"They shouldn't call it a big melting pot," she said, "we're not melting into each other, we're all unique. Nobody should feel like they have to look or act a certain way to fit in here. If you ask me, we're a giant salad bowl. Because in a salad the ingredients and their flavors don't just blend into one taste, they combine and compliment each other. Each bite is a little different, unique every time."
At such a young age I still didn't fully grasp what my teacher was trying to say, but I knew that what she was saying hit home with me somehow. Looking back, I'm inspired by her words and the truth that they hold. Because of my teacher I grew up seeing the world as a salad bowl, not expecting everyone to be just like me, and hoping that no one would expect me to be just like them.
Hi Allison!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I love your font its adorable! Second, I think your teacher was very valid in making those statements about our world not being a melting pot. It makes complete sense because like you said we are all very unique and have our qualities that separate us from each other. Describing us as a salad is a great metaphor because we are all different yet can coexist. I suggested the metaphor of a box of chocolates with the same concept. We are similar to chocolate because we all have different filling on the inside but are united by our outside shell of “humanity”. These metaphors are much more clever and concise that us just melting together, yet I understand why the concept existed in the first place. It did have a good intention; it was for us to melt in order to be united as one country etc. But these metaphors are a bit clearer and fulfill a better meaning!
What a great metaphor! I would have never thought of this. Everyone always associates America with being a ‘melting pot’ because everything is mixed together. However, when something is melted together, it all becomes one thing. Your teacher is very right; no one should have to blend to be one thing. A salad bowl is a great metaphor because it is a blend of many different things and each flavor compliments the others. America is like this because it is a ton of different cultures mixing together. Each culture is different and can complement each other. I enjoyed reading your post this week!
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