Rudy Vargas IV (CR, Dec. 24) would have us add another vile word to the modern lexicon, “Americanize.” While putting forth his argument for cultural diversity, he seems to forget the Americanization of this country is one of the reasons so many people from various cultures have desired to live and work here.
The strength of this country is that while respecting the cultural background of our citizens, we become great when we work together as Americans. Unfortunately, the promotion of cultural diversity has supplanted the concept of working together for the common good.
I find it interesting that Vargas found it necessary to repeat the sentence “We are called to evangelize, not Americanize; we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us,” as if Americanization is somehow not being Christ-like. I strongly differ – if we would get back to the idea of “E Pluribus Unum,” “Out of many, one,” there would be a place at the table for everyone.