Welcome to All Legal Immigrants
Thank You for Respecting Our Laws and Borders

Please Assimilate
So That We All Benefit

 This Article was first written in 1996 for my radio show website and is still as appropriate today

 My regular listeners have heard my take on this but I thought it was necessary to post it on the site for those who have not or cannot.

Since the time of its inception the USA has welcomed persons from every corner of the earth. Every race, creed, and color were accepted.

Problems, complications, and issues arose. In the end, the newcomers assimilated. They learned the language. They joined the workforce and became productive members of the society.

There is no difference between the idea of immigrant assimilation and that of joining a club or organization. Let us say that you want to go camping, earn merit badges and do the Klondike derby with the boy scouts. You know that to do these things, you must join the Boy Scouts. So, join you do. You must conform to the organization’s rules. The requirements for being a Boy Scout are as follows:

Boy Scout Program Membership

Boy Scouting, one of the traditional membership divisions of the BSA, is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old. The program achieves the BSA’s objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.

Uniform

The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.

OK, so you understand the rules of membership. You do not like them, but you must conform to them if you wish to reap the benefits of membership. Why must these requirements exist? You do not want to wear that dorky uniform anyway. Well, sacrifice, structure, self-discipline, humility, respect for authority and leaders are all parts of maturity, character, and success. Conforming to rules and structure allows each individual member to share common experiences and grow as one, as a member of the team. Each member, still maintaining their individualism but growing and learning as one. The parts assimilate into the whole creating a strong team. They share a common goal, work together for the good of the whole and learn to respect the value of one. Joining and assimilating does not diminish the individual, it broadens the perspective and through an understanding of others, allows us to know ourselves better. It empowers the individual.

A Scout who assimilates into the organization does the following:

• Learns the rules
• Memorizes the oath
• Wears the uniform
• Learns the language of a Boy Scout
• Scouting terms
• Merit badges
• Leadership titles and structure
• The Scout reaps the rewards of assimilation:
• Participates in the activities
• Camping
• Hiking
• Crafts
• Many more
• Experiences the feeling of “belonging” and team
• Learns new skills
• Matures
• Becomes more aware of the world he lives in
• He reaps the benefit of the participation

If the new Scout fails to meet the membership requirement, efforts are made to help him to do so. If in the end the Scout refuses to meet the requirements his membership is terminated. He can no longer enjoy the benefits of membership.

Society is the same. At least it should be. Throughout the centuries of man’s recorded history conquering forces have taken over countries and forced their populaces to change their language, abandon their cultures and altered their way of life. That form of forceful assimilation is not healthy, generally fraught with conflict and is rarely necessary (though sometimes unavoidable).

A Scout who assimilates into the organization does the following:

• Learns the rules
• Memorizes the oath
• Wears the uniform
• Learns the language of a Boy Scout
• Scouting terms
• Merit badges
• Leadership titles and structure

The Scout reaps the rewards of assimilation:

• Participates in the activities
• Camping
• Hiking
• Crafts
• Many more
• Experiences the feeling of “belonging” and team
• Learns new skills
• Matures
• Becomes more aware of the world he lives in
• He reaps the benefit of the participation

If the new Scout fails to meet the membership requirement, efforts are made to help him to do so. If in the end the Scout refuses to meet the requirements his membership is terminated. He can no longer enjoy the benefits of membership.

Society is the same. At least it should be. Throughout the centuries of man’s recorded history conquering forces have taken over countries and forced their populaces to change their language, abandon their cultures and altered their way of life. That form of forceful assimilation is not healthy, generally fraught with conflict and is rarely necessary (though sometimes unavoidable).

America’s influence around the world is astonishing. Today’s world is one of rapid change, technological advancement, and social upheaval. Technology is a universal factor in every culture in every corner of our world. The language of technology and business around the world is American English. Many of the technical terms and business words do not even exist in other languages. Our music, automotive technologies, computer advances and more permeate the world.

When a person enters a country with the intent to take up residency, they should assimilate into that country’s culture. Learn the language, conform to the social and fashion culture of the locale. Having assimilated, they will reap the benefits of the country and its societal rewards.

Whether it is here, Japan, Germany, Iraq or anywhere persons who desire citizenship and permanent residency must assimilate. Assimilation is positive for the person and mandatory for the survival of the country and its culture. Every attempt to ignore this fact has ended in abject failure. California’s attempt at bilingual education and government is a classic example.

Assimilation does not destroy the heritage it grows and enhances the heritage. It allows the person to celebrate the good in their cultural heritage, while it allows them to break free of the fetters of the problems of the past.

The assimilation of people with broad heritages and cultures into a single society creates a stronger more successful society. It enhances the opportunities and potential of success for all.

Will