by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: September 01, 2009   Last Updated: September 02, 2009

America is far from intolerant of other cultures to begin with. America is built from other cultures. Where there are parts of the country that are insolated, homogenous and may have become intolerant of other cultures, those pockets are likely to be intolerant toward other Americans who happen to be different.

In fact, Americans are exceptionally curious about other people of the world. Sometimes, we get excited whenever we meet someone who is from another faraway country. We try out foods from all over the planet. We travel to places in the farthest corners of the world.

Even if we haven't had personal experience with living for extended periods in other countries, we know many people who have lived in other lands. Military service that includes being stationed in faraway places extends to spouses, children, and visiting family members.

Many Americans have experienced parts of Europe and Asia that they would never have seen, thanks to the hospitality of family and friends in the military services.

At home, every day, we welcome visitors and permanent residents from practically every country in the world. The major cities offer foods, entertainment, and even whole neighborhoods that offer the flavor and culture of the residents' homelands. In California, our children might go to school with children who may speak over 180 total languages and dialects when they get home. Lunchtime can look like the international food court on steroids!

We know the difference between Mexicans, Nicaraguans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Hispanic people. We know who comes from Pakistan, who comes from India, and who is a Brahmin or who is of other castes.

We have Vietnamese, Koreans, Guamese, Caribbean islanders, and Chinese from every region of that vast country. We know when someone is an American native or a newcomer. As a child, I had Russian classmates and remember their parents using scythes to help clean the grass around our grammar school on volunteer day.

A vast number of Americans have traveled abroad to study, work, and to volunteer for the Diplomatic or Peace Corps. Each one has returned to tell stories and to spread their understanding of other cultures. Cultures don't necessarily end with the second generation. There will always be favorite comfort foods, stories, and music that originates somewhere else.

And finally, a huge number of Americans are married to spouses who are from other cultures. They live the culture, eat the food, have relatives that they learn to relate to, and they become tolerant through love of their family and adopted family.

America is not only tolerant, America has never truly been that isolated. The Bollywood themed Hip Hop dance contest that was on television a few nights ago is proof of that!

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