America: A Nation Set Apart

Paper Summary:

This paper asserts that the differences between the peoples of America are what comprise America's unique culture and provide a basis for discussing the distinction between multiculturalism and Daniel Boorstin's "American Exceptional-ism." It examines how Boorstin believes the country's rich heritage is unique and even set apart from others in that it is the combination of a variety of cultural backgrounds, social beliefs, and personal experiences.

From the Paper:

"While Boorstin's American exceptionalism is very optimistic and makes an effort to promote equality, taking account for each and every individual, there are many who argue such an all-encompassing view of American culture masses everyone together, disregarding the significant differences in American society. Furthermore, they maintain this view results in a loss of individuality-a surrendering of one's own cultural, ethnic identity. In fact, this line of thinking is nothing more than a revision of the melting pot theory, which carries the implication that all will become the same. Unlike the melting pot theory, the idea of a mosaic accounts for significant divisions along ethnic, gender, and religious lines."

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