So I guess we're all in agreement that Latino immigrants don't represent American culture change?

I'm sure that significant levels of immigration does contribute to cultural change. I'm reminded of that time some politician made a negative comment about there being more taco trucks. Was that Steve King? And everyone was like "taco trucks are awesome, dude." It's more like just that cultural change is not something to be afraid of, and happens regardless of immigration anyway?

But how is that different than the history of America (other than for the Native Americans of course). What is American Culture if not a mish-mash of immigrant cultures?

How precisely does anyone think Latino immigration is changing "American culture" in any way different than previous waves of immigration?

Oh, I agree it's not much different.

Op's points are right on. Different cultures have changed American culture over the decades through assimilation. The change they bring is almost always a positive. To name a small example like pizza perhaps.
It's now looked at and considered an American food.
These changes have been consistently taking place over the decades.
In fact, America as we know it without the fusion of multiple cultures would be unrecognizable.
But, having said all that, I do feel that there may be some dynamic taking place in today's modern world that is legitimate cause to think.
Not that I would ever side with Trump or his supporters. Don't misunderstand, I'm not of that camp.
And I'm only bringing this up for debate, believing it to have some merit( something to think about), nothing else.
To the point.
The success story of immigrant assimilation into American society was, I believe, strongly based on the children of the immigrant.
The children would go to school, make friends outside their ethnic group, learn the language, and perhaps even most importantly, forget the old language.
Y'all may ask, what makes you the authority.
Well, hesitated disclose too much personal info before, but I am that immigrant child so to speak.
So, what worries me then.
When I was growing up, all the kids would watch the same things on tv, develope common interests and likes. Sort of melt together so to speak. Growing up an American, despite living in a household where my parents hardly spoke any English, was easy.
But now I see a disturbing trend. We have satellite TV. Nobody watches the same programs anymore. Immigrant families are watching programs on tv from the old country. I know people who've lived here most their lives and don't care to become Amercan citizens. They no longer share the values of their neighbors. Abd they raise their kids with the idea that they are of a different country.
Immigration in this country has always worked because immigrants have always become Americans. Now I see a different trend and it's starting to worry me.

i suggest you watch laura ingraham's show.. she seems to mirror your concerns..

You must be from the group of people that gave the mods the reason to shake up the politics forum. You just don't get it do you.
The same old same old bs.
Read what I'm saying before your snide remarks and if you disagree or are opposed, give me a reason.
Hope you're not overwhelmed with all this.

none of the things you mentioned are disturbing or worrying to people that aren't xenophobic.

the best part of america is that everyone is free to be themselves. we are the great melting pot of the world and have things like no nationally recognized language because diversity is our strength not our weakness as you seem to be suggesting.

your take is literally from a laura ingraham segment in which she talks about the america of tomorrow is going to be unrecognizable from the america previously because of diversity and how that scares old whites.

I'm not concerned about what TV shows people watch, and I'm not interested in much that Laura Ingraham has to say, but it does seem to me that social cohesion (or fragmentation, to put it the other way) is a legitimate political concern in general. There's a lot of interesting social science research on national identity in relation to support for the social safety net, as an example, and just the really basic idea that policies aimed at the common welfare (I mean in the constitutional sense) are premised on the idea that we can all agree to see ourselves as sharing something in common, i.e. a sense of civic interdependence.

It's not at all clear to me that immigration is the most important source of cultural fragmentation though, and I agree that a lot of concern about immigration as the primary driver of social disintegration is misguided. It seems to me that political polarization probably is the biggest driver at the moment, and maybe no where is that more intensely obvious than polarization between conservative and liberal white Americans.

a much more rational fear would be that there could be a "cultural" divide growing between socioeconomic levels in the united states. and that the middle class is eroding due to one party pushing the false-prophet that is "trickle down" economics while allowing the 1%'s share of wealth to balloon off the backs of working people.

to say that immigrants believing in where they came from is a disturbing change or any version of " gosh darnit they need to become americans and speak american" is xenophobic.

Suzzer,

The reason that no one is picking up this football and running with it is because your OP was too thoughtful. But I agree with you that a lot of Trump supporters believe this.

That the country is becoming fragmented is truly a concern and a development that can't be denied. Is immigration the problem? Probably the least of our problems as far as this issue is concerned I guess. Like our mod said.

Dear fellow 2+2' er, regarding me getting my ideas from xenophobic Laura Ingram.
I bore my soul and exposed some of my family background, exactly for the reason as not to be confused with someone like Laura Ingram. Now either you didn't bother to read all I wrote but rather just jumped to what got your interest and instinctively pounced on your victim, because that's what you've been conditioned to do by your group of bulleys from the previous forum, automatically assuming that they'd have your back and gang up on me.
Or, you're simply calling me a liar.

But you did make an effort to give a reasonable answer. I'll give you that much.

We can be of the same political philosophy and still have disagreements.
We don't have to blindly conform to and after with every single talking point of our own party. Because someone maybe doesn't agree with universal health care, doesn't necessarily make them not a Democrat. Not that's there's anything wrong with none Democrarts?
Anyway. I wanted to contribute one idea I had and won't clog the thread anymore.
Glad to be an observer from now on.
This is not about me. I'm not that big a deal.
Please, please.

i would agree with this to an extent. for example, my gf's cousin dates an illegal immigrant who speaks maybe a dozen words of english, he works at a Mexican nightclub where they dont speak english and lives in a Mexican area of the city. i would be willing to bet i have more in common with him than i do with certain reds on this site..

Do you not see "TV shows" as one of the major players in that political polarization? For example, the current feedback going on between the (lol uniter) president and Fox News side shows and other shows/outlets (breitbart, etc) to demonize democrats.

I think that technology -- or more specifically, the rate of technological change -- is a significant contributor to social fragmentation.

Hes right though. Ingrham literally expresses concern and worry about people not asimilating like you did in your post.

Umm he didnt say you get your ideas from her, he said that your ideas are similar to hers and they are

Nepeeme was talking about immigrants watching TV from "the old country", so I was thinking more of Telemundo than Fox News. I guess I didn't really mean I don't care about what people watch at all. I take your point about partisan media outlets including Fox.

Although, thinking a bit more about what nepeeme said, I'm reminded also of the history of ethnic neighborhoods within American cities, going back many decades. That is, you would have an Italian neighborhood, or a Polish neighborhood, or etc. Some also argued in the past that this was an impediment to assimilation, but some research I've seen suggests that these kinds of ethnic enclaves had the opposite effect. They provided a gentle landing for new immigrants, making it easier for them to find their footing and cope with culture shock. Basically they are part of the process of assimilation, rather than an impediment to it. Telemundo or the kinds of TV programs Nepeeme mentioned might be a similar phenomenon.

So immigrants who live in their own neighborhood bubble, struggle with English, and watch something other than major network TV "no longer share the values of their neighbors," even though many of their neighbors likely share their language and culture?

You let the mask slip, since you are clearly using "neighbors" as code for "good Americans."

Remember that one of the posting guidelines in this forum is that you ought to strive to be charitable in your readings of others' posts, whenever possible, and to avoid making presumptions of bad faith.

My only complaint with Spanish TV is the feed for the World Cup soccer game is always a few seconds before ESPN, which created spoiler issues when I lived in Los Angeles.

I guess I was confused by your statement including Ingraham in the same sentence. This makes a lot more sense.

Language?

You dont think people hated the way Italians and Irish spoke?

I'm not sure what's meant by language. All the previous waves of immigrants speaking languages other than English didn't change the fact that English was/is America's primary language and there's no reason to think Hispanic immigration will either.