I don't see the United Nations ever taking up your cause, David. There are many pockets of tribalism here and there, but the general trend—the zeitgeist, if you will—is toward a breakdown of such arbitrary limitations as national borders and passports and such, and an acceptance of the idea of open travel and multiculturalism.

Tribal thinking, or in its mega-form, nationalism, is one of the main stumbling blocks on the road to the earth becoming a civilized planet. This is not to say that we should all "assimilate" and become one monolithic culture. No. The true benefit to all mankind is when we can pick and chose from the rich variety of cultures there are in the world.

Although the city I live in is not generally regarded as one of the world's major cultural centers, it is a major west coast (of the U. S) seaport, and it is a very cosmopolitan and multicultural city. I have eaten in Chinese restaurants that are not the usual "chop suey" joints, but where the fare is real Chinese food. Within walking distance of where I live, there are restaurants featuring the foods of at least a dozen nations. There is an excellent Indian restaurant three blocks from where I live.

Speaking of "culture", we have a world class symphony orchestra, opera company, and ballet company.

I got a good explanation of the Palestinian view from an Egyptian-born Arab. I have drunk real Turkish coffee brewed in the traditional way by a genuine Turk. I have had enjoyable fencing matches with French, Italian, German, Latvian, and Russian fencers, all who live here. I have several Vietnamese friends. I know people from England, Bali, Japan, and Tonga. I had a drinking buddy from Estonia. I have had many interesting chats with acquaintances from India and Kenya.

Seattle has quite a large Scandinavian population. There are churches here of all denominations, including a number of synagogues and at least two mosques.

I learned to play some flamenco guitar from a genuine Spanish gypsy who was playing at the Spanish Village during the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.

In the building in which I live, there is a Chinese doctor and his mother, a Chinese exchange student attending the University of Washington, and a couple from South Africa. Across the hall lives a young woman from Belgium with her husband and her three year old son. I had many interesting conversations on the fado music of Portugal with a young woman from Lisbon who lived in the building and who loaned me some CDs (I mentioned to her that I had seen and heard Amalia Rodriguez in a movie some decades ago).

And they are all right here, where I live. I am surrounded by a rich diversity of cultures, viewpoints, and ideas. Like the biologists' view of hybrid vitality, this kind of diversity is a source of strength and vibrancy in any community.

The United States is a country made up of immigrants. So is England. The immigration to the U. S. is just more recent than the immigration to England.

I think I would suffocate in the kind of bland monoculture that you seem to be advocating, David. Loosen up! Open your mind to new ideas! Get some excitement into your life.

Don Firth

P. S. I have a friend who is a flautist in the Seattle Symphony. He doesn't call his flute a "German flute." He calls it a "flute."