The Propaganda that Shapes the USA | What German Students Learn about the Melting Pot Myth

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

As always, sources for all of my claims can be found in my public spreadsheet clickable through my main page. Additional resources are also provided for learning and exploring more 💚 Also, thank you all for the support while figure out my style and get everything setup. I know I have a long way to go in production quality, but this is a good place to start as I ramp up to potentially making videos more in the modern KZbin style.

[@The-Central-Scrutinizer]

It would be great if you could do a video on Trumps campaign website as a example. But whatever you use as a example, everything you do to educate people is awesome.

[@sangha1486]

I think you got the Melting Pot a bit wrong. The play wasn't about assimilation; It was about how immigrants affected how we defined America by comparing it to what happens to a molten metal when you add another metal to it - you get an alloy that's even stronger than the original metals by themselves. It was not until later on that the Melting pot became about assimilation, a bit of propaganda aided by the fact that few people actually read the work

[@captain_context9991]

Well done.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

You bring up a great point about the melting pot metaphor creating something stronger through blending. I agree the play celebrates the transformative power of diversity, but I also think it leans heavily into the idea of assimilation. David’s vision in the play talks about immigrants leaving behind Old World divisions and identities to become part of a unified American culture. While that sounds idealistic, it aligns with the idea of assimilation-immigrants adapting to fit a singular American identity rather than keeping distinct cultural traditions. I have some sources in my reference sheet that break this down, as there is a good Course Hero overview on this as well. I also think you’re spot on about how the metaphor evolved over time. The play’s more nuanced vision of shared transformation has often been reframed in modern rhetoric to focus even more on conformity.

[@sangha1486]

@usa.mom.in.germany thanks for the response The Melting Pot is not a polemic. It's a story about millions of people with diverse experiences and POVs. It's inarguable that many immigrants struggled to "fit in" but the authors point is that regardless of their desires, their actions would lead to the forging of a New American.

[@gornser]

I sincerely hope this reaches the intended audience

[@captain_context9991]

Thats the thing. The people that needs to hear these things, never do. And while people like us see it, were not the people that needs to.

[@dux_bellorum]

It will also be hard because us Americans and the ones that need to hear this, won't be able to process it and won't want to hear it. Hence why the book is banned here in the US.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

I would kindly disagree. I think a quick scroll through the comments demonstrates that this has already reached a diverse audience 💚

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@dux_bellorum What book? If it's banned, I want it.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@captain_context9991 That's why people like us need to spread it.

[@helloworld9044]

The melting pot idea is also teached in Peru. It always felt nice, but also sad as Peru has a lot of native americans and the melting pot is also about the erosion of their culture. I don't think is totally bad or a totally good idea, but is definitely an oversimplification. It never felt like forced assimilation in Peru, it was more like a pot that melts cultures slowly.

[@cl12617]

This channel needs 330 million more subscribers

[@dux_bellorum]

Absolutely

[@The-Central-Scrutinizer]

Being a person with Mi'kmaq heritage I appreciate your speaking truth about colonization.

[@Shellyshocked]

My great great aunt and great great grandmother were Mi'kmaq and came from a reservation near Canada. I have really old photos of them. I always wished I had learned more about my heritage.

[@leeames9063]

That is something I have always pointed out. What reason does any multiple gun owning U.S. citizen have to be afraid of migrants? As a Seneca Indian and 24 year U.S. Army Veteran, I am not afraid of white supremacist ass hats or Christian Nationalists because I own and have been well trained in the use of firearms. However, I prefer not to but will if threaten or anyone harms my family and friends. How can people who supposedly own firearms let politicians convince them to be scared of migrants, most who are just wanting a better life for themselves and their families. And as for borders, borders do not make a country, it is the people who make a country.

[@charlybravo1354]

@@leeames9063 well, actually it is people plus borders plus state powers which make a country ^^

[@mapratt]

Making also the point that every white person in this nation is an immigrant.

