What It Means to Be an American:
Douglass, R. Bruce
the spectacle of professors raised in priv- peratives. Against multicultural calls for which is devoted to analyzing the Amer- ileged affluence teaching minority stu- the enforcement...
...persona Nor is he insensitive to the problems it poses is almost certainly insoluble...
...There are that is why I come away from what he Year-round, summers only (4...
...rich mix of different subcultures, each of engaged citizenry, the "culture of priva- YOUNG ADULTHOOD...
...which has been able to pursue its own dis- cy" that now prevails would just wither Your mentor: Dr...
...tively in public affairs...
...Against multicultural calls for which is devoted to analyzing the Amerileged affluence teaching minority stu- the enforcement of respect-not just tol- ican experience, he seeks to show why...
...What has made an even of this stands much chance of happening...
...30, Jan...
...which the imposition of any sort of alien shrewd enough observer to see that that cultural identity on people against their will is not the whole story...
...Occupied as we have been But to acknowledge that would be to Your mentors: Dr...
...But at the same time, if nothing it mildly), and acculturation is something and well-being of democratic were to be done to bring about their ac- that does occur...
...It is a whole Your mentors: Dr...
...ticularity without end...
...Janet Ruffing, RSM with the business of other "lesser" soci- face up to the need to take responsibility Dr...
...norities have been encouraged to believe The problem, however, is that in the ab- NEW YORK that they have a contribution to make to sence of a change in the character of matches your Interests: the culture of this country drawn from their American culture, it is hard to see how any ADULT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY own heritage...
...But over the is Groucho, not Karl...
...It does matter, ter, he says, that immigrants have not had WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN is recognized, it is not at all easy to know to abandon altogether their cultural herMichael Walzer what to do about it...
...HIST...
...That is part of the story Walzer has to tell, and there is no mistaking the, importance he attaches to it...
...John Ellas to cultivate that heritage as well...
...German Martinez, OSB and defend the nation in wartime...
...basis, at least...
...ty with one another as citizens...
...RELIGIOUS EDUCATION...
...Not on an ongoing much else will change...
...It is written in the tra- years the people of this country have Teaching literature is not about the im- dition of the great public critics Dickstein worked through the inclinations they have position of authority because literature is wistfully invoked...
...ating the extraordinary array of voluntary in that regard just by restructuring things...
...something that Walzer, as the strong demo- the United States now is...
...John Shea, OSA Dr...
...growth in faith, moral formation, its own way...
...For it is not just a matter of keeping citizenship as distinct as possible from the rest of people's identity-or, of keeping the state culONE OF THE WORLD'S BETTER SOCIETIES turally "neutral," as liberals would have us believe...
...cupation that the courts now have with UNIVERSITY It is not just, moreover, that cultural mi- individual rights...
...Americans may be prepared to pay our taxes themselves in res publica...
...And in this new book, a two-way street...
...At least that is what Michael pluralistic as it is, acculturation has been be concerned about...
...It has had its share of racism how this farce is fast becoming a tragedy dication-who have strong convictions but and xenophobia, to be sure...
...to imagine all sorts of oppressive things A "Polish-American" is not the same s cultural homogeneity something being done to cultural minorities in the thing, after all, as a Pole...
...0 more complex than it first appears...
...same gods...
...In fact, it is arguable that they in particular need it...
...El Commonweal 9 April 1993: 33...
...This indifference to public affairs is not fore inappropriate in a society of the sort SABBATICAL...
...Begin 1993/94: quently of the dangers that are posed by the United States has had in dealing with June 24, Aug...
...Politics by Other Means considerable success, he believes, in dealeven expropriated the word "privileged...
...But it is a culture of a disstates that their citizens speak the culturation, one can just easily imagine re- tinctive sort, says Walzer, and for that reasame language, read the same literature, spect for diversity turning into a recipe for son the acculturation that has gone on here celebrate the same holidays, pray to the cultural (and political) fragmentation...
...It would be to recognize that some- -through to Supervised Practicurn chose to take an interest in them...
...And it is easy shores have had to change their identity...
...CREDIT FREE...
...We American people from investing much of CHURCH LEADERSHIP...
...In addition, of course, self been informed by the traditions im- he urges that public policy be made in such migrants have brought with them even as a way as to counteract the atomistic tenthey themselves have had to undergo dencies that are being bred by the preoc- FORDHAM "Americanization...
...has taken place in a distinctive manner...
...SPIRITUAL DIRECTION...
...We're not only proud of our record, The problem, however, is that once this we're proud of ourselves...
...Gloria Durka up to a point-they have been encouraged be that if only, somehow, we could re- Dr...
...Empathy rises on might help break up the frozen sea inside The secret of this success, however, is a flood of complexity not a stack of im- the culture...
...If Bromwich continues had in that direction to create what he says not about universals, whether universal in this vein, and acquires a bit more of a now deserves to be thought of as "one of truth or universal oppression...
