Wal-Mart and Diversity

[sanch]

An interesting example of how the traditional hold on values in middle America is being transformed by the expansion of Wal-Marts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/b...age&adxnnlx=1150808670-wzsTVQCe0+d6mvlEEThLQA

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Residents of Benton County, in the northwest corner of Arkansas, are proud citizens of the Bible Belt. At last count, they filled 39 Baptist, 27 United Methodist and 20 Assembly of God churches. For decades, a local hospital has begun meetings with a reading from the New Testament and the library has featured an elaborate Christmas display.

Recruited from around the country as workers for Wal-Mart or one of its suppliers, hundreds of which have opened offices near the retailer's headquarters here, a growing number of Jewish families have become increasingly vocal proponents of religious neutrality in the county. They have asked school principals to rename Christmas vacation as winter break (many have) and lobbied the mayor's office to put a menorah on the town square (it did).

This is the story throughout America and not only with new Jewish arrivals. Cambodians, Vietnamese, Nigerians and Mexicans are building enclaves in America's heartland. This creates proximity which creates acceptance and out of this stew will emerge a new cultural form.

The alternate is pluralism or multiculturalism which is Canada's model. This policy is based on the premise that it is the government that has to coordinate and manage the flow and settlement of groups. It regulates settlement so the process whereby people get to know each other as neighbours and pass and borrow ideas and traditions back and forth is interfered with. Invariably this policy impedes the formation of a new culture.

 

[dekhqonbacha]

An interesting example of how the traditional hold on values in middle America is being transformed by the expansion of Wal-Marts.

...

This is the story throughout America and not only with new Jewish arrivals. Cambodians, Vietnamese, Nigerians and Mexicans are building enclaves in America's heartland. This creates proximity which creates acceptance and out of this stew will emerge a new cultural form.

The alternate is pluralism or multiculturalism which is Canada's model. This policy is based on the premise that it is the government that has to coordinate and manage the flow and settlement of groups. It regulates settlement so the process whereby people get to know each other as neighbours and pass and borrow ideas and traditions back and forth is interfered with. Invariably this policy impedes the formation of a new culture.

What does expansion of Wal-Mart has to do with this?

 

[sanch]

What does expansion of Wal-Mart has to do with this?

it has the positive effect of bringing new people into the community and employing them. This is one of the reasons US communites are so diverse.

I personally don't like Wal-Mart or any of the biggies as they put Mom and Pops out of business.

This example was just to show how they impact on communities in other ways.

 

[dekhqonbacha]

I think most immigrants live where there are their friends, family, or people from the same country.

Wall Mart is built only there where is higher demand for their product.

Like, Wall Mart cannot build a store, by hoping that the their customers, who belong only to certain communities will move closer to the store.

 

[sanch]

Re: RE: Wal-Mart and Diversity

I think most immigrants live where there are their friends, family, or people from the same country.

Wall Mart is built only there where is higher demand for their product.

Like, Wall Mart cannot build a store, by hoping that the their customers, who belong only to certain communities will move closer to the store.

It's the employees not the customers. It creates a new economy.

 

[LittleRunningGag]

RE: Wal-Mart and Diversit

SprawlMart is evil. As far as I am concerned, nothing they do is good.