[@DanielleWhite]

It was so peculiar when I lived in northeastern Pennsylvania when a lot of the immigration politics kicked off with a city in the region (Hazleton which tried via a law regulating housing.) I heard a lot of arguments about how the problem is "immigrants not assimilating, instead holding onto their languages and traditions" while living in a place where elderly first generation Irish, Italian, Polish and Russian immigrants were a large part of the population and still embraced their languages and traditions which the aforementioned complainers saw as "American traditions." My favorite specific incident was what there was a Latin American Food Festival at a park in Scranton which garnered criticism of "why do they need to have their own food festival? Why can't they just go to La Festa Italiana like everyone else?" - an annual Italian food and culture festival held on the streets around the county courthouse downtown.

[@Shellyshocked]

I live in a small town where every year there's an Italian festival held for an entire week. They celebrate coming to America on their boats and so on. Yet those same Italian immigrants are some of the most racist people you will meet. I'll hear them bashing on people of color and complaining about the border, all while celebrating their own immigration to America, and it was not done legally, lol. They migrated during a time when it was easier to get away with it.

[@hippychicken82]

Excellent video , look forward to the next one 💗

[@mojojuicejoe1]

As always, this was an excellent mini lecture

[@benyomovod6904]

Nobody in German school tells you about HOAs, healthcare, and the other not so nice stuff. Land of the free, what a joke

[@SimonBellaMondo]

HOAs are way down low on the list of issues. First world problems.

[@charlybravo1354]

@@benyomovod6904 that's basic stuff from English education in German schools.

[@kenjones102]

Thank you for your service. The same myth is a hallmark of Canadian culture.

[@digitaljanus]

In high school I remember being taught we were a "cultural mosaic", to distinguish ourselves from the American melting plot, because we let immigrants keep their culture instead of expecting assimilation. This is of course, a myth and propaganda as well.

[@dux_bellorum]

I wonder if the same is true for NZ, and Australia as well since our countries (I'm from the US but including the 5 eye countries) all have a British colonial past and because of that have that superiority complex left over from our being British. For example, some of our republican lawmakers tried making an Anglo-Saxon caucus, which drew a lot of heat because at its core, it was founded on racial superiority from being.....British decent.

[@gingerredshoes]

The ad that ran before this video was for a film that's definitely propaganda meant to normify war in the US and Americans turning on each other for basic needs. 😐

[@WestCoastProf]

Immigrant crisis is a hoax, but when I suggest that mass shootings pose a greater threat, I am called un-American. By the way, nice sweater, good outfit for this video.

[@dinahnicest6525]

In 1999, when I was in the process of bringing my Chinese fiance over here, I attended an AFL-CIO event. An old friend told me to "Talk to him", pointing to an aide for our congress person. Among the things he told me was that Republicans have always restricted immigration because when they become citizens, they tend to vote Democratic. No one mentions this. I think that's because the Rs don't want to tell them to vote Blue, and the Dems don't want to dare them to try voting for someone else (like they've been doing to the working class for decades).

[@ianstuart5660]

👍👍

[@SimonBellaMondo]

You’re a hoax.

[@naridadragons3089]

I'm a grad student studying the history of North American propaganda. Thank you so much for putting these videos out, they're so important right now

[@brentweaver3092]

Can I move to Germany? We are now in a German 1930’s moment here in the USA. Ish…. Gonna be a long 4 years!

[@benyomovod6904]

Get your passport and collect info about Canada and Europe. It feels good to see as last one US citizen that realized the severity of the situation

[@SimonBellaMondo]

The fact that you said, “Gonna be a long 4 years” means you know it’s not a 1930s moment. 🙄

[@Thank.the.cosmos]

@@SimonBellaMondolong 4 years = more than just the 4 years elected = dictatorship.

[@SimonBellaMondo]

@@Thank.the.cosmos That’s a stretch. People use the phrase, “it’s gonna be a long day” meaning it’s going to be a difficult day, not to mean, the day is going to last longer than 24 hours.

[@charlybravo1354]

@@brentweaver3092 you are free to apply for a visa for Germany.

