Who are these “we” people who love America? who are these “we” people who call themselves Americans, who are so proud of what America has become and so grateful for what it is today?
I agree all people who live in this country should be appreciative of the opportunities it provides for them today, but more importantly they must acknowledge the long process, ideas, regulations and transformations that contributed to the shaping of America; The history that resulted in this masterpiece whether it seems more like a gorgeous quilt, a melting pot or even a chocolate-chip cookie. However, if we attempt to think hypothetically of what could have become of the newborn country, far from the supervision and control of the “old” world and the already established countries, would we want it to be the same as it is today, even if it requires doing everything exactly the same to achieve this current state?
I’m not saying no. Rather, I suggest the idea that Americans today should possibly be more aware of the price and of the negative aspects of previous regulations, that indeed allowed America to be what it is today, and yet might be entirely against what today’s Americans believe in, and even against, retrospectively, complicated promises of freedom and equality.
Diversity and immigration are obvious characteristics of America, let alone New York, but aren’t these the results of moderations and even racist regulations executed in the past, that allowed the flourishing of rather controlled diverse society? Both Gordon and Gerstle describe events such as the banning of immigration of specific nationalities, the pressure on certain immigrants to become more white (anglo-conformity), the racism prior to the abolition of slavery etc. The general acceptance today and the importance of “true” freedom and equality seem to be more emphasized and demanded by society, hence would the defining events described be approved in society such as today’s? by the “we”?
In other words, the big questions of whether we should have regrets or whether there might be even a need to compensate for past phenomena and whether they all fit with our current beliefs, are inevitable ones.
In addition, these questions would probably be answered differently as different groups of “we” would attempt to answer them. However, the final conclusion is that all we can do now is change the future, or the present, if you will; continue to grow and flourish as the chocolate-chip cookie that we are, and make sure that this time none of us will have regrets.
side note:
In the last two pages of his paper, Gerstle criticizes the possible objection that Hollinger may have to California’s Proposition 187 and to other efforts to discourage non-citizens from coming to the states for the purpose of strengthening the nation. Even though his criticism seems a bit irrational (and almost like he approves racism against non-citizens in some cases), I understand that he attempt to draw a line. A line that argues that if it’s against non-citizens it’s not racist. and besides it is for the good of the nation.
Liron Siag
