Analysis Of Assimilation, American Style By Peter Salins

In “Assimilation, American Style” Peter Salins distinguishes the differences between what assimilation genuinely means vs. the unreliable metaphorical meaning of “the melting pot". To give people an idea of the definition of “Assimilation, American Style," the term “the melting pot”: a society where many different types of people blend together as one. America being one of those countries that is often viewed as a melting pot, because in terms of ethnicities, religion, and different cultures, America is made up of many different types of people. America is viewed as a melting pot because even with all the various types of people, everyone has managed to come together in unity. "The melting pot" has been used on behalf of assimilation in America …show more content…
Salins argues that assimilation is a huge part in the success of American culture, and to end it would only demolish the basis of the mutual benefits within the government and communities made up of immigrants and natives, and Salins' believes that this would also lead to an ending of the American culture all in all. Salins claims that the persistent growth in the immigrant population that have been Americanized, while still holding on to their previous cultural history, has advanced the country and because of this Salins feels that the use of metaphors like "the melting pot," fail the meaning and purpose of what assimilation in America really does or means. As mentioned in the article, "The greatest failing of the melting pot metaphor is that it overreaches." Salins believes that the melting pot defeats assimilation because the melting pot is more about being able to differentiate non- native folks from the indigenous. Moreover, the melting pot term is also about being able to distinguish those of different cultures and natives, then trying to change them for example, a pack of skittles with a variety of colors, being forced to assimilate to all becoming only red skittles. This change is meant forcibly, which is the total opposite of assimilation in America. In America the skittles would only have to assimilate if they want to. In the article, Salins states "Assimilation, if it is to succeed, must be a voluntary process..." Salins argues that assimilation is more of a choice then being an involuntary choice or an obligation and the metaphors fails to describe the purposes of