[@Buc-eesGurl]

From Oklahoma. Keep teaching and preaching.

[@captain_context9991]

From over here in very, very civilized Norway... Those are very different things. Teaching and preaching.

[@dinahnicest6525]

Unfortunately, I think you're preaching to the choir. But #*@#!! someone has to preach this stuff to someone. Louder!!!! please.

[@bonniebrush94]

We are really good at looking at a group or ethnicity, instead of individuals, thereby "hating" and fearing everyone in a group. It would be great if textbooks like the one you referenced were available here. Thanks for your insights!

[@davishropshire5361]

Interesting that the “Melting Pot” idea came about right around the same time as the movie “Birth of A Nation” (shown at the White House during the Woodrow Wilson Administration, and lauded by the president himself). American history is replete with examples of declarations of “who” is considered “American,” almost at the same time as it is also “dog whistling” who is NOT (nowadays it’s a fog horn).

[@dqan7372]

We're more a jumble of salads drenched in ranch dressing.

[@danielalveorodriguez7177]

not even that. We are just consummers or proletariat. period

[@dqan7372]

@@danielalveorodriguez7177 nonsense

[@krystleyoung5328]

This video is amazing! Thank you so much.

[@johnnypetro9314]

From the video: "Immigrants work in areas that rely on cheap labor like the construction business and restaurants. Their illegal status makes it impossible for them to rise and leave the underclass of the poor." A couple points: 1) Immigrants come to the U.S. because they believe that life in the U.S. will be better than in their home country. 2) The 14th Amendment of the Constitution says that children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens. It seems likely that the succeeding generations born to illegal immigrants will quickly catch up to their U.S.-born peers. We know this regarding legal immigrants: "Both today and in the past, many immigrants earn less than U.S.-born workers upon first arrival and do not completely catch up in a single generation. But their children do. No matter when their parents came to the U.S. or what country they came from, children of immigrants have higher rates of upward mobility than their U.S.-born peers. What’s more, their rates of mobility today are strikingly similar to rates of mobility in the past." Abramitzky, Ran, Leah Boustan, Elisa Jacome and Santiago Perez. 2021. "Intergenerational Mobility of Immigrants in the United States over Two Centuries." American Economic Review, 111 (2): 580-608.

[@HenryClavo]

I guess the way it is used as propaganda, using Chomsky’s framework, ex: increase in housing costs, strain on budgets that would better serve veterans and U.S citizens. That is one example.

[@johnnypetro9314]

​@@HenryClavo As I understand things immigrants in the U.S. are typically less strain on social welfare programs than native-born. From the CATO Institute: "Based on data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, we find that immigrants consumed 21 percent less welfare and entitlement benefits than native-born Americans on a per capita basis in 2020."

[@danielalveorodriguez7177]

Immigrants are a) more likely to live in poverty than US born citizens, b) they are more likely (by a lot) to be low income earners c) immigrants from Asia and Central and South America earn less than half the income of US natives. There's a reason why nativist sentiment is great in the US. because they tie immigrants with poverty and low class status.

[@CharlesDeBoer-j1h]

Excellent!

[@RustyDust101]

