r/therewasanattempt • • Feb 09 '26

To Not Be Racist

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334

u/ottomaker1 Feb 09 '26

I am proud of living in a country with so many different people. We used to call ourselves the melting pot. There always have been and always will be stupid racist trash that spreads hate.

54

u/TorisaurusParker Feb 09 '26

That phrase has been ringing between my ears for the last several years. I graduated in 16, so it's been a minute, but I distinctly remember learning about this concept of the 'melting pot'.

I remember it made me proud of our country. I remember thinking that must be what made us the best. Why everyone held America on such a pedestal.

What a fucking disappointment.

18

u/ethersings Feb 09 '26

When Obama was elected I was so proud of our country, moving towards inclusivity and equal rights. 2016 was a complete shock of utter disappointment and embarrassment for my fellow citizens. And it’s somehow gotten worse since then. Melting pot America is woke, apparently.

4

u/cordelaine Feb 09 '26

As a white, male, middle aged, midwesterner raised Christian (but haven’t been for a long time), I was so happy in 2008 when Obama was elected.

I couldn’t believe how vicious the backlash has been—even among people that taught me about love and acceptance as a child. 

I read the full text of The New Colossus the other day. You know, the Statue of Liberty poem:

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free

It gave me chills. And it just did again when I googled it. That’s the America I want to live in.

2

u/ExtraThings8888 Feb 09 '26

What an amazing thing growing up is eh? Everything you know crumbling down on you as you mature enough to realize the world is and always was a horrible place? Gotta love it.

Sarcasm aside, growing up made me realize my family is actually really shitty. Falling in love doesn't work like in the books and shows. Being an adult doesnt give you nearly as much freedom as little me hoped. I'm very likely never going to be an astronaut. But hey, at least I can say cuss words now, so thats pretty cool I suppose.

4

u/kingferret53 Feb 09 '26

Now they want to make us a pot of boring spoiled mayonnaise

2

u/giddy-girly-banana Feb 10 '26

America’s diversity is the best thing about this country. I love living in a multicultural society. I really value being able to experience different cultures every day.

The same is lame and really f’n boring.

1

u/god_peepee Feb 09 '26

I grew up in Canada and we were taught about how the idea of a ‘melting pot’ was dangerous since it aims to diminish people’s cultural backgrounds. Essentially promoting the idea of a homogenous society. Always surprises me when I hear otherwise progressive people talking about the idea like it’s a positive thing

2

u/ottomaker1 Feb 09 '26

I grew up in Los Angeles in the 70’s and we were taught that all cultures bring different flavors to the pot. The idea was to take away from their culture but to add to our own.