There is an Arabic-English public school in New York that is coming under attack. Being one for promoting cultural understanding and acceptance, I am disheartened to see the inevitable and disgraceful, what's generally expected of sensitive, proud Americans.

I am particularly frustrated by the woman who says, "Children go to school to learn to be American." Whatever that means...you know, considering America is a homogenous island of blond hair white face people who only speak English and eat tater tots and hot dogs for lunch.

What good is it to learn to "be American" when America is a melting pot of other cultures, that in order to truly understand what it is to be American and to appreciate these freedoms, we MUST learn about the other cultures that make up our country. Perhaps I'm a little oversensitive myself but it sure feels a little like "being American" in this sense means avoiding learning about the heritage and culture of others.

American culture is a composite of other cultures. Preserving and protecting and teaching what is truly American is about teaching and learning and respecting and welcoming other cultures and religions, customs and languages. It's about encouraging understanding of other cultures and protecting the freedom and the right to be both American and something else. I feel like it's the immigrants, the soldiers and the people who have lived abroad who understand what it truly means to be American.

But just think about it: how many conflicts, misunderstandings, wars, revolutions could be prevented for want of mutual understanding?

Yes, please do preserve the real American culture. Without it, "American" becomes a synonym for prejudiced, ignorant imperialist.

Or perhaps I've just been walking too long in the other man's shoes.