Topics Ethics

Question Do immigrants to a new culture have an obligation to assimilate? (To adopt the prevailing language, etc.) Many people seem to think that it is not only in the interest of immigrants to do so, but that they must do so.

Accepted:
July 3, 2011

Comments

I don't think so, but on the other hand it seems perfectly acceptable to me for a country to insist that they do. After all, it is within the rights of a country, like any other organization, to say what rules it wants following by those seeking admission. A degree of assimilation would help make the potential citizens fit in more easily and be more useful, and since the country that is conferring citizenship on them need not do so, it is entitled to demand something in return.

It is a bit like visiting someone else's house. In my own house I can do more or less as I like, but in someone else's house I should follow whatever rules they want to apply, within reason. If they want me to remove my shoes it is not a good response to say that I don't in my house, since I am not in my house.

Question Do immigrants to a new culture have an obligation to assimilate? (To adopt the prevailing language, etc.) Many people seem to think that it is not only in the interest of immigrants to do so, but that they must do so. Accepted:July 3, 2011

Question Do immigrants to a new culture have an obligation to assimilate? (To adopt the prevailing language, etc.) Many people seem to think that it is not only in the interest of immigrants to do so, but that they must do so.

Accepted:
July 3, 2011