Rick Steves' Travel as a Political Act Blog - Melting Pot or Cafeteria Tray?

Melting Pot or Cafeteria Tray?

I'm a grandchild of immigrants. Three of my grandparents sailed away from economic hardship in the old country speaking only Norwegian. While I have kept my grandparents' religion (and still eat fish balls and goat cheese), I can barely say hello in Norwegian. While proud of my heritage, I am American. My ancestors assimilated like so many others in their era — quickly.

These days, incentives to blend quickly are not as strong. Thanks to modern telecommunications advances, communities of foreigners can settle in more comfortable places while remaining in close contact with friends and family back home. When my grandparents migrated from Norway to the US, they effectively severed communications with their Norwegian relatives, and had little choice but to melt into American society. Today they could use the Internet to read newspapers and watch television shows from home, and talk to relatives around the world for free on Skype.

This means that immigrant groups can choose whether or not they want to integrate with their adopted countries. Consequently, rather than “melting pots,” wealthy countries in Europe are becoming cafeteria trays with dividers keeping ethnic groups separate. I've met third-generation Algerians in the Netherlands who don't speak a word of Dutch, and don't expect their children to, either. And I've met third-generation Pakistanis in Denmark that speak only Danish and know and love their adopted new country just as their blond neighbors do.

Immigration can be a major wedge issue — especially in formerly homogenous nations. For example, only 40 years ago, there were virtually no foreigners in Denmark. As in many European countries, a segment of the Danish population, especially older and more insular Danes, fears immigrants and gravitates to right-wing, racist parties. Meanwhile, progressive Danes — who celebrate a multicultural future — see a paradox: a wealthy nation of high-tech, multilingual globalists who still struggle to get along with their relatively small community of Muslim immigrants. While some Danes view their growing Muslim minority as a problem, others are willing to see a more colorful society as an opportunity. In my next blog entry, I'll offer my own take on this issue.

About This Entry

You are reading "Melting Pot or Cafeteria Tray?", an entry posted on 21 August 2009 by Rick Steves.

5 replies to this entry. Add your comment below.

Previous Entry, An Aging Continent Grapples with Immigration, posted Aug 19 2009

Next Entry, Immigrants, Treasure Your Heritage...and Melt, posted Aug 24 2009

Comments [ top ]

How does a third generation immigrant group not speak a word of the native language? Are they not required to go to school or do they have their own schools? I don't understand.

Posted by: Amy - Aug 21, 2009 9:23 AM

If I were to make a permanent move to another country where I don't speak the language, I would WANT to learn the language. No one would have to force me. I would WANT to be a part of the culture in my new home. I would WANT to be able to understand the evening newscast so that I knew what was going on in my adopted country. I would WANT to be able to speak with the people around me so that I could make new friends. If I knew that I was going to live the rest of my days in that new country, I would do everything in my power to learn the new language, and the sooner the better.

Posted by: Jim F. - Aug 21, 2009 9:37 PM

To not even attempt to learn that language in your adopted land is bad enough but to not want your children to is just terrible. To be bilingual is a gift that immigrant parents can give their children. They should speak their native language at home and encourange their children to learn the local language at school. It is amazing how much easier people that are biligual have it at learning other languages (I've always struggled with learning languages myself but am determined to try). Those third generation folks should really be ashamed of themselves for denying their children this opportunity. I only hope that their children will pursue the local language on their own.

Posted by: A - Aug 24, 2009 3:14 AM

Rick, I am assuming you make a mistake in saying that some third generation Algerians (or rather, of algerian descent) do not speak the local language. Generally speaking, it is the language of their parents and grandparents that they do not speak (or only a little). They are, after all, exposed to European languages a lot more than they are to Arabic/Turkish/etc in their daily lives, even with the internet and satellite TV. I live in Marseille where there is a large proportion of people of immigrant descent (from African to Italian to Armenian, and a dozen or so more) and French is the common language - it has to be. If it wasn't no-one would be able to communicate with anyone.

Posted by: Ian - Aug 24, 2009 4:37 AM

Immigrants generally come to America for economic opportunity, i.e jobs. Learning a new langugage, however, is difficult. The less pressure you feel to learn a new language, the less likely you're going to learn it. Also, language is a clear cultural link to one's ethnic heritage, that many wish to preserve. The idea that you must "adopt" America if you immigrate here is also fading, as dual citizenship has become more commonplace.

Posted by: John J. Bannan - Aug 24, 2009 8:56 AM