Samuel The Hispanic Challenge Summary
The Hispanic Challenge
According to Samuel P. Huntington, Mexicans and Hispanics are threats to American culture because the Anglo-Protestant culture is what originally started the United States of America, not Hispanics. Samuel believes the United States identity is being challenged by the large-scale of Mexican immigration, bilingualism, and failure to assimilate.
Samuel argues that the contiguity encourages immigration and that it has steadily been increasing. The number of immigrants coming from Mexico is an overwhelming population. “The most important element of American identity was its capacity to be built through the successful synthesis of people with nationally diverse origins into a new American identity” (Fraga, Segura 280). The influx of immigrants helped this nation become what it is today, the United States of America. Where people come from should not become an issue as long as we all have the same goal: to adapt to the Constitution and help the U.S remain a great and successful country. …show more content…
Samuel also argues that by speaking Spanish, the American culture is at jeopardy.
He said that if second generation Mexicans looked down and felt embarrassed of their ancestry, they would become fluent English speakers without retaining any knowledge of the Spanish language. This is not the case with the majority of Hispanics because many feel very proud of their heritage. Nevertheless, latinos native and foreign born have learned English and continue to master it; however, to Samuel that’s not enough. He wants Latinos to forget their mother language. It is true that when you are bilingual you have the value of two people. It is very important to be able to communicate with other nations. Mexico is not the only Spanish speaking country in the world; therefore, bilingualism is very significant to succeed in this
country.
Samuel believes one of the biggest reasons why Mexicans are a threat to American identity is their failure to assimilate. “Mexican American organizations, since at least 1929 and the founding of LULAC, have advocated the path of full integration into American society on its own terms, including learning English, becoming participating American citizens, and in this way proving one’s worthiness to be respected and treated equally in American society” (Fraga, Segura 285). Samuel was wrong. Mexican Americans have tried in many ways to Americanize themselves and to integrate themselves into American society. There is nothing wrong with knowing where we come from and what our roots are. The United States of America is a land of opportunity and the best Democratic Republic in the world. This country was created for diverse groups of nations to practice freedoms and feel secure.
Who is Samuel to decide and label what should be or should not be the American culture? American culture is very uniquely formed by all of its citizens and the great opportunities they have found regardless of their nationality or their language. There is no perfect way to assimilate into the American culture. He who has embraced the U.S Constitution and obeys it with pride is an American.
Works Cited
Fraga, Luis R., and Gary M. Segura. "Culture Clash? Contesting Notions of American Identity and the Effects of Latin American Immigration." Perspectives 2nd ser. 4 (2006): 279-87. Print.
According to Samuel P. Huntington, Mexicans and Hispanics are threats to American culture because the Anglo-Protestant culture is what originally started the United States of America, not Hispanics. Samuel believes the United States identity is being challenged by the large-scale of Mexican immigration, bilingualism, and failure to assimilate.
Samuel argues that the contiguity encourages immigration and that it has steadily been increasing. The number of immigrants coming from Mexico is an overwhelming population. “The most important element of American identity was its capacity to be built through the successful synthesis of people with nationally diverse origins into a new American identity” (Fraga, Segura 280). The influx of immigrants helped this nation become what it is today, the United States of America. Where people come from should not become an issue as long as we all have the same goal: to adapt to the Constitution and help the U.S remain a great and successful country. …show more content…
Samuel also argues that by speaking Spanish, the American culture is at jeopardy.
He said that if second generation Mexicans looked down and felt embarrassed of their ancestry, they would become fluent English speakers without retaining any knowledge of the Spanish language. This is not the case with the majority of Hispanics because many feel very proud of their heritage. Nevertheless, latinos native and foreign born have learned English and continue to master it; however, to Samuel that’s not enough. He wants Latinos to forget their mother language. It is true that when you are bilingual you have the value of two people. It is very important to be able to communicate with other nations. Mexico is not the only Spanish speaking country in the world; therefore, bilingualism is very significant to succeed in this
country.
Samuel believes one of the biggest reasons why Mexicans are a threat to American identity is their failure to assimilate. “Mexican American organizations, since at least 1929 and the founding of LULAC, have advocated the path of full integration into American society on its own terms, including learning English, becoming participating American citizens, and in this way proving one’s worthiness to be respected and treated equally in American society” (Fraga, Segura 285). Samuel was wrong. Mexican Americans have tried in many ways to Americanize themselves and to integrate themselves into American society. There is nothing wrong with knowing where we come from and what our roots are. The United States of America is a land of opportunity and the best Democratic Republic in the world. This country was created for diverse groups of nations to practice freedoms and feel secure.
Who is Samuel to decide and label what should be or should not be the American culture? American culture is very uniquely formed by all of its citizens and the great opportunities they have found regardless of their nationality or their language. There is no perfect way to assimilate into the American culture. He who has embraced the U.S Constitution and obeys it with pride is an American.
Works Cited
Fraga, Luis R., and Gary M. Segura. "Culture Clash? Contesting Notions of American Identity and the Effects of Latin American Immigration." Perspectives 2nd ser. 4 (2006): 279-87. Print.