Identity in the United States is arguably one of the biggest issues among citizens and immigrants alike. Throughout the years, the immigrant community struggles to define itself – there is always a fierce battle between honoring the connections of the home country and assimilating into the new country. After all, what is the definition of a true American? Is it a certain look or characteristic? Or are we united by the fact that many of us have very little in common?

I personally support an argument presented in Waltzer’s article that we are somehow united by the fact that we are not united. This argument is additionally supported in Steinberg’s piece when he mentions that there is not equal assimilation for all parties involved – yes, for people of Caucasian origin the differences are becoming minute, but for those of Asian or African origin, the divide continues to exist. We are a state of many cultures and there is no solid nationality.

I do not have family members that recently immigrated. I am more of a third and fourth generation child, but I’ve come to know many people who are directly the children of immigrants. And these first generation Americans are truly following Steinberg’s argument about the melting pot – they are in a flux where they are trying to balance between their old and new cultures. I’ve seen a variety of responses towards this. Some of my friends have rebelled fiercely against their culture, such as refusing to answer in their parents’ native language or immersing themselves in national culture. Others have more of an appreciation for their culture, taking trips back to the country their parents emigrated from and frequently citing that culture. Occasionally there is even some apathy. These reactions show me that assimilation, if possible, is long and difficult, and that many continue to maintain their former cultural identities.

So maybe the goal isn’t to assimilate, but to instead appreciate the many different cultural differences – find our identity in many instead of one.