Assimilation

Assimilation

Our country is acclaimed for its endless ability to integrate. Whether it occurred in the early 1900s when desegregation occurred in Topeka middle school, or how we have integrated every nationality to every ethnicity and have been renown as the melting pot. In every aspect of how our country has come to what we know as United States, there is a simple integration that occurred to create what we are today. Assimilation is a positive force when it is necessary, it is needed in our companies, to our marriages, and we alongside the media are the causes of these types of assimilation; Americans tendency for assimilation will remain a beneficiary factor so long as we do not loose our individuality in the process.

Assimilation is a force that is unstoppable. Americans do it on a daily basis without the time to contemplate whether to assimilate or not. Assimilation also keeps our world turning; it is the basis of agreement and understanding. As we assimilate we understand that through conforming this will create a strong unit. When working with a company, conformation is needed. To move as a unit, and to be displayed as a unit is any company’s desire. Why would any prestigious company want to be displayed as disorganized? Or have employees that cannot work or agree with one another? It is a characteristic that is needed in every person, the ability to work as a unit, and become a team player. Through assimilation, teamwork is established and is learned. Teamwork is the basis of any company, and through teamwork the company will thrive as one unit.

Teamwork is the foundation of many different areas in our lives. Not only is it necessary in the workforce, but more than ever necessary in our marriages. Marriages should be based on assimilation through compromise and understanding. Through this compromise and understanding for one another, this leads to the peace that is needed in every household. To assimilate in marriage is to converge two different opinions and come to a midpoint agreement. This is a positive force, the force where both is letting go of their strong beliefs through their vows of love for one another, to come to the understanding that conforming as one unit will help them succeed through strenuous times. If the result of assimilation in a marriage is peace, then this is one characteristic that marriages today need more than ever. Kingsolver describes the issue of divorce, “As fun as amputating your own gangrenous leg” (Page 643). Kingsolver is sarcastically points out that the action of “Dissembling a marriage in these circumstances” is not anywhere near the feeling of fun (Page 643). Kingsolver experiencing this type of tearing of teamwork within her own family, wholly describes the feeling of lacking that within her own marriage. This is a characteristic that we must all try to obtain, the ability to assimilate within every situation to avoid conflict that can be precluded. Teamwork is needed in every aspect of our lives, and this is done through the assimilation of ones ideas and standards.

Although assimilation is needed in every aspect of our lives, it is harder to understand the idea of not assimilating as a child. A child believes that joining a group of friends is a good thing; it is a positive force when friends are gained, but it quickly becomes a negative force when corrupt influences are placed upon that child. Positive and negative forces can produce assimilation, not only can this influence of scenario be put upon a child, just as a child can be easily influenced so can an adult. The media, surrounding peers, and friends constantly influence adults and children. In the story Two Ways to Belong in America, Bharati describes the differences she and her sister experienced. As one sister assimilated quickly and took on the American culture, the other did the exact opposite. Whether one assimilates into the their new surroundings or remains rooted into their old, the idea that both their unique individuality was not lost is the concept. Mira kept and preserved her uniqueness by retaining the values of her culture, while as the same time Bharati retained her personality by remembering her old culture, as well as embracing the new. Keeping at mind and preserving one’s personality is difficult but in the end, it is one rewarding aspect that all are proud of. Due to influences in our lives, we conform to our surroundings. Through such negative influences, assimilation becomes a negative aspect in our society. Starting as a child in peer pressure, to an adult who is abusing drugs these negative influences are started by the act of assimilation. As long as those individuals truly believe that they have not lost their individuality, then all is gain. The continuation of strong beliefs and morals within a person will limit the amount of assimilation of bad events and influences occur.

The outcome of