Adapting to Change

Whose responsibility is it in this country? The newcomers? The newborns? The elders? Those that were born and raised here?

I just read a blog that it was the newcomers' responsibility, that America has a particular culture and we shouldn't adapt to those immigrating our land. It should be the other way around.

She mentioned how everything has changed, that we can't say "Merry Christmas" anymore (even though I just wrote it). It has to be "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" and that offends her.

Allright, so let me ask her this question. Does she think that African-Americans should still be slaves? That they shouldn't have the right to vote? That all our schools should still be segregated? That bathrooms should be separated for Anglo- and African-Americans? Give me a break.

Change comes with the territory, especially in a Republic or "Democracy" like ours. Unless we want a dictatorship government, we have to get use to change. I don't care how much one hates change or even the thought of change. Things change on a daily basis for everyone. We all have to adapt in our own way. For the Latinos from Central America that come to this country, they have to adapt to our way of life, just as we have to adapt to theirs. And honestly, they have a lot more to adapt to than the rest of the country. If I just up and moved to Mexico, I'd have a lot more to adapt to than the rest of that country. The rest of Mexico could live the way they were living before. I'd be the one having to make extreme changes in my life and adapt to their way of living. Same with those entering our country. The rest of us can continue to live our lives the way we were. They're the ones making a big change.

When it comes to America's culture and way of life, we're a diverse population that, for the most part, is a fairly peaceful group. Natives, Asians, Africans, Latinos, Indians, Anglos all coexist here. We may speak cruelly or disrespectfully toward another group of people. There may be protests, like in regard to immigration, but we're not in a civil war over the matter, such as that transpiring in Iraq.

It's no crime to say Merry Christmas. That is the holiday most celebrated in this country in December, because, the majority of this country is Christian in their faith. But, it's no crime to say "Happy Holidays" either. Sometimes, I think people take that way too personally. I mean, it may be the easy way out, but you could say "Happy Holiday(s)" pretty much any month of the year. When Thanksgiving approaches, Easter, New Year's, Valentine's Day, Christmas, whatever, telling someone, "I hope you have a great holiday weekend" or "Have fun during the holiday" is no crime. It's kind. They're not telling you that they disrespect your religion or beliefs. They're just trying to be kind and courteous and wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday, whatever that particular holiday might be.

I know change may be hard for some (harder for others), but let's not blow things out of proportion please. America's culture is still in tact. We're a very diverse nation, whom, for the most part, get along decently, and we should be proud of that. That's one reason that America is so beautiful.

Remember, not being able to change means not being able to progress. If it weren't for change, women wouldn't have the right to vote. If it weren't for change, African-Americans would still be slaves. If it weren't for change, we may very well have had only one voice, and because of that, not the Republic or "Democracy" that we have today.