Five Reasons Why We Should Assimilate Less

“I don't believe complete assimilation is possible, at least not for anyone who has an active, open mind. Every step, every entry into the flows of existence can be seen as a beginning, a commencement of a brand new way of seeing oneself in the world. This is the case for everyone.” (Chang-Rae Lee) This is a quote made by Chang-Rae Lee, a Korean American author and creative writing professor at Princeton University. I believe that this quote says a lot about why we should assimilate less because as he says complete assimilation is not possible. If we were to fully assimilate into another culture then we would have to give up our minds. We would have to forget everything that we have previously learned. Forget our customs and the whole world that we have come from. Forget, the mind,s most haunting fear.

“Forget your customs and ideals. Select a goal and pursue it with all your might. You will experience a bad time but sooner or later you will achieve your goal. Don’t take a moment’s rest. Run.”(History) This is a quote given to us from a guidebook given to immigrants who came over in 1880-1930. In some ways this can be taken as a polite word of advice, however this also entails of what was to come of the immigrants. It tells of the hardships they would go through, of how, if they preceded to follow their traditional culture, will have many discrepancies between them and those who lived by the American customs.

Assimilation, be that as it may, is not just consisted of immigrants and how they were forced to adapt, but also a person moving from one area, like a small town, to another, perhaps large city. Even this adjustment can be difficult for the average person, which can lead to stress and other health problems relating to that. Stress is a strong feel of worry that can over time can lead to different types of health problems. Some of these problems include serious heart problems, asthma, obesity, diabetes, depression, stomach problems, headaches, advanced aging, early death, along with many other things (WebMD). Stress can also lead to reckless behavior that can cause the death of someone else.

Recent studies show that substance use and alcoholism have been connected to assimilation (Warner). It shows that with the new environment that comes with moving and the cultural adjustment have also come to harm the health of some who do assimilate. Assimilation means to take up the dominant culture in the region that you have moved to. This also includes reckless behaviors that are well know in that culture like drugs and alcohol. Now not everyone takes up illegal drugs just because they move to the wrong side of the tracks, but it is a factor, especially if you move to a region with a culture that is the complete opposite of what you came from. Alcoholism also is related to stress and people trying to “make it through the day.” Studies show that about 1 in 10 deaths of working adults are caused by alcohol. This can include heart disease, breast cancer, liver disease, violence, alcohol poisoning, and one of the most tragics, drunk driving. Stressed based alcoholism can be brought on by many things, nonetheless the most well know is work related stress. When coming from a different country and being forced to assimilate and work in lower class jobs can cause a lot of stress on a person. Not being able to pay the bills, trying to feed your child or children, a failing marriage, and many other things can come along on the bandwagon of stress in your life that can lead you to make decisions that could forever change your life.

“Oooh! Alright, that's it! Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family!” -Mulan (1998)

Honor and shame are two pressures put on the shoulders of household woman in Southern Asia. This stress put on them normally leads to self harm and other mental problems that are considered taboo in that region. If this is how people respond to honour in their home country then imagine how they would react to leaving and dishonoring their family in the process. In some cultures dishonoring your family can result in feelings of anger and disappointment to the most extreme case of honor killing. Honor killing is a traditional practice of killing a family member who was believed to have dishonored or brought shame onto the family. Just this past June, in Pakistan, a newly wed couple was murdered in a honor killing by the brides parents because they did not give them their blessings. “The bride's father and uncles lured the couple back to the village of Satrah in Punjab province, where Ahsanullah said the pair were tied up and then decapitated.” (CNN World) If this is what they do when marriage blessing are not made then imagine what would happen to someone who assimilated into a new culture. Talk about a bad family reunion.

America has been know to be the “melting pot.” This statement refers to the blending of cultures from the immigrants who came over in the Great Migration. However, in today’s society it is no longer as accepting. People are now wanting immigrants to assimilate and become more like them. People complain about the spanish options at the ATM and the multiple language option on directions. Americans are wanting immigrants to become more english and adapt to our culture. How is this just and fair? We were at one point an immigrant, an outsider, a misfit. Even if you are the pinnacle of popularity, your heritage consists of people who were not as fortunate to have such a high position in society. In contrast, there are those who accept other cultures without even realizing it.

    Further more, from the evidence that shows, I firmly believe that assimilation is not always apropriate. From stress to dishonoring, assimilation can lead to more trouble and problems than it's worth. People move to find better things, but forcing them to become something they are not is wrong. Having to leave a place is hard enough, why do we need to make it harder? Why do we need to put more things on other'd minds? Why go through all of that just for people to "fit in?" Why? 

A Myth About the Stars

    Once there was a wise old man and he had a magic crayon make of frosty white snow from the highest peak of the tallest mountain, the sparkliest crystals form the darkest cave, the wax from the sweetest honey bees, and in the light it twinkled like the joy in a child’s eyes. Now this man made the crayon because every night the sun would set and there would be no light. So the wise old man would climb up the highest mountain everyday and as the sky turned black he would draw a little star in the sky to help illuminate the velvety cloaked night. He would then walk down to the village and rest. Then in the following days he would continue on.

However, one day, a curious little boy saw how the man climbed the mountain and how he would draw a single little star every night. The little boy wanted to draw a star as well, so one night after the man came home, falling fast asleep, the boy tip toed in and stole the crayon. The little boy could not wait to start lighting up the night sky so he set out, up the mountain.

The next morning the wise old man woke up and looked for the crayon. He searched the entire morning, but to no avail. He thought and thought about it all morning until it was time for him to journey up the mountain. Then he set out on the long trail once again without the crayon.

Finally when he reached the top the wise old man saw the little boy with the magic crayon. The little boy say on the top of the mountain and looked down upon the valley as he waited for the sun to finally set and for the night to come. The old man didn’t want to startle the little boy and knew that he would tire out soon, so the old man sat down and leaned back against a small tree that was nearby. A short time later the wise old man fell asleep, but the little boy did not. The little boy stared up at the black sky and how all the little stars glittered in the sea of ink. Then he stood up and reached as far as he could and drew a single star. The little boy loved the feeling of creating something so beautiful, so he drew another and another, until he had drawn five new stars. Then he had an idea, “why not make a picture in the sky?” So the little boy started to draw a picture with the stars until he had a small spoon in which he called the little dipper. Then he drew another one right next to it, but bigger. Then he drew more and more pictures all over the night sky. 

Just as the little boy was finishing his last illustration, the old man woke up and saw what he had done. The old man sprung up like a freed spring and ran at the boy. The little boy then lept up and landed on a star. The old man stopped and looked up at the little boy standing on one of the many stars that he had drawn. He was puzzled, but decided to do the same, knowing that he need to get his magic crayon back. The old man hopped up and landed wobbly on a star next to the little boy. The boy then lept to another that was farther away from the old man. The old man followed in an uneasy pursuit. Then began the chase that still continues on today and every once in a while you can see the little boy with the crayon darting across the sky in a blink of an eye.