[MD] Cultural Conformity (or The Borg)

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt]
The only caveat I would propose is that when the emigrate to another 
country they should assimilate by adopting the language, customs and 
values of the host country so as to avoid unnecessary friction. But, 
I could be wrong.

[X]
I think it's more difficult for Muslims to assimilate customs and 
values of others because their customs and values are Intertwined 
with their religeon likewise for other cultures ie, Native americans,

[Khaled]
As for assimilating in a new culture, I have posted on that  before. 
Some things take time. And remember that what freedom you give people 
like the Amish, you have to give the rest.

[Arlo]
First, greetings Khaled. It's been a while, glad you are still around.

The question of "assimilation" bothers me.

Upfront, though, let me say this. There is "law". Certainly, I'd 
argue, that if someone moves from a culture where murder is legal to 
a place where it is not, one must abide by the governance of social 
law. (That said, of course, there is no reason why the immigrant can 
not petition for changes to that law.) An Englishman relocating to 
Wyoming should conform to our practice of driving on the right side 
of the road. However, if it is important to him, he can begin legal 
proceedings to change the law.

Then there are "habits" that are generally invisible to the new 
population. Is anyone suggesting that Thai immigrants give up eating 
Pad Thai in their homes upon relocating to Wyoming? Should the 
Englishman give up Spotted Dick? If a couple moves here from a 
faraway land (call it Wynkenblykenland), where the social custom is 
for women and men to sleep vertically opposed in their beds instead 
of head to head, are we really suggesting they should give this up?

But then there are "habits" that ARE visible, and also legal, but 
just different from the majority norm. Such as the (much dreaded) 
keffiyeh. What I don't understand, and likely never will, is why 
social habits, that are legal, but just different from "what I do" is 
so threatening to people. Take the Jewish kippah? Should a Jewish man 
give this up when he moves to Wyoming? If not, why should an Arabic 
man give up is keffiyah?

Some have suggested in the past that we only allow "non-threatening" 
cultures to retain their social norms. If a Japanese woman wants to 
walk down the streets of Laramie wearing a kimono, I doubt many would 
have a problem. But make that an Iranian woman wearing a hejab 
(http://www.hejabiran.com/) and the outcry would likely be enormous. 
An Amish man in an amish black hat would be fine. An African man in a 
Fez would likely be told to "assimilate".

Why are so many so threatened by passive social habits that differ 
from their own? Ham has suggested that their is some behavior, that 
while not illegal per se, makes the new population anxious. Masks, 
for example, which when worn into a store may prompt images of 
robbery. The unnerving close proximity that some cultures stand when 
they talk may skeeve out people used to more interpersonal distance. 
And in these instances a little mutual understanding and discourse 
could go a long way.

"We only wish to raise quality of life for all species. We will add 
your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your 
culture will adapt to service us. You will be assimilated. Resistance 
is futile." (The Borg)