First off: another great video. More long form videos, please. Second: the melting pot myth refers to an alloy that is stronger than its individual metals. However from my experience, the USA is more like a fruitcake. Delicious when it works together and baked well. However under any kind of pressure it crumbles and falls apart into its constituent parts. Nuts, orange peels, and all the other components become unglued and separate. It's also easy to cut apart by someone wielding the sharp knife of incendiary rhetoric or fear mongering. Fear has been the dominant factor in US politics over the last 70 years. The Red Scare under McCarthyism in the 50's and 60's. Communism taking over the world, hippies and drug abuse, rock songs and supposed links to Satanism or self-unaliving (see how censored that word has become since then?) trends. The threat of M.A.D. (mutually assured destruction). Supposed demon worship in roleplaying games. Drug cartels, violence, stranger danger, supposed weapons of mass destruction in the 90's when the Soviet Union collapsed and the convenient communist threat dropped away. The war on drugs was created as a new scarecrow to scare the US public into conveniently looking at its internal systemic problems. Supposedly black rebellion in LA leading to chaos. Then 9.11. offered another huge opportunity to scare the US citizens, this time with something that wouldn't inconveniently vanish by glasnost and perestroika: the war on terrorism. Terrorism is available whenever you need it. Declare something a terrorist act, boom, the public cries out about it. Even when it barely rates as noteworthy in everyday crimes (cough, Luigi, cough). Immigrants, legal or illegal, have been lampooned by South Park ("They're taking our jobs!") since at least the mid 2000's. Still, drug cartels, crime rates, immigrants, 'evil, nasty Islamic fundamentalists' (note my air quote), and convenient scapegoats among the world's countries like Iran, Iraq, Lybia, Syria, North Korea, Russia, etc. Wait long enough, everybody gets their time in the 'scary enemy ' limelight. As long as they keep the attention away from the US internal problems, fear sources are a great distraction. Point out the scary enemy du jour, and the great USA will be saved again by the heroes of the day. However that works only so long as people are still at least moderately content with quality of their lives. As long as they have something worth loosing that the current enemy can be pointed to and claimed to have their eyes on, then the US public will swallow it hook, line, and sinker, no matter how ridiculous it is. But when the American citizens have been pushed so far that they feel the cold, hard walls of reality hemming them in, with no more room to retreat, then they have _nothing_ more to loose by actually facing reality. If it is less painful to rip off the mountain of band-aids patched over their souls rather than drink the convenient Kool-Aid of a public enemy, then the entire system starts to wobble. That's the point the USA has reached right now. The people are angry, desperate, often hopeless, and beaten down, literally and figuratively. Be scared, you oligarchs, be very, very scared. The masses in the USA are beginning to recognize that without them, the system doesn't work. Oligarchs hoarding wealth without doing something worthwhile with it that improves the lives of society are becoming targets of the fear they have sown over decades. People are so afraid to loose the last vestiges of their dignity that they are willing to ask the big question:"Why am I getting less than 1/1000th of the CEO of the company I slave away my life on? Why do I allow myself to be disregarded and disrespected?"

[@mojojuicejoe1]

This was a good read.

[@charlybravo1354]

@@RustyDust101 to be fair, the Communist Bloc actually would have liked to take over the world. They just have not been able to do so... among other things because of the US.

[@jaxn1221]

A great lecture, presented very well.

[@TravelTechie415]

there's a reason why this returning administration will do everything possible to abolish the department of education, it's embarrassing

[@dux_bellorum]

Yup

[@AmateurHistorian999]

How does that relate to this video?

[@TravelTechie415]

@@AmateurHistorian999 because they're studying our current political climate .. hit replay button, turn the volume higher, and close captioning

[@john-wiggains]

Wonderful video - thank you for sharing. Subbed!

[@1972Ray]

It's not a melting pot, it's more of a mosaic. Human Nature keeps it form being a melting pot, but the US is easily the most diverse nation, religiously, ethnically and racially, and for the most part, everyone gets along. There's a definite assimilation of other cultures to the American lifestyle, but most groups surround themselves with like people.

[@ksenss2513]

Judging by what my kids do at school, they also compare the US to what happened/ happens in Germany / Europe for a bigger picture.

[@mcy1122]

Excellent lecture! Organized, methodical, and clear. Thanks for the strong analysis. As an educator, I can only guess at the significant time this took you to prepare -let alone the additional editing and other work in making it a KZbin video.🙏🏽

[@carnivorepolice5-0]

It would be interesting to see american propaganda versus german propaganda.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

I second that. I know the Nazi propaganda pretty well, and I'd like to see you (channel host) compare and contrast.

[@RoseRedRoseWhite]

@@AmateurHistorian999 German propaganda is not Nazi propaganda, WTH?

