Hester does bring up an interesting point however. America has long been viewed as the Melting Pot Society. Because of emmigrants(?) (Immigrants)coming to the US at the turn of the century and bring their traditions from many lands we have developed some uniquely American traditions.   Because we were so young at the time and had no great traditional history of our own that was unique to the land we
began coloring easter eggs and setting up Christmas Trees and chasing spooks on Hallowe'en.

   Racism is racism, no two ways about it. But I would wonder where would my traditions go under the weight of a new melting pot of immigrants coming into my shore and bringing new songs and customs with them. The nature of time is change and it can't be held back. But I am sure that I wouldn't welcome the loss of my traditions because so few people are left to carry them on.

   The effort to save native languages in the US is in place because of just such an issue. Suddenly you neighbors are more white than red and your kids are learning Dineh or Cherokee as a second language.

   As a purely rehtorical question is it possible to welcome strangers onto your shores and keep your old traditions without them becoming blended with others? Is it either good or bad if they do or don't?

   I have never viewed my self as anymore of a racist than we all are. And like it or not we all have a racial chauvinism to some degree. But I have to admit a reluctantance to homogenize(sp) the culture to the point that their is no spice left and our cultural stew tastes like something we can't put our fingers on, neither good nor bad, but lacking the best parts of the recipe.

Don

Remember Ewan Macoll and Peggy Seegars song.


Hello Friend, I see that you are a stranger,

Where do you Come from?

Hello friend, something in your face reminds me of the sun,

But the northern lights are dim against the color of your skin,

Hello Friend, I'm glad that you could come.