A Suggested Model for Assimilation

1. A Suggested Model for Assimilation From “The Third and final continent”

2. Why Should You Care? Immigrants in the Cold War era needed to follow a model of assimilation to appease the American ethnocentrism of that time. In a modern sense, today’s immigrants should follow the same model in response to the rise of nationalism after the 9/11 attacks.

3. What I’m Saying Is… The characters in the story provide a reasonable model of assimilation and fit the anticipated outcomes if the model was followed. In addition, the setting of the story shows that mutual cooperation is possible even in the Cold War, a period of sharp nationalism.

4. What I’m Saying Is…(cont.) Mrs. Croft: Independent, stubborn, bossy, and reactionary to an extent, but not so much that she absolutely refuses to change. She is an archetype of how American tradition could be viewed. The Narrator: Your typical, seasoned immigrant. He is skeptical of changing his ways to adapt to a new society, but he eventually buys in. Mala: Fresh off the boat (or plane, in her case). Still enveloped in her natural culture, but learns the ropes from her husband. She is your immediate immigrant that benefits from the experience and advise of established immigrants. Helen: The progressive, open-minded American.

5. Why I’m Right The characters, and how they interact with each other, demonstrate the value of multicultural cooperation. The experiences of the characters accurately represent different ethnicities in general, and how they adjust to new circumstances. The narrator, Mrs. Croft, and Mala start out determined in their own points of view, but they each have a change of heart and learn to understand each other. This implies that assimilation is a combined effort.

6. Could I Be Wrong? Why would anyone agree that assimilation is a cooperative endeavor? Doesn’t the word “assimilation” mean that they have to conform?

7. An Interesting Afterthought Do you recognize this superstar? His nationality? The language he speaks?