I DON'T KNOW

[HairOfTheDog]

Do you believe the Arab culture is willing to accept American culture once here or do you think they will come to try and change their host countries ideals HOTD?

I'm sure some acclimate gladly and easily, and others don't. But, I don't have any way of knowing which is the majority. I can tell you my first-hand observations from my experience though.

I think I mentioned before that my graduate degree is in International Business. I've worked in several countries and managed global teams from the U.S. as well.

A good majority of the foreign-born engineering and program management staff I managed or worked for in the U.S. acclimated well in the workplace, my Arab Muslim colleagues included. Religion and religious accommodation was never even an issue, and my teams were large and very diverse. But, I can't say if that was representative of Arab and/or Muslim immigrants now (I left the corporate world 10 years ago), nor if it applies equally to people not in skilled positions or academics.

Here in San Francisco, socially, it's a huge melting pot culturally, racially, religiously, sexually...I haven't encountered systematic cultural or lifestyle clashes. But, I'd guess that large groups of immigrants settling in parts of Texas or Midwestern states where the existing demographic is more homogeneous might not acclimate so fluently - either because the locals unrealistically expect them to drop their own cultures and lifestyles completely in order to be accepted, or the locals loathe diversity, or the immigrants aren't willing or aren't able to acclimate to American culture easily, or a combination.

Anyway, for me, as long as immigrants respect the laws of the land and contribute to society, I think they are equal and should be treated equally (or at least with tolerance). I don't expect them to change their beliefs, or styles, or only ever speak English or anything like that (regardless as to whether they're Arabs, Muslims, Asians, Hindus, Jews, Hispanics...). I know not everyone sees it the same way, and I get why.