Applicability of Multiculturalism or Melting Pot Theory Essay

Applicability of Multiculturalism or Melting Pot Theory - Essay Example As such, he identifies himself more with Chinese cultural orientation than that of being either a Mexican or an America. The concept of culture has evolved through time. It was initially viewed as an intriguing complex sociological framework since it reflects the elaborate interaction of values, attitudes, perceptions and behavior displayed by a particular society. Eventually, culture emerged as a more multifarious and dynamic view that encompasses theories of diversity and multiculturalism. In the United States, a land of opportunities, sociologists and experts in cultural theories have separate contentions regarding applying the concept of multiculturalism or respecting the retention of distinct and diverse cultures. I hereby believe that multiculturalism is more beneficial for America rather than merging cultures exemplified in the melting pot theory. The concept of multiculturalism has existed for a long time as manifested by people who migrated to the U.S. and share more than one cultural orientations (Wong; Chavez; Saleem). Its historical existence is proof that multiculturalism in the United States is beneficial; otherwise, regulations would have been enacted to curtail this. According to Linda Chavez in her discourse entitled â€Å"Demystifying Multiculturalism†, â€Å"multiculturalism is not a grassroots movement. It was created, nurtured, and expanded through government policy. Without the expenditure of vast sums of public money, it would wither away and die† (113). Chavez asserted that multiculturalism has long been practiced and validly supported by policy makers through encouraging people from different cultures to migrate. (My professor said this quote was used incorrectly, which means, this quote doesn’t fit in this paragraph.)Immigration policies in the United States have monitored and restric ted the number of people from different races who opt to reside in the country. There are regulations that assist in providing a balance in cultural forces that are seen to be beneficial in terms of contributions to economic, social, technological, and political growth. Chavez has asserted that multiculturalism encouraged educational institutions to focus on â€Å"bilingual education and other multicultural services† (2). Therefore, there are forces that spur economic activities driven by the increasing number of people from various cultures. Multiculturalism is also more beneficial in terms of contributing to diversity. In contrast to the melting pot theory, through multiculturalism, traditional values and norms are preserved. From the video entitled The Great American Melting Pot, the Statue of Liberty was shown to hold a book of recipes that show the melting pot to be comprised of people from diverse nationalities. However, the video does not clearly indicate that these pe ople lose their cultural identities in the process (Schoolhouse Rock). Chavez indicated that â€Å"a whole new industry of "diversity professionals" has emerged to help managers cope with the expected deluge of non-white workers† (1). Multiculturalism has created a demand for professionals to focus on training people to realize the benefits of employing diverse people in their workforce. Likewise, diversity has opened potentials for accommodating traditional values and learning to adapt to new ones. Tahir expressed her preference to practice the way of life in America, she still respected the tradition of pre-arranged marriage; where her parents would solicit potential suitors according to a predefined qualification. The suitors with most preferred qualifications would eventually be streamlined and would be the basis of selecting the favored husband. Likewise, Wong allegedly