The Melting Pot?

Are we a truly a melting pot? In his 1905 travel narrative The American Scene, Henry James refers to cultural intermixing in New York City as a “fusion, as of elements in solution in a vast hot pot.” At first glance it may seem so. However, beyond the obligatory interactions necessary for commerce how much do we really know one another? For example, with all of the cultural and intellectual gifts at our disposal, how many of us speak more than one language . . . or desire to? Approximately 50% of all Europeans speak two or more languages. However, less than 9% of college students in the United States take a foreign language course. Over 190 language groups have been identified in New York City alone. A great way to understand our neighbors better is to learn to communicate with them. One of the greatest expressions of hospitality we can offer is learning the language of our guests.