AMERICA 250 – From Melting Pot To “Muffin Tin” (Op-Ed By Thomas Antkow)

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Note from The Tennessee Conservative: Editorial statements in this column are the sole opinion of the author; they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff of this publication.

Submitted by Thomas Antkow –

Let me begin by stating that I am a second generation American of Ukrainian and Polish descent.

Growing up in a small town nestled in Suffolk County on rural Long Island, I recall many times taking pride in being an “AMERICAN”. Graduating from Cub Scout to Boy Scout. Selling Burpee seeds and tootsie roll banks door-to-door to raise money for summer camp. Marching with the American Flag in a leather holder at the front of the line during the annual “honor your volunteer fireman” or homecoming parades. Holiday fireworks at the beach. A fairly accurate depiction of living back then was portrayed in the 1989 movie “Born on the Fourth of July” starring Tom Cruise. Ron Covic, whose personal story was represented in the film by Cruise, produced by Oliver Stone as an anti-war film, grew up on Long Island.

I entered this world during the decade following WWII. My father served proudly in the American Army Signal Corp under the Eisenhower Command. My grandfather who emigrated from Europe served honorably in WWI. He survived the mustard gas and trenches. My father miraculously survived the horror of landing on Omaha Beach. He arrived back home and joined the county police department as a communication specialist rather than commuting on a train every day into New York City to work at the telephone company. Never really spoke about the war in detail until he was in his eighties.

My Pop (grandfather) worked digging ditches, filling potholes and laying down asphalt for the highway department. Grandmother was a “matron”. Basically, the female version of a custodian cleaning toilets in a local high school. My mother contributed to the war effort as a “Rosie the riveter” at Grumman Aircraft. When my father returned home from the war mom worked in the lunchroom and kitchen as a “lunch lady”. Hairnet and all in a local elementary school. My childhood consisted of Saturday morning cartoons, the Wonderful World of Disney, the Andy Griffith Show, leaving it to Beaver and Father knows Best. Playing with sharp objects taught us how to be more careful with sharp objects.

My “neighborhood” was absolutely a “Melting Pot”. Irish, Italian, German, Arab, Puerto Rican, Jew, Polish and even Japanese. All living in mostly harmony. We shared our cultural heritage proudly with each other. Especially the food and annual celebrations. We never forgot that we were ALL proud of our cultures. However, our cultures were always wrapped in the American flag. First languages gradually faded away in public and were used primarily in private. English took their place in public settings. We were proud to jump into the melting pot and assimilate into America. Separate but equal. Baked in a loaf pan. Not a muffin tin. I find that separate in no longer equal in our American culture today.

Segregation occasionally had and has its value. Not to discriminate or offend. To offer commonality, protection and “I get that” harmony too. It’s perfectly natural that most arriving cultures still cloister in their own little compounds from time to time. It seems that today the majority refuse to leave. Living side to side with their relatives whenever possible and staying put. Coming together for their own private neighborhood events, celebrations and food. Culture embedded under the skin. Rarely clothed in American culture or garb.

Today each culture that emigrates legally or otherwise believes that because of possible judgement, discrimination and fear of harm they feel it necessary to create a world just like the one they left behind. Safety in numbers? I guess. But not melting pot numbers. Cultural “birds of a feather” numbers. I never understood why leaving their original home for a new life, for whatever reason, take advantage of the freedoms and opportunities in America, then refuse to become an American. Insisting on making their new home a spitting image of their old one and staying in it. Asking us to follow them or just leaving them alone instead of assimilating along with others who have built an American life here.

Jump into the pot! Throw out the muffin tin. All for one and one for ALL that is America still applies here in the United States. The D in DEI is not such a bad thing after all. Is my guess.

About the Author: THOMAS ANTKOW is currently a freelance writer and produced and hosted his own daily radio show on KCSF AM 1300 and co-hosted talk shows for KVOR AM 740 for Cumulus Broadcasting in Colorado Springs. He can be reached at tariodio863@gmail.com