The Price of Assimilation

Assimilation. Throughout time this word has gained a negative connotation. It has come to mean the betrayal of one's culture in exchange for another. This happens all over the world and is especially true in the United States. In A Raisin In The Sun, this concept is represented by the character Walter, a black man who is married to Ruth. He is trying to assimilate, but his wife is resisting. He sees it as for the better whereas Ruth sees it as a waste of time.

This problem is seen even into today. Many people try to fit in while others see it as a waste of time and energy. However, this can be a double-bladed sword. It can harm one by corrupting them and completely changing who they are. For others, it can be a great help. In the nineteenth century, for example, when immigrants moved to the United States from Europe, they tried to assimilate. This helped them get jobs and be accepted into society. This turned out to be an advantage for them and many others who have assimilated throughout the ages. This point-of-view was not seen by individual's culture, unfortunately.

These views continue even into today. When illegal immigrants come to the US, their children assimilate easily. While this gives them a huge advantage compared to what their parents had, they lost part of their heritage. The price of assimilation can be a costly one. How much of one's self is one willing to lose in the name of bettering one's life?

Juan's American Dream

The American dream is something everybody wants, but not everybody can achieve. It's the Mustang parked in the drive way. The kids running in the backyard with the dog. The Sunday barbeques with the 52" TV on the Cowboy's game. It's everything we want and everything we need. Ask anybody what their American dream is and most will respond," I want a family and a home." That is the summarization of nearly all their answers. But just as there are 300 million Americans, so are there 300 million American dreams. My American dream is different from yours just as yours is different from mine. So what is my American dream? I want many things, but the one thing I want more than anything else is to give my children what my parents gave me: a decent home and a good education. That's what my American dream revolves around. I want a home, large and full of room. I want a truck, a Ford preferably. I want a wife and children and a dog running around in the backyard. Call me stereotypical, but I am what I am. It's my American dream and nothing is going to stop me from getting there.

My name is Juan Castro. I'm a junior at Southwest and I'm a section leader in the band. I'm also in Police Explorers. I love playing soccer and running, but I hate doing them by myself. I love my family and care about them very much. Welcome to my blog!