The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #58993   Message #937194
Posted By: Ebbie
21-Apr-03 - 01:03 PM
Thread Name: Violence is the American Way?
Subject: RE: Violence is the American Way?
Couldn't it be that the mix of races and cultures and varied histories in this country have a great deal to do with both the problems and the successes of our society?

As an example- I'm a docent/researcher in a historical house in Alaska- I have been frequently asked by tourists "why Americans move so often? In Europe, we live on the land our great, great, grandfathers lived on." One day over tea, a young Swiss couple asked that question and I finally came up with the right answer. I said, "Because we come from people who didn't stay home. We inherited your emigrants' wanderlust."

The USA is unique in its mix of immigrants, people who come here with, by and large, the same dream but bringing with them their own unique culture and expectations. There are bound to be clashes stemming from historical hatreds and distrusts.