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@RoseRedRoseWhite Right you are. My bad, and I apologize to the OP. The U.S.'s current level of political propaganda makes me think more of comparing it to the Nazi regime than to present-day Germany.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@RoseRedRoseWhite Right you are. My bad, and I apologize to the OP.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@RoseRedRoseWhite The comparison to Nazi propaganda seemed more true to life.

[@d8bn]

Thank you.

[@_dot_]

as a german, i never learned this in school. however it aligns largely with how i view the debate in the united states. what's the name of the book you found this in? we used access, i also know of green line, is it that?

[@danielalveorodriguez7177]

she wrote the book

[@jennyh4025]

Nice work! I just hope that German students still learn how to spot propaganda in German before they finish school. I know I had to live through years and years of „how did Hitler rise up and what kind of language and propaganda helped this?“ in school.

[@anitapownall9556]

I am sure they are. But you are missing the point. Americans don't see how WE are falling for propaganda.

[@captain_context9991]

This is exactly the thing. Germany has taken a big hard stand against what happened back in the 30s and 40s. And are therefore teaching their kids how to correctly address propaganda and misinformation in schools... But today a good 90% of that type of craziness comes from one place. From predominantly American social media. They are learning about it in English class because thats where it is. Not because they have an "anti-america course"

[@krystleyoung5328]

Thank you so much for doing this!! I really appreciate it. I just started this video, but I would also love good reading sources about the topic you're talking about in each video to further our knowledge.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

I have them listed as Additional Resources on my spreadsheet. Same for the last video. I’ll start mentioning that in the actual video, perhaps 🙂

[@krystleyoung5328]

@usa.mom.in.germany thank you so much! The video is great. I shared it on BlueSky

[@JessicaLeist-oh9go]

Right?! How sad to say the least for Americans.

[@raineramelung7380]

..think...all the immigrants ,has comeing without a permission of the native American tribes.????

[@AmateurHistorian999]

Very much looking forward to your video on the "American dream." I'm impressed with Germany for studying U.S. propaganda in school. It's completely appropriate to understand this aspect of the country that dominates the world. I wonder how many other countries do that? My metaphor for immigration is a chunky stew rather than a melting pot. New people come and add their flavor to the stew, but they stay distinct and recognizable. I completely prefer stew; it tastes great, and I can choose a piece to savor more fully.

[@shalinib108]

Q: what age are the students who are studying this content? Just curious…

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

These are students in the 11th -13th grades. Keep in mind this is in the their English (2nd language) courses.

[@dux_bellorum]

Fun fact in Scandinavian countries, children start learning how to spot misinformation and disinformation in elementary school. Primarily because of Russia and Trump.... 🙄

[@AmateurHistorian999]

​@@dux_bellorum Excellent!

[@PDZ1122]

In the US, you're ok if you're from Irish, German or Scandinavian descent. Italians are kind of ok, as long as they acknowledge their inferior status. The rest are basically Untermenschen in the eyes of most Americans.

[@5alpha23]

Nice summary. I would have liked you to ask the central, essential question you rightfully propagate in your last video: Why? Why is it that this is the reality? Who's gaining from the fact that the public thinks this way? On the other hand, you'd be treading dangerous ground, given _where_ you'd post this. I'm trying to keep things neutral as most of my comments keep "vanishing" recently.

[@dinahnicest6525]

My comments mysteriously disappear also, especially left-leaning political ones.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

I really appreciate your encouragement to go deeper with the “why” behind the Melting Pot myth and who benefits from it. You’re absolutely right that understanding the motivations is central to unpacking these narratives. In this video, I attempted to discuss this when highlighting how the Melting Pot myth functions as propaganda. For example, pointing out how it creates a narrative of broad inclusivity while reinforcing exclusionary practices. However, I could have more directly pointed out that this serves the interests of those looking to maintain power structures that rely on selective inclusion. However, discussing that those that contribute economically are embraced while marginalizing others may get at the same concept. I’ll keep this in mind for future content and see how I can explore these questions more directly. And sorry about your comments. I promise I only delete comments that are outright harassment or misinformation.

