“Of course this generalization about America, like other historical things, is subject to all sorts of cross divisions exceptions, to be considered in their place. The negroes are a special problem, because of what white men in the past did to them. The Japanese are a special problem, because of what men fear that they in the future may do to white men. The Jews are a special problem, because of what they and the Gentiles, in the past, present, and future, seem to have the habit of doing to each other. But the point is not that nothing exists in America except this idea; it is that nothing like this idea exists anywhere except in America. This idea is not internationalism; on the contrary it is a decidedly nationalism. The Americans are very patriotic, and wish to make their new citizens patriotic Americans. But it is the idea of making a new nation literally out of any old nation that comes along. In a word, what is unique is not America but what is called Americanization. We understand nothing till we understand the amazing ambition to Americanize the Kamskatkan and the Hairy Ainu. We are not trying to Anglicise thousands of French cooks or Italian organ-grinders. France is not trying to Galliscise thousands of English trippers or German prisoners of war. America is the one place in the world where this process, healthy or unhealthy, possible or impossible, is going on. And the process, as I have pointed out, is not internationalization. It would be truer to say it is the nationalization of the internationalized. It is making a home out of vagabonds and a nation out of exiles. This is what at once illuminates and softens the moral regulations which we may really think faddist or fanatical. They are abnormal; but in one sense this experiment of a home for the homeless is abnormal; but in one sense this experiment of a home for the homeless is abnormal. In short, it has long been recognized that America was an asylum. It is only since Prohibiton that it has looked a little like lunatic asylum.”
What I interpreted from this paragraph of G.K. Chesterton’s essay is that America is a land that gives those who may not have an identity some identity, by putting cross the idea of nationalism by simply subtracting internationalism. This idea have made those who were once exiled or considered as vagabonds now patriotic citizens, by making them Americans; by taking old nation of different ethnic background they have managed to create a new nation regardless of the scars that many have bore over historical times.
I choose this paragraph because of a conversation that was brought up in class about why we are called African Americans instead of being called according to the place we all immigrated from; as I am an immigrant from the Caribbean and like many others from the Caribbean I have embraced America as my new country which make me an African American. Although, not American born I remain patriotic to the country and continue to make use of this asylum that have become a home for many like myself. American has given me an identity along with an opportunity to build and be a strong black woman.
yes that's so true we can embrace other people culture and value while stay true to our own because were in american now. the things they take for granted we take as gold
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