By Father Eugene Hemrick
Yeshua Institute Fellow
I am an American brought up in an Italian-Irish environment and blessed to have had wonderful friends of varying nationalities: Venetian, African-American, Mexican-American and of Polish and German heritage.
The multicultural experiences emerging from these relationships propelled me into understanding a wider world -- and the vast treasures it contains -- than my own personal circumstances would have otherwise allowed.
I visited my grandmother’s farm in Ireland and learned how the potato famine -- and brutal hostilities during that ordeal -- wiped out much of the Irish population. Those who survived attributed it to their faith in God.
While cycling through Germany, it was common to enjoy discussions on world events and especially trying to understand how to deal with our nuclear age.
My African-American friend taught me firsthand the dreadful effects of racism that he had experienced personally.
My Italian mother schooled me in the Italian saying “uh fa” -- which translates “bury the hatchet, life is too short to spend it on foolish resentments.” My grandfather, who had little schooling, was a shepherd in the mountains of Italy. Being at his side taught me wisdom no book could teach.
Polish classmates not only possessed beautiful sounding names but were comrades possessing inspiring work ethics.
When designing a study on Hispanics, I visited Fr. Joe Fitzpatrick, S.J., head of the sociology department at Fordham University. As we compared notes, he commented: “Gene, the Hispanic is not only on our doorstep, but also in our homes. I worry about what will happen to the next generation as they Americanize.”
Most Americans have immigrant backgrounds, Their ancestors came to America seeking opportunity with hopes for a bright future. Unfortunately, some Americans have forgotten their immigrant roots or are not interested in lauding them.
Sadder is the backlash against multiculturalism by narrow-minded people who espouse White Supremacy, Neo-Nazism and similar movements that are creating a wave of antisemitism, anti- Asian, African-American racism and related sentiments leading to violence.
Fr. Fitzpatrick observed: Multiculturalism is here to stay and is growing exponentially. Not only this, but during our study of Hispanics, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops was quick to point out how multiculturalism embellishes American life. Immigrants are part of our work forces in medicine, science, the arts, architecture and the construction business, to name a few.
When Solon the Great Lawmaker ruled Athens, he saw avarice as the primary danger to the life of a sound social community. We see how true this is when we reflect on corrupt governments in which those in authority held onto prominence and their power with an iron fist. To maintain this hold on power, pseudo ideologies were devised to justify their greed, creating narrow sightedness that changed places with far sightedness.
As is usual, accepting multiculturalism requires change and our dying to revered ways. Saint Pope John XXIII knew this but also foresaw changing times and the need for aggiornamento --- an updating --- a need to examine old ways of thinking and adjust to them in our postmodern times. (Pope John met with resistance then and today that resistance persists.)
William Shakespeare said, “Knowledge maketh a bloody entrance.” Yes, applying knowledge to refashion the status quo can be difficult. And, too, there is always resistance to leaving one’s comfort zone. Albert Einstein would remind us, however, “Change is the measure of intelligence.”
Change often requires courage, and in our case a postmodern new breed of courage which Fr. Romano Guardini sees as:
having confidence required for living with a view to the future, for acting, building, assuming responsibilities and forming ties. For, despite our precautions, the future is in each case the unknown. But living means advancing into this unknown region, which may lie before us like a chaos into which we must venture.
Multiculturalism is here to stay, prompting us to appreciate its potential and rich opportunities. Lord, help us.