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Diversity vs. assimilation: Cultural differences should be respected
By Diane Glass

Syndicated Columnist

Years of resentment are erupting into violence in the Parisian suburbs over what it means to be French. Immigrants have torched thousands of cars, venting their anger over high unemployment and giving new meaning to a cultural melting pot.

We have the same problems here on U.S. soil from our own disenfranchised groups. Remember Rodney King? Police brutality against a black man incited other black people to take to the streets in much the same way as the French dissidents.

What's happening over in France isn't extraordinary. Labeling theory, as it is known in sociology, attributes this behavior to the consequences of labeling someone "deviant." Sooner or later, the perceived behavior will manifest itself.

While some would argue that French immigrants haven't done enough to acclimate, I would argue for greater tolerance of cultural differences. It would be an oversimplification to think that not "fitting in" is really at issue. The issue is prejudice.

Every country views its perceived national identity as being at constant risk. This is true whether Americans worry over the growing number of Hispanic immigrants taking away jobs or Europeans criticize the expanding list of McDonald's franchises as evidence of creeping characterless American consumerism. It is this universal xenophobia that is at the root of cultural disputes that sometimes erupt into war. But fear has never stopped change. And I doubt it ever will. Just look at the statistics.

The Hispanic population will account for 44 percent of U.S. population growth through 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2025, the white population will barely make up half of all U.S. inhabitants. By 2010, California will have a majority minority population.

In response to these imminent changes to the American demographic profile, white trepidation about becoming a minority group is increasing. Californians tried to pass an anti-immigrant proposition that attempted to exclude children of illegal immigrants from receiving health care and an education.

What does it mean to be French? What does it mean to be an American? It means we're human, and we should act like it by accepting differences and embracing change.

Harvard-educated Diane Glass (dglass@ajc.com) is a writer and freethinker with a B.A. and M.A. in comparative religion.