are we a melting pot? or . . . ?

are we a melting(ˈmeltiNG) pot? or . . . ?

A Metaphor(-fər,ˈmetəˌfôr) for the U.S.A.

By Henry H. Walker

traditionally(trəˈdiSH(ə)n(ə)lē), we are a melting pot,
where all differences dissolve(dəˈzälv) into a collective whole,
with individuality(ˌindəˌvijo͞oˈalədē) of group lost,
subsumed(səbˈso͞om) into the larger,

maybe, a tossed(täs,tôs) salad(ˈsaləd), with each group
keeping its differences but together making a unity(ˈyo͞onədē),
though(T͟Hō) mouth and stomach(ˈstəmək) make it into a melting pot,

maybe a stew(st(y)o͞o), with each group retaining(rəˈtāniNG) some uniqueness,
but at the edges(ej) slipping(ˈslipiNG) into the whole,

maybe a choral(ˈkôrəl) group, where the individual voice shines(SHīn)
within a larger shining of the wholeness of the piece(pēs),

in our private(ˈprīvit) school, we trumpet(ˈtrəmpət) the value of diversity(dəˈvərsədē, dīˈvərsədē) and inclusivity(ˌinklo͞oˈsivədē),
still we require that members of the community
accept(əkˈsept) our unifying(ˈyo͞onəˌfī) philosophy(fəˈläsəfē) which chooses(CHo͞oz) some truths as not relative(ˈrelədiv):
love over hate(hāt),
peaceful problem-solving, not violence(ˈvī(ə)ləns),
empowerment(əmˈpouərmənt) over disenfranchisement(disənˈfran(t)SHīzmənt)
the rights of non-traditional genders
over the rigid(ˈrijid) denying(dəˈnī) of a fundamentalist(ˌfəndəˈmen(t)ələst) belief system,

how much are we as a country a confederacy(kənˈfedərəsē)
of separate(ˈsep(ə)rət) but equal subdivisions(ˈsəbdəˌviZHən),
with no common(ˈkämən) purpose, no common set of values,
a hundred flowers(ˈflou(-ə)r) blooming(ˈblo͞omiNG)?

it seems that now we are stuck
in a schizoid(ˈskitˌsoid) country with two different realities,
between which we have to choose,
as if we are not really part of the same whole,

we need to find common ground, and build upon it,
whatever the metaphor that best describes who we want to be.

https://henryspoetry.blogspot.com/2019/09/are-we-melting-pot-or.html