or ethnic groups with distinctinve cultures be encourage to assimilate by speaking standard English Yes. > [@](#): > > adopting American manners Yes. > [@](#): > > and largely acting in public same the American middle class? No. Any other questions? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/4 "2010-11-13T01:27:04Z")
Well, they or more likely their children should learn English for the sake of practicality (and no, I oppose making English the “official language” of the US or any such nonsense). And they should obey the law and avoid harming others obviously. And they should _broadly_ conform to American manners in public - the old “when in Rome do as the Romans do” principle. But outside of that I have no reason to care if they prefer robes over pants or like to celebrate on different days or eat different foods or have a holiday where they dress up like a dragon instead of Santa Claus. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/5 "2010-11-13T01:29:52Z")
I think they should be encouraged to participate fully in everything there is to do here. That is mostly a “yes”. But I don’t think they should be discouraged from observing the traditions of their previous culture, if those traditions do not offend our sensibilities (for example celebrating holidays we don’t is probably great, whereas mutilating their children isn’t). ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/6 "2010-11-13T01:33:54Z")
It’ll be done in three generations, one way or another, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/7 "2010-11-13T02:20:21Z")
Why is the minority who is asked to make an effort to assimilate? If we’re going to force assimilation, shouldn’t that be incumbent on the majority as well? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/8 "2010-11-13T02:22:17Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Should immigrants from other countries or ethnic groups with distinctinve cultures be encourage to assimilate by speaking standard English, adopting American manners, and largely acting in public same the American middle class? It’s irrelevant whether anyone wants to encourage it or not. They will be encouraged to do so. It’s a natural process. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/9 "2010-11-13T02:25:34Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > If we’re going to force assimilation, shouldn’t that be incumbent on the majority as well? Why no, it shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/10 "2010-11-13T02:32:51Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > It’ll be done in three generations, one way or another, anyhow. They will be assimilated. Their cultural and biological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/11 "2010-11-13T02:37:39Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I think they should be encouraged to participate fully in everything there is to do here. That is mostly a “yes”. But I don’t think they should be discouraged from observing the traditions of their previous culture, if those traditions do not offend our sensibilities (for example celebrating holidays we don’t is probably great, whereas mutilating their children isn’t). You mean like circumcision? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/12 "2010-11-13T02:39:30Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > They will be assimilated. Their cultural and biological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. Joke though it may be, this si a major source of American success. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/13 "2010-11-13T03:29:58Z")
No, because deliberate social engineering towards assimilation is like deciding someone needs an operation, and then getting everyone in the hospital to come along and decide each step. Beyond that, it’s pretty much entirely unneeded. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/14 "2010-11-13T03:33:19Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Should immigrants from other countries or ethnic groups with distinctinve cultures be encourage to assimilate by speaking standard English, adopting American manners, and largely acting in public same the American middle class? Hell, no! Ethnic food is the best thing about this country. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/15 "2010-11-13T03:40:21Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > No, because deliberate social engineering towards assimilation is like deciding someone needs an operation, and then getting everyone in the hospital to come along and decide each step. Beyond that, it’s pretty much entirely unneeded. So if they can’t speak, read or write English, do you feel we owe it to our immigrants to change all the driving signs? As in interesting side note, the written test is administered in many different languages, why? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/16 "2010-11-13T03:46:42Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > So if they can’t speak, read or write English, do you feel we owe it to our immigrants to change all the driving signs? No, I don’t, largely because that would cost quite a bit and too many languages would rather negate using them on a sign. On the plus side, road signs aren’t exactly essays by nature, and not all even have writing. It’s not necessary to understand English fluently to understand road signs. > [@](#): > > As in interesting side note, the written test is administered in many different languages, why? I’d guess because in a test you need to set out a situation, which does require for extended writing that needs to be clearly understood. “STOP” on a red background can be easy. “What is the correct response in this situation…” as dense text probably isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/17 "2010-11-13T04:12:17Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > So if they can’t speak, read or write English, do you feel we owe it to our immigrants to change all the driving signs? > > As in interesting side note, the written test is administered in many different languages, why? Contrary to what English-only advocates scream, you need only a minimal level of English competancy to read traffic signs. Most are pictorial. Heck, I’ve driven in foreign countries without understanding the language. It’s not that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/18 "2010-11-13T04:42:59Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > largely acting in public same the American middle class? Russian spy with a Chinese name you are? Assimilated, will you be. Futile, resistance is. Yeesssssss. Or was that supposed to be a [same same](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinglish)? We’ve had China towns in the past, Little Italias, Irish invasions, and the damned Germans partying across the tracks on the wrong side of town. The nation has survived all these, and the remnants of make what we have3 now more interesting than it would be without them. Twenty years ago. the only way to get a Habanero in this town was to grow it myself. Now most of the stores have them. I can just pick them up on my way to get Egyptian style Fava beans for lunch. I do not share a language with thr fava bean dealer, but likely I will with his kids. Even if an immigrant group shuts itself up in a ghetto, it starts leaking out after a generation or two. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/19 "2010-11-13T05:29:00Z")
What the hell do I care what people who are not me do? If they don’t want to assimilate, I assume they have a good reason for it. Who am I to tell them any different? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511/20 "2010-11-13T05:49:48Z")
Encouraged, yes. Forced, no [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-minorities-be-encourage-to-assimiliate/560511.md?page=2)