[@5alpha23]

This level of integrity is unheard of. I'm blown away and left speechless. You're very special, I hope you realize that. Sending lots of love from a different part of Germany! ♥️

[@The-Central-Scrutinizer]

Same here, even when they just contain compliments. Meanwhile others that are harassing and demeaning and worse, get cart blanch. Then replies that only the poster can see but nobody else can. I wouldn't say anything if it wasn't for the fact communication is our most powerful tool.

[@5alpha23]

@@dinahnicest6525 Careful there...

[@laid-backmonster1881]

interesting that you say the German students are taught this way already....I know that this is going to the direction of politics, unfortunately. But what do you think about the rise of AfD in the context of the same propaganda teachings? I'd assume the Germans during school had learned the same techniques that you're talking about, and should've recognized what they're trying to do, by stoking the fear against immigrants. But why would they still choose that far right? Why not the rest of the parties in the Bundestag? If it's dissatisfaction against the incumbent traffic light party, why not just go back to CDU/CSU? And instead choose a party that unfortunately is more catered towards xenophobia? BTW, interestingly, if you learned the history of AfD, they're actually that, an "Alternative for Germany" and was originally a much more libertarian party, more so than the yellow party (FDP), and grew as...well, alternative, to Merkel's politics. Kinda like how BSW now got made. But then there was internal strife, and the original people who had made AfD got put to the side, and the more...anti-immigrant ones became center stage.

[@irminschembri8263]

Problem here ? Germany has SIXTEEN different school systems as education is a state and not a federal law due to historic reasons. You might have noticed which German states are more prone to lean to the right politically. Sadly our democracy couldn't eadicate over 40 years of dictatorship and indoctrination in the East as easily as we hoped for. Don't forget that most of the teachers in the East who had studied there couldn't be replaced by those who grew up and studied in a democracy. The federal state oversees the curriculae but it was and is up the teacher to tranfer the contents to the student.

[@SfromWisconsin]

Because America was so focused on being a "melting pot," most white Europeans lost their heritage in the quest to quickly become "American." My relatives came from 6 different countries, but were fully "Americanized" by the time my parents were born. The last relative who spoke their native language was my great grandma who died when I was a baby.. I only know one white family who hung onto their heritage (even performing German dances). The rest of us have a bland "typical white American" culture. I was always drawn to newer Americans who held onto their heritage. I've had friends from many different countries, and over the years, I learned more about their heritages than I did of my own. Some of my friends included me in their family gatherings, where I learned traditional dances, ate their wonderful food, and learned some phrases in their languages. I only know the names of and some facts about my ancestors.

[@treetea]

I first learned “the melting pot” was a lie while taking an inclusivity training for volunteering at a dance. It was disheartening especially since I had the positive associations from a children’s program called “School House Rock.”

[@carnivorepolice5-0]

I was taught about the melting pot, but not in any way that you have described, i was taught in the 90s that it was an ideal to try to live up to, but the reality is that different cultures while they can coexist to a point will often clash as core beliefs are different.

[@gaycryptidhours]

Wow, I wish I had been taught that. I was taught a fairy tail of a pioneering society that accepts everyone, hard to swallow as my ancestors were killed for their land here.

[@Wwooaah]

She got that Dennis Quaid mouff

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

I have Bells Palsy. You should consider not commenting on people’s appearances.

[@danielalveorodriguez7177]

Wow. How rude.That is a bad look, and really bad form to mock others for their appearance.

[@Wwooaah]

Compared to a celebrity.... offended

[@jeffdietz572]

please speak more slowley. thanks

[@davishropshire5361]

You can control the speed in the upper right corner of the video

[@RoseRedRoseWhite]

as someone who recently had one: if it's been awhile don't forget a hearing check, if you're able to.

[@gooldog]

U.S. Americans. 😂 It never gets old

[@MichiganFresh]

We aren't the only country of the American continents. It's selfish ignorance to think US citizens are the only Americans.