...In fact, he warns against any overt Dr...
...Fredrica Halligan eties, we have been inclined to leave the more directly for the character of the cul- Margaret Burke, MA disposition of public issues to the few who ture...
...Nor have thing more may be demanded of us these PASTORAL COUNSELING...
...Gloria Durka over the years it has not been our practice, view of how life is meant to be lived...
...Vincent Novak, SJ crat and socialist he is, finds appealing...
...These radical elitists have ities, and paradox...
...I can't help but think, VINCENT M. NOVAK, SJ that the attachment Americans have had too, that the only way we are going to be GRAD...
...So over structure our political and economic life -for parish, school & home the years American society has become a on terms that were more conducive to an YOUTH MINISTRY...
...Living as we are in Walzer thinks...
...dents from impoverished, crime-ridden erance-for other lifestyles, Bromwich For this country, as a nation made up of neighborhoods that "you are where you makes his own plea for negative capabil- immigrants drawn from a wide variety of come from," I see the most insecure sort ity, for critical irony, pluralistic ambigu- different races and cultures, has enjoyed of snobbery...
...But when able to make any real headway in solv- FORDHAM UNIVERSITY it comes to showing how those dangers ing the problem Walzer poses is by hav- (tel: 718-579-2537) might be met, all that he is prepared to do ing more of a willingness than he has to BRONX, NEW YORK 10458-5163 is repeat, once again, the familiar homily call into question the prevailing liberal orabout the need to create a new, more par- thodoxy...
...But in reality the matter is, of course, not so simple...
...We do have a democrats should be concerned name of one or another kind of democratic culture of our own in this country (to put about...
...For cultural cohesion is something every functioning society needs, and democracies are no exception...
...Is it important to the health nativism...
...greater difference, says Walzer, is that- The logic of what he has to say seems to Your mentors: Dr...
...For in a sense, of R. Bruce Douglass violates the spirit, at least, of what democ- course, those who have come to these racy is supposed to be about...
...And as this has happened, People who are as apolitical as Americans spiritual development the peoples involved have gone about cre- now tend to be are not going to be changed RELIGION AND SOCIETY...
...Mary Byrne the subcultures of which they have been a effort to "shape citizens in a common -through to Supervised Practicum part than with the nation as a whole...
...Assocs...
...32: 9 April 1993 Commonweal we share in common as Americans has it- ticipatory politics...
...OF REL...
...But he is a Marsilio, $18, 124 pp...
...Then we're agreed, gentlemen...
...18 AWARDS: Full/Partial Scholarships the appeal in this country today of an "an- cultural pluralism is a lot more ambigu- Mission Dioceses (81) Fulls tipolitics of privatization"-dangers he ous than the tone, at least, of his analysis FOR APPLICATIONS & INFORMATION: readily admits are growing all the time now would suggest...
...Mary Ann Jordan this country have had much more to do with doing...
...And -for DRE's, Parish Admins...
...duce a very active form of citizenship...
...organizations that has given this nation As his own analysis suggests, it's some- Your mentor: Dr...
...Art is a par- capacity for amusement and humor, he the world's better societies...
...no fixed ideology...
...For there is a sense in itage to become citizens...
...The social to come from the free play of spontaneous PASTORAL CARE AGING...
...John Nelson tinctive version of the American ideal in away...
...REL...
...But surely that is overly simple...
...John Elias such a strong and vibrant civil society...
...says Walzer, to involve ourselves very ac- unless that were to change, it is unlikely SPIRITUALITY: THEOL...
...But way of life-one that reflects a particular Dr...
...MA, passages in the book when he speaks elo- has written with a sense that the success MS(Ed), APD(post MA...
...But if that is ac- Your mentor: Fr...
...we had all that strong a sense of solidari- days than just accepting whatever happens HOSPITAL CPE...
...bonds that have mattered to the people of forces-something Walzer is wary of Your mentors: Dr...
...cepted as the last word, the problem he -bibl., liturg., systematic...
...PEACE AND JUSTICE...
...mold," saying that it's illiberal and there- THEOLOGICAL RENEWAL...
...thing deeper than just a lack of opportu- -analysis of social issues social ministry and education What it has not done, however, is pro- nities for participation that prevents the PARISH/PASTORAL MINISTRY...
...To hear some people talk, this Fortunately, however, these are not our Because the culture has been as open and is the last thing any real democrat would only options...
...So the character of what a time when the democratic cause is being closely linked with the cultivation of "difference," it is easy to get the idea there is something inherently antidemocratic about any sort of concern with cultural sameness...
...is for the happy few-though not so happy ing with the challenge posed by cultural The Marx who might be able to analyze if Bromwich's pained gravity is any in- pluralism...
...to their ethnic roots is fading...
...And refreshment in community poses for democratic practice...
...Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to be reminded of what is happening these days to the new democratic regimes of Eastern and Central Europe...
Vol. 120 • April 1993 • No. 7
