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I agree that the American population is safe, but I would argue that American culture is under attack. There are massive numbers of people saying that immigrant

I agree that the American population is safe, but I would argue that American culture is under attack. There are massive numbers of people saying that immigrants shouldn't integrate. Lots of other people fighting against our basic cultural expectations like gender norms, common language, etc. Our workers don't have common holidays anymore, particularly among the lower class who has to work during them. Job centralization and women in the workforce are splitting families apart and lowering the marriage rate among parents. There is a widespread belief that there is no right or way to live your life, which makes sense on a global scale, but erodes our sense of community on a local level. Each one of those chip away at American culture. It _is_ in danger IMO. edit: To clarify, I'm not saying whether or not this is a good or bad thing. All I'm saying is that our culture is changing massively, the fundamental norms of our culture are shifting, and an argument can be made that common American culture is "under attack" by forces changing it into a completely different direction.

pedrocr 9y ago
That's a very narrow view of culture. You're basically saying that culture is immutable and thus any changes are threats to it. It hasn't been like that for the last 250 years, why should it be like that now?
- TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
  Other cultural changes in our past have been gradual and minor. Simultaneously saying that language norms are wrong, gender norms are wrong, a basic family structure doesn't matter, and there is no right or wrong way to live your life all at the same time is a _massive_ shock to the culture, and is unlike any other cultural change seen before in our country.
  - debaserab2 9y ago
    This is nothing new and we aren’t the first generation to challenge things like basic family structure. I’d argue they were even more so “under attack” in the 60’s. I think your interpretation is a tad hyperbolic at best. Nearly all of my friends either are or are married to working mothers with children with healthy and stable family lives.
SauciestGNU 9y ago
Culture is fluid. They're not attacking American culture, they're contributing to it and helping to shape it. Just because our culture is one way now doesn't mean it should always be that way. We can debate all day whether we like the direction our culture is taking (I for one am not at all happy with the status quo), but saying that outsiders are attacking our culture is borderline xenophobic.
krapp 9y ago
You're implying that only conservative, Christian, Eurocentric values can be considered legitimate "American culture", and that immigrants from other cultures failing to adopt those views and conform to those principles are corrupting that culture. This despite, and perhaps in spite of, the changing demographics of the country over time. I would argue, rather, that American culture isn't under attack. It's merely changing with the beliefs and ideals of newer generations, both native and immigrant. That's perfectly normal, as culture isn't and shouldn't be static, nor should it serve to maintain the status quo of power for any particular race, religion or political ideology.
- TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
  I didn't say it was a good or bad thing, but these are fundamental changes to the basic norms of our society. Right or wrong is irrelevant, but the argument can be made that it is under attack. If fundamental changes to a culture isn't a culture under attack, then what would you consider an attacked culture look like?
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - colanderman 9y ago
    You did imply degradation of so-called "American culture" is a bad thing: "Each one of those chip away at American culture. It _is_ in danger IMO."
    - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
      If something is under attack, is it not in danger?
      - colanderman 9y ago
        I've re-read your comment a few times and am no longer sure how to parse it. At first read it very much sounds like you are defending several backward institutions which you term "American culture" (I would not), as opposed to an impartial observation. (Your use of words like "under attack", "our", and "danger", and negative examples of multiculturalism really make it sound like you wish women stayed at home and everyone was Christian.)
colanderman 9y ago
EDIT: I'm no longer sure how to parse your comment. It sure reads like a defense of what you call "American culture" but given your other comments I will read it charitably as an impartial observation. ---- If "American culture" means women should stay in the kitchen [1] and I should pretend to be Christian [2], then good. I hope "American culture" dies. [1] "women in the workforce are splitting families apart" [2] "Our workers don't have common holidays anymore"
- nyolfen 9y ago
  women have a substantially diminished ability to even have the option of full-time child rearing. some women absolutely wish they could. and holidays are rituals that contribute to the shared context that give us frameworks of meaning and social solidarity. christmas is practically secular already as it is. just because things are from the past doesnt mean theyre automatically invoked in the least charitable way you can interpret them.

pedrocr 9y ago

That's a very narrow view of culture. You're basically saying that culture is immutable and thus any changes are threats to it. It hasn't been like that for the last 250 years, why should it be like that now?

TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
Other cultural changes in our past have been gradual and minor. Simultaneously saying that language norms are wrong, gender norms are wrong, a basic family structure doesn't matter, and there is no right or wrong way to live your life all at the same time is a _massive_ shock to the culture, and is unlike any other cultural change seen before in our country.
- debaserab2 9y ago
  This is nothing new and we aren’t the first generation to challenge things like basic family structure. I’d argue they were even more so “under attack” in the 60’s. I think your interpretation is a tad hyperbolic at best. Nearly all of my friends either are or are married to working mothers with children with healthy and stable family lives.

SauciestGNU 9y ago

Culture is fluid. They're not attacking American culture, they're contributing to it and helping to shape it. Just because our culture is one way now doesn't mean it should always be that way. We can debate all day whether we like the direction our culture is taking (I for one am not at all happy with the status quo), but saying that outsiders are attacking our culture is borderline xenophobic.

krapp 9y ago

You're implying that only conservative, Christian, Eurocentric values can be considered legitimate "American culture", and that immigrants from other cultures failing to adopt those views and conform to those principles are corrupting that culture. This despite, and perhaps in spite of, the changing demographics of the country over time. I would argue, rather, that American culture isn't under attack. It's merely changing with the beliefs and ideals of newer generations, both native and immigrant. That's perfectly normal, as culture isn't and shouldn't be static, nor should it serve to maintain the status quo of power for any particular race, religion or political ideology.

TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
I didn't say it was a good or bad thing, but these are fundamental changes to the basic norms of our society. Right or wrong is irrelevant, but the argument can be made that it is under attack. If fundamental changes to a culture isn't a culture under attack, then what would you consider an attacked culture look like?
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- colanderman 9y ago
  You did imply degradation of so-called "American culture" is a bad thing: "Each one of those chip away at American culture. It _is_ in danger IMO."
  - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
    If something is under attack, is it not in danger?
    - colanderman 9y ago
      I've re-read your comment a few times and am no longer sure how to parse it. At first read it very much sounds like you are defending several backward institutions which you term "American culture" (I would not), as opposed to an impartial observation. (Your use of words like "under attack", "our", and "danger", and negative examples of multiculturalism really make it sound like you wish women stayed at home and everyone was Christian.)

colanderman 9y ago

EDIT: I'm no longer sure how to parse your comment. It sure reads like a defense of what you call "American culture" but given your other comments I will read it charitably as an impartial observation. ---- If "American culture" means women should stay in the kitchen [1] and I should pretend to be Christian [2], then good. I hope "American culture" dies. [1] "women in the workforce are splitting families apart" [2] "Our workers don't have common holidays anymore"

nyolfen 9y ago
women have a substantially diminished ability to even have the option of full-time child rearing. some women absolutely wish they could. and holidays are rituals that contribute to the shared context that give us frameworks of meaning and social solidarity. christmas is practically secular already as it is. just because things are from the past doesnt mean theyre automatically invoked in the least charitable way you can interpret them.