[@davidvernon3119]

Personally i love Aly’s perspective, but we should address the elephant in the room. She is delivering an anti-propaganda propaganda. Oh… the irony

[@wora1111]

Well, she is fighting fire with fire ...

[@thomaspelletier7790]

Ally may have personal opinions she hopes to further, but this is by definition not propaganda. It contains no appeal to emotion or moral stance other than being against propaganda. Where did she say America's exclusionary practices are bad? She probably thinks so, big all this video serves to do, is expose the myth for what it is: propaganda inconsistent with what America is actually like. Every time someone with a strong person opinion on the matter explains aspects of reality inconsistent with our state mythos is not propaganda. Having a bias is not the same as propagandizing. She's also pointing out how the melting pot myth is used to serve political goals by influencing us.

[@1972Ray]

@@thomaspelletier7790 MY issue is why German Vs the US? Every video this woman does is pro Germany and anti USA, I believe because it gets clicks. Germany is a tiny country, that has it's own history of government doing wrong, yet it's somehow about the US. Sorry, I love the US and I feel very fortunate to have been born here.

[@danielalveorodriguez7177]

Wow. How's what she's saying propaganda? Serious question. Is she telling you lies? on purpose?

[@Brian-bw3uu]

It's bizarre that you think it's wrong for a nation to "selectively decide" who is part of their country. Nations by nature are exclusive. Now you can criticize the US for that, but you better criticize every other nation on Earth as well

[@anitapownall9556]

It is aimed at Americans because she is trying to inform US about how WE can distinguish propaganda. Clearly, we can't, or we wouldn't have MAGA threatening our country's well-being.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

In this video, I am not criticizing the U.S. for making selective decisions (though I could in some ways, but that would be for another video). Instead, I am critiquing the Melting Pot myth for presenting a narrative of broad inclusivity while simultaneously marginalizing those striving to be part of the American identity, pushing them outside the bounds of what is deemed truly "American."

[@captain_context9991]

But thats not what America promises... Back in the day they called America the "melting pot", today they say "Diversity is our strength". Put that line into Google or KZbin and you will see every single politician proudly telling us that. While the exact opposite is often true. What you are talking about is white supremacy or wild nationalism. And how it should be natural and to be expected of a country. And this idea that every other country is "just the same, or worse" is exactly that american exceptionalism talk, isnt it.

[@SimonBellaMondo]

@@usa.mom.in.germany The melting pot was always about people who immigrated to our country legally, NOT people who jumped across the border. That’s the part that you’re missing.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

We addressed this early in the video discussing how the U.S. was built on illegal immigration, but has built an identity using the melting pot to exclude people who seek American identity in the same way today.

[@SimonBellaMondo]

I’ve literally never heard anyone mention the term “melting pot” since history class in high school. You spend so much time analyzing something that was more relevant 100 years ago. Even your modern examples don’t mention anything about America being a melting pot.

[@johnwalsh1774]

Melting pot is a modern term. I've heard numerous times throughout the 2000s and late 90s. You will more likely hear it when referring to a gentrified area.

[@captain_context9991]

So you got stuck on that single use of a word instead of what was being said? Today, instead of "melting pot", they say things like "Diversity is our strength" Put that line into Google or KZbin and you will see.

[@usa.mom.in.germany]

Why you may not directly hear the phrase Melting Pot, this video is not about the use of those words specifically. It is about how the myth of the Melting Pot - its ideas, rhetorical strategies, and contradictions - are still very much embedded in our discussion of immigration today as well as how it ties back into the greater national story of the American Dream, which is still repeated in our propaganda daily.

[@SimonBellaMondo]

@captain_context9991 No, not just a single term, it’s the subject of the video. Her modern examples are about illegal immigration, not anything to do with America being a melting pot. Diversity is good but illegal immigration is a different issue than diversity.

[@richardlangellotti6208]

As George Carlin once said, "it's called the American dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it."

[@peter_meyer]

Excellent!