American Culture

David Limbaugh is up in arms about the immigration bill, which leads me to believe, although I haven't spent any time studying, that it must be ok. In particular he's up in arms about the damage unrestricted immigration could do to an "American Culture."

"But beneath the slick packaging of "multiculturalism" and "diversity" we find that what they really stand for is the denunciation of Western civilization and America. All civilizations are equally wonderful in the world cultural mosaic -- except those arising out of Western civilization, especially America.

If the multiculturalists had their druthers, what remains of a unique American culture would probably be eradicated, since it is viewed as bigoted and evil." A bit of hyperbole on Limbaugh's part, to be sure. But let's examine the underlying premise.

What is American culture?

Is it our food? And if so what food do you mean. I mean, Apple Pie and Hamburgers to be sure. But what about Pizza with Goat Cheese, invented in California (near as I can tell). Is that part of a distinctive American Culture? How about the Bagel? How about Spaghetti with Meatballs? Or the ubiquitous Taco Platter or Sweet and Sour Pork?

Is it our music? And which parts? George Gershwin? Leonard Cohen? Chuck Berry? Rogers and Hammerstein? Bob Dylan? Miles Davis? Chuck D? Eddie Vedder? The Dust Brothers? Duke Ellington? Jimi Hendrix? George Clinton? Moby? Which of them reflect a distinctly American culture? (And for a moment, let me say that it is nice to note that 2/3 of what makes distincitive American Music comes from the African American community, if not more.)

Is it our literature? Little Women? The Naked Lunch? Huckleberry Finn? Stranger in a Strange Land? The Sound and the Fury? On the Road? What counts as American and what doesn't?

Of course you might go back to reverence for our national documents; reverence for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence and so on. But it doesn't take much time to see that those who are being attacked by Limbaugh quote from these documents as much as he does; perhaps more.

Frankly when you boil it all down; Mr. Limbaugh either wants to see immigrants and minorities copying white middle class culture as much as possible (which means you can drop your Goat Cheese Pizza, your DJ Shadow, and your Naked Lunch), or something else. Could it be that by a specifically American culture, Mr. Limbaugh means a politically conservative culture? Immigrants are welcome if we thought they would vote for President Bush. But since we think they might fall under the influence of evil "Multiculturalists" (or Liberals, to be more clear), than it's best to keep them out.

Of course, I could be wrong.