What is an American?
What do we look like? The diversity of colors on the American Flag doesn’t represent the diversity of backgrounds and cultures present int eh US today. Everyone here came from a different place and at some point immigrated here. That’s why it’s important to try to understand the people of all walks of life. Tolerance is a virtue.
The best metaphor for a melting pot in the United States is the grocery store check out line. No matter who you are or where you live you shop for groceries. Well that’s not entirely true if you live in New York City. Actually, we leave the New York melting pot to the subway. Thus, I restate, the best metaphor for a melting pot in the United states is the grocery store and the subway.
(Caitlin Hill and I on the subway)
The check out line in a grocery store brings everyone together. Just like they say in Ready Set Bag, a documentary about grocery baggers, some people are dressed to the nines and others are showing up in their slippers. I’m working with the creators of this documentary to make a brand extension web show on blip.tv.
There are 8 million people in New York and most of them live in NYC. I lived in New York City for a few years and took the subway almost every day as my primary mode of transportation. There are thousands of languages spoken on the subway every day. No assumptions are made.
You never know what you are going to get with the variety of culture; however, certain elements remain for the same. For example, young and able people get up when a pregnant woman or elderly person enters the train cart and they give up their seats. People with strollers are assisted by other people when going up and down the stairs. People try to mind their own business and help out. There are hustlers and you must be on guard to watch your purse, and you will be tolerant and respectful of other cultures.
If the United States were like the New York subway or a grocery store in every small town, nook, and cranny we wouldn’t right and the wisdom of the crowds would prevail. St Jean Crevecoeur is an American farmer who wrote “What is an American” in the second half of the eighteenth century. The point of view in his letter is similar to my point of view because we both believe that tolerance is the key to world peace.