Karup and Lowe

To cultural theories, the term assimilation has a negative connotation because it identifies with trying to lose your ethnic roots and conforming to another group. This term can sugggest weakness and ordinary. However, to those with great hehemonic nationalism, such as the United States, we think assimilation is imperative in developing a society because communication is effective. One will learn the law of the land, the informal traditions, the language in order to communicate with all the diverse group compiled in the U.S.

The argument between nativism and assimilation is roughly discussed in the identification of Asian Americans. Lowe makes the argument that the complexities of Asian countries, in that there are various ethnic groups with different language and tradition, which makes the debate between nativism and assimilation hard to conclude. All the subcategorical groups of Asia should not be defined as just one. In the U.S. We are labeled as Asian American, but this is just a term with no meaning because it does not attribute to the differences.

Therefore, Karup's collection of poems and statement from those who are not "native" to the U.S. My favorite poem was called mythic fears because it combines realism and humor. "Mythic Fear number three: Like the British they didn't wash their ass, they only wiped it with toilet paper." I find this statement to be so hilarious because when I traveled to Thailand and Laos, it was normal for them to clean up with a water pipe or spray. Then I asked a family member who has lived in Thailand if she had any toilet paper. She reponded, "Why? Water cleans better."

At that moment I started to ponder the logistics of how cleaning it with water is more sanitary than just wiping. But the U.S. Has socially constructed the ideal of toilet paper. ow it has been engrained to me that I will not feel clean unless I have toilet paper. This proves the strength of assimilation because even if something does not make sense, our psychological hold will tell us otherwise.