Assimilation Nation

Published on November 21, 2005

“‘What’s happening now in the Islamic community is very similar to what was happening in the 1920s and ’30s…with the Jewish community.'” No, not persecution. Cultural assimilation, via the Boy Scouts of America, the requirements of which — an adherence to faith and what director of the organization’s relationship describes as religious ideas, such as […]

“‘What’s happening now in the Islamic community is very similar to what was happening in the 1920s and ’30s…with the Jewish community.'” No, not persecution. Cultural assimilation, via the Boy Scouts of America, the requirements of which — an adherence to faith and what director of the organization’s relationship describes as religious ideas, such as being clean, helpful, obedient and trustworthy — Washington Post reporter Tara Bahrampour says are both attractive to Muslim parents and helpful to Muslim kids who feel torn between their religious background and American culture. Besides, Bahrampour notes, scouting doesn’t just help integrate the kids, but photogenic Muslim Girl Scouts can also help national P.R. campaigns “‘show Muslims as regular people.'” Cynicism for pre-holiday feel-good stories aside, what does it mean that the story, and to some extent the Scout’s policies, seem to enforce an understanding of diversity that encourages faith, in any form, as an uncomplicated good, but is less open to “cultural” traditions of the secular sort — like headscarves or other potentially alienating dress — that can’t be folded into the melting pot so easily and should therefore perhaps be abandoned. Is it just the common, current veneration for all expressions of “faith,” or a sort of token acceptance of faith differences that passes for diversity?

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