Mass migration is a threat to the culture and identity of most nations. That has long been the history of Europe with the disruptions caused by migrations of the Gauls, Angles, Saxons, Lombards, etc. But this is not true for the United States.
Most cultures/nationalities have a genetic component or foundation because of their tribal origins. If I ask you to picture a Danish, Irish, Pakistani, Japanese, or Mexican person you would almost certainly envision someone with distinctive and characteristic physical traits for each. Furthermore, most cultures evolved insulated from much outside influences because of language and geographical barriers and so each became very differentiated. Not surprising therefore that Japan as one example would have difficulties dealing with a large influx of Danes or Mexicans.
But America is different. Picture an American and that image could resemble anyone from Abe Lincoln to Beyonce to Geronimo. Our culture evolved from many different cultures. America is not disrupted by the influx of people who look different because Americans all look different.
American Exceptionalism is based on what has often been called the American Experiment. This is the revolutionary notion that a nation can succeed based on the general acceptance of a unifying set of democratic governing principles rather than a single tribal culture or religion. Anyone can become an American, both legally and culturally, if they accept the principles embodied in the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. What you look like or where you are from doesn’t matter. Very few other nations can make the same claim. Foreigners can legally become German or Portuguese or Korean citizens, but becoming an assimilated member of those cultures is difficult. It is hard for a foreign-born not to be seen as different.
Less so in America.
This is Civics 101 folks. This is America’s super power. Immigrants are who we are.
(btr/mf)
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