Is assimilation a dirty word? Let’s have a good think about this.

People have been crossing borders for years, taking with them cultures, traditions, religions and foods. I for one feel hugely enriched by living in a multi cultural world, and choose to live in a county where individuals are free to choose their religion and express their views: ‘Equal opportunity for individuals, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background’ (Australian government values statement). Assimilation implies a softening of these differences, a melting pot, a loss of identity in order to make a homogenised society. Integration on the other hand is a different word entirely. Integration implies working together, harmoniously, seeing beyond religion or ethnicity, retaining what is unique.

There have been many examples world wide of ghettoisation, where people have emigrated and stuck together in one geographical area forming a mini exclusive society. I can’t think of any examples where this has worked. It only reinforces differences instead of similarities and has served to build fear and ignorance. Riots have tended to be in areas of ghettos, Brixton, UK 1981 and 1985; Oldham, UK 2001; Cronulla, Australia 2005; Redfern, Australia 2004. All were race related. In these areas there was clearly neither assimilation nor integration. (I do realise there are many complex reasons as to why these riots happened, which are too deep to go into in this short piece).

As a recent immigrant myself, UK to Australia, I know how difficult it is, yet I believe I have integrated extremely well. I have not though, and will not assimilate. I live like a local, I love exploring the Aussie lifestyle and adapting to it. I have joined the local library and devour Australian literature and history, I volunteer at a community garden. I go to the beach in my ‘thongs’ and bbq ‘snags’ and drink ‘chardy’. I love the differences and embrace them. Yet, I will retain my englishness, I am english, I will never be anything but and it is important to me to retain that. I believe we can all bring something to the world table, and can learn so much from different cultures and life experiences, but we must keep our own individual identity and hang on to what makes us unique.

In my view assimilation IS a dirty word if you are talking about making a single view society, but integration on the other hand is a word to celebrate, to shout from the roof tops and to strive towards achieving for the betterment of all.