Diversity in America: Good or Bad?

America: The Country of Immigrants they call it. We are known to be a land of sanction, freedom, and opportunity. That's what we're supposed to be built on, right?
Fast forward a good, say, 300 years later and many die-hard patriots (you know, the ones who live in the heart of the South, drive pickup trucks, and plaster the Confederate flag whenever they can) are frightened for the future of America because we are one of the most ethnically, religiously, and racially diverse countries. We are continuing to be the Land of Immigrants, however this time, many of us aren't white.

In 2012, minority births outnumbered white births in America,

and having started just this year, minorities have outnumbered white people in U.S public schools. So, what does this mean for the future of America? What will we look like, say, 20 years from now? Are the great liberties and freedoms our forefathers worked to build diminishing with the aliens coming into our country every day and taking our jobs?

Well, no, not really. First, off, immigrants are not stealing jobs from U.S. citizens, in fact, if we threw out every illegal alien in the country, our economy would plummet, because they are in fact, taking jobs no one else will take. From dishwashers, maids, garbage truck workers, meat and dairy factory workers, and many other unappealing careers, these are really most of the jobs illegal immigrants take, because well, what other job would they be able to get? And really, who else would take these jobs?

Second, diversity is more good than bad. While diversity can lead to resentment, hatefulness, and the like, it creates a wide variety of influence, ideas, attitudes, and mindsets. Being among a diverse community, you learn about the many lives and experiences of others from all over the world and you are brought new ideas and fresh perceptions. Diverse communities will bring about diverse schools, giving children a wide variety of cultures, which will make them better prepared for the world ahead. Take my friend Annabelle for example. Being friends with Annabelle this year, has brought us both many new experiences and mindsets. For me, it's because she's Catholic, and for her, because I'm a Muslim Arab, which is something she was never exposed to at her past Catholic school. In a recent conversation, she admitted that by being friends with someone not white, she had learned a lot and it had opened her mind to many new ideas. Well, that made me feel pretty flattered.

I digress, being in a diverse community teaches us a lot. We can and DO benefit from these communities in a variety of ways and learn a lot about other beliefs. We are working our way towards more open and diverse minds.