True American

I realized something the other day whilst watching a Canadian TV Program called Corner Gas. The episode was about curling, something about which I knew nothing. After watching this episode I realized that I am a True American!

Ever since then, as I drive around, I notice that this statement is truer and truer. I see Mexican restaurants everywhere. More Japanese restaurants within walking distance than I can throw a stick at. I went to San Francisco last week, but had to think more carefully about my initial plans because there was a second New Year's - Chinese New Year's - going on. The BBC has a big influence on out TV. All of these things that I see point to one thing - American.

That is what I love about America - it is a mixture of many cultures and many ideas. It is so cool that I can experience so much just in my neighborhood. After seeing that episode on curling, I thought, man alive, that looks like a lot of fun. I think that is what make America strong, its foundation on excepting other cultures. I hear many people talk against foreign influence, but isn't that what America is, a mixing of many other cultures? I also hear some people say that the rest of the world hates us, but why, since their culture is part of our own as well? Maybe not the strongest part, but it is in there somewhere.

Maybe that is it - people see not the things that we as American embrace, things that we have in common with their own beliefs, but rather the beliefs of people that they do not like. We have beliefs that some people like and beliefs that some people hate. We are not a homogenous culture, and that is what I like - being about to pick and choose what I want from those cultures. I do not have to like and incorporate everything from every other culture into my own life for me to accept it. I am fine with others doing as they please, which I think makes me and others like me True Americans - the principals of the founding of this country, multiculturalism.

The Edward