my mom taught me this analogy as a kid: "we don't want a 'melting pot'. We don't want everyone to become the same. We want something more like a 'mixed salad

my mom taught me this analogy as a kid: "we don't want a 'melting pot'. We don't want everyone to become the same. We want something more like a 'mixed salad' -- all the pieces bring their own unique flavor and contribute to the whole. It's OK if some bites have a little more tomato and others have a little more carrot. Just don't be that picky eater who pushes all of the cucumber off to the side like it doesn't belong."