Culture and Demographics
Re James Pinkerton’s Jan. 2 column, “The Stork Now Delivers a Stark Reality”:
At the beginning Pinkerton writes, “Only a racist would worry about the skin color of upcoming Americans, but if demographics is destiny, then the future will be determined by those who have children, and not those that don’t.” Further, he cited specific examples by writing, “But, of course, there’s not much chance that Italian language and culture will survive such an ethnic occupation.” What gibberish.
I am Jewish; we have been persecuted, murdered and God knows what else over the length of human history. We have not been a majority population in any country, except Israel, and that has been for very short periods throughout history. Have Jewish ideas and culture disappeared? Apparently, he is worried, and whether he likes it or not, for all the wrong reasons.
DAVID M. GAON
Yorba Linda
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Demography is not destiny. The idea that not having babies means the death of a culture is patently false. Culture is not genetic, it is learned, and it changes over time. It is not only learned in the family but in the institutions of society. Italian language and culture did not exist as such before the 18th century. Instead, the peninsula was a patchwork of mutually unintelligible dialects and divergent customs. Hence Garibaldi’s proclamation after the wars of unification: “We have made an Italy; now, we have to make Italians.”
Pinkerton’s assumption that only the wealthy drive evolution is more troubling. Since Pinkerton thinks dredging up outdated social theory is a worthy practice, allow me to recall another. Those opposed to social Darwinism in the 19th century argued for the abolition of inheritance. They reasoned that abolishing this vestige of feudalism would place everyone on an equal playing field. Perhaps we should again consider the insights of these theorists, who thought that real progress would come only through lessening inherited inequalities of wealth, not making sure rich people have lots of babies.
BILL MAURER
Associate Prof. of Anthropology
UC Irvine
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Re Albert Mercado’s Jan. 2 letter, in which he complained about the immigrants “benefiting” from the city’s largess after their Echo Park apartment building collapsed: The only alternative we really have for keeping them out is a fence at the border manned by armed guards. Barring that, which, thank God, we haven’t sunk to yet, they and their children are here in the public school system causing “disarray” because of the special programs they need, according to Mercado. Well, I’ve got news. That’s nothing compared to the disarray in our city and state if we stopped educating them.
Leviticus 19:34 reminds us that “the stranger who dwells among you shall be as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Sometimes we do things because they’re the right things to do and not merely for a financial payout when it’s over.
KATHY HARRIS-ZMUDKA
Moreno Valley