A Cultural Mosaic: Multiculturalism in the U.S.A.

Once we were a society and country dominated by Judeo-Christian morality and work ethic. Now we have become a pantheistic, pluralistic society that serves many gods and gives many handouts. We are a dysfunctional, yet multicultural society.

Once described as a melting pot, then as a salad, and now as a mosaic or tapestry with many distinct cultures all meshed together, tolerance and respect are the prescription for peace in America today.

Our nation was first documented to be inhabited by Native Americans, then taken over by white Anglo-Saxon protestants (WASPS), when they split from the Church of England and those loyal to the crown. Then the Protestants split off into Dutch Reformed, Lutherans, Catholics, and further immigration brought Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims. More recently those religions have been joined by Christian Scientists, Scientologists and a multitude of other philosophies. People are making up their own religions on their own, or taking pieces from other religions and meshing them together to create new ones. It's a "whatever makes you happy" outlook on life.

Where is God in an ecumenical, multicultural society? When does tolerance cause us to compromise our Christian beliefs and duty?

I remember stories in the OT of when God would have the Israelites slaughter men, women, children and animals belonging to hostile lands God gave into their possession. What at first sounds harsh, later makes sense when the Israelites disobey God and intermarry with people of other faiths that serve other gods. Bad stuff happens. People that survived war with Israel sought revenge and others turned away from God adopting the religions of foreign lands.

I am a Master of Multicultural Education student. My desire is to see a classroom and curriculum that reflects the cultural backgrounds of all students, but when does equal representation become advocating lifestyles and beliefs that are not my own, that I don't believe should be presented in a positive light?

As an educator it is my job to present all the information and to allow the students to make an informed decision. I am not there to promote my own agenda or to spin so that students see things my way. My duty is to promote tolerance and respect among genders and across cultures. I am a cultural referee and multicultural advocate. I am a safe haven for children from other cultures and non-American backgrounds. I am a cultural bridge-builder across generations and between peoples.

How do I cling to Jesus and continue to be his representative to the world, when my hands are tied in the classroom? What say you?