Conflicting Identities

I can’t recall ever feeling that my ethnic background has come into conflict with my American nationality. This is in part because I am a descendent of those peoples inhabiting Western European countries and thus my white skin and cultural traditions are compatible with mainstream American culture. It is also in part because my actual cultural ethnicity has been diluted and lost in marriages and adoptions etc. However, there have been a few instances in which I have felt that my Catholic identity has come into conflict, not so much with my American-ness (despite the prevailing Protestant culture and control) but with my Northeastern, academic education. I can recall a professor stating that there were very few great Catholic scholars in present day society. His tone seemed to suggest that “great” thought and Catholicism were not compatible. I had a sudden urge to enter into philosophy, somehow write an astounding dissertation and prove him wrong. This instance would seem to reflect that although Catholics have made it far up the social ladder (even into the Presidency), there is still something of a barrier between their thought/ philosophy and philosophy which is considered to be “groundbreaking” or even having great authority.
With regard to the question of immigration I personally do not believe that immigrants entering this country should be forced to give up their identity (religion, cultural practices, dress or even language) in order to assimilate into American culture. However, I believe that they should learn English in addition to their first language and that they should be willing to encounter, examine and understand the peculiarities of American culture, just as Americans should encounter, examine and come to an understanding of the various cultures immigrants bring with them. The beauty that I see American-ness capable of is its ability to encompass rather than obliterate differences between people.
This existence of various manifestations of American culture in different groups of individuals is, I think, a reality that W. B. Du Bois would be happy with. His idea of cultural pluralism suggests exactly this idea. Immigrants are capable of improving American culture and making it richer. Their fresh ideas can prevent it from going stale. Additionally, their “two-ness” is not a threat to American culture or society. Rather it is a expression of American-ness within an individual who comes from (and with) a different cultural mindset.