Democracy is premised, in some measure, on majority rule, and democracy is difficult in a situation of concentrated inequalities in which a large, impoverished majority confronts a small, wealthy oligarchy. Samuel P. Huntington More Quotes by Samuel P. Huntington More Quotes From Samuel P. Huntington The core of the American set of beliefs has remained pretty constant. Samuel P. Huntington core constant belief The larger society has to recognize some degree of autonomy for the minority: the right to practice their own religion and way of life and to some extent their language. Samuel P. Huntington minorities degrees practice If one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence came back today, he would not be surprised about what Americans were saying and believing and articulating in their public statements. It would all sound rather familiar. Samuel P. Huntington independence sound believe Many of the most difficult questions concerning the role of ethnic minorities centers on language. Samuel P. Huntington difficult-questions minorities roles Also, of course, for most of this time most Americans thought of America as a white country with, at best, only a very segregated and subordinate role for blacks. Samuel P. Huntington white country america Well, I think the United States first of all has to recognize the world for what it is. Samuel P. Huntington usa united-states thinking The other aspect of American identity worth focusing on is the concept of America as a nation of immigrants. That certainly is a partial truth. But it is often assumed to be the total truth. Samuel P. Huntington nation identity truth america The West hasn't reached its universal state as yet, although its close to it, but it certainly has evolved out of its warring state phase, which it was in for a couple of centuries. Samuel P. Huntington phase close out universal And so in terms of territorial control, in terms of economic preeminence, the western share of the gross world product is declining as Asian societies in particular develop economically. Samuel P. Huntington product control economic world The great problem there is we have to have the cooperation of those other Asian countries. Samuel P. Huntington great cooperation asian problem Total falsehoods can be easily exposed for what they are by citing exceptions to their claims. Hence, they are less likely to be accepted as the total truth. Samuel P. Huntington exceptions less exposed truth We also thought of ourselves in racial and largely ethnic terms. Samuel P. Huntington ethnic ourselves racial thought The British were white, English, and Protestant, just as we were. They had to have some other basis on which to justify independence, and happily they were able to formulate the inalienable truths set forth in the Declaration. Samuel P. Huntington english some independence white Immigrants are people who leave one country, one society, and move to another society. But there has to be a recipient society to which the immigrants move. Samuel P. Huntington leave society country people They weren't immigrating to some existing society; indeed, they often did whatever they could do to destroy whatever existed here in the way of Indian society. Samuel P. Huntington whatever some society way It was this society and culture that among other things - including economic opportunities here and repression in Europe - attracted subsequent generations of immigrants to this country. Samuel P. Huntington immigrants society country culture First of all, we haven't always welcomed immigrants. Samuel P. Huntington first-of-all first always immigrants Finally, in my critique of the immigration image of America, it is also important to know that we're not only a nation of immigrants, but we are in some part a nation of emigrants, which often gets neglected. Samuel P. Huntington nation know important america Mexican immigration poses challenges to our policies and to our identity in a way nothing else has in the past. Samuel P. Huntington identity challenges way past Much of what we now consider to be problems concerning immigration and assimilation really concern Mexican immigration and assimilation. Samuel P. Huntington problems now mexican immigration
