The term melting pot has been used to describe the policy of creating one homogeneous culture from the many cultures that were native born or immigrated to the United States.

The term melting pot has been used to describe the policy of creating one homogeneous culture from the many cultures that were native born or immigrated to the United States. Also known as assimilationist or mono cultural policy, the diverse cultural identity of people was thought to be an obstacle to an individual s long term success. However, some people have noted that our society can be more accurately described by the term cultural pluralism, multicultural or a salad bowl, where people maintain their cultural identities while contributing to the whole much as the ingredients in a salad contribute to the whole.

Give some examples of cultural pluralism in the American culture today. Do you think that a change from assimilationist policy to cultural pluralism policy will strengthen our society because people will be stronger democratic members if they do not have to give up their cultural identity? Why or why not?