Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

112 THE GREEKS IN AMERICAgatherings, people look up to them to act and speak.5 Prominent and successful business men, especiallythose devoted to generous giving.6-—The presidents and other officers of the varioussocieties and clubs. They often sway the membersand friends of their organizations.FORCES OF ASSIMILATIOITAmericanization.—A great deal is being said andwritten regarding the Ainericanization or assimilationof the immigrants that seems strange. Some ofthe heated utterances sound like the nationalistictheories of the Pan-Germans or the Pan-Slavists. Ifthe various races are to be forced to forget all theirracial peculiarities and characteristic customs,usages, and language, and to adopt American ways,instead, the result will be disappointing. Whenevera people is forced to accept, willingly or unwillingly,a certain course of action, the result has usually beenthe opposite of what was desired.But if without being interfered with in their cherishedcustoms, ideas, language and traditions, theyare surrounded with a genial American atmosphereand are given suitable opportunities to learn Ainericanways, ideas, language and institutions ; in short,if they are gradually taught what is good in theirnew surroundings, while they retain what was goodand useful in their former life, all the immigrantswill be Americanized in due time.Even the word ^^Americanization'' sounds strangeto many ears ; it sounds like suppression, force. Letthe immigrant have freedom to contribute his bestto the welfare of America. As the various raceshave brought their national dishes, customs andusages, so let each contribute his peculiar talent andaccomplishment in art, letters or business, thoughhe may be deficient in the knowledge of the Englishlanguage.