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American Melting Pot -editor note

Being a writer and editor of the world's grooviest magazine is something I both love and hate. I love having a voice here, and I hate expressing it here. I mean, what right do I have to spout my opinions—right? Like everything in my life, sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I'm wrong. Knowing that, I am always ever so cautious about giving unsolicited advice or hanging my options out like clothes on a line. That being said, I love this voice because I love listening to others and learning about their passions. That's what gets me charged up and ready to go each day as the editor of 573 Magazine. For that, I am forever grateful for the wonderful life 573 Magazine has given my family and me. I'm so thankful for the wonderful people I've met along the way and the things I've learned about their lives—mostly everyday people. We have the nicest, coolest, most hardworking people on the planet right here in the 573.


...I am always ever so cautious about giving unsolicited advice or hanging my options out like clothes on a line.

When I was in grade school a zillion years ago, I thought we were all the same no matter the color, sex, or race… My mother taught me that no one was better than me, and I was in no manner better than anyone else. I was taught, and still believe, that the melting pot concept is the right path for all of us. I think the melting pot makes us all Americans. I believe we should focus on being American and being proud of all the great things we do for the world as Americans. Charity. Liberty. Free speech. After all, America is the only place on earth that guarantees free speech and liberty. America is where the entire world wants to come—it is because of our melting pot and our sense of fairness. And the fact that I have traveled all over this world, I can say without a stumble, America is one of the least racist places on earth. The butcher, the banker, the astronaut, the artist, the trucker, the preacher, the mother, the teacher, the seamstress, the pilot, the cop, the waiter, the soldier, the trash collector…


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...I have traveled all over this world, I can say without a stumble, America is one of the least racist places on earth.

According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, insert hystrical laughing emoji, a melting pot is a metaphor for a society becoming more homogenenous, "melting together" with common interests. The melting-together metaphor was in use by the 1780s. The exact term "melting pot" came into general usage in the United States after it was used as a metaphor describing a fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities in the 1908.


Today, in opposition to the melting pot concept are suggested alternative metaphors such as salad bowl, or kaleidoscope, in which different cultures mix, but remain distinct.


...a melting pot is a metaphor for a society becoming more homogenenous, "melting together" with common interests.

So I'm going to leave you with this story and the lyrics of a song my grade school teacher would play for us once a week. She was a smart lady, and the songwriters were even brighter—it was a sign of their time, and the message was powerful—WE ARE ALL THE SAME regardless our differences. I wish people would focus on the words in this song again. It just seems like a better way to go, believing we are all the same. That's just my opinion.



Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong

My own beliefs are in my song

The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then

Makes no difference what group I'm in


I am everyday people, yeah yeah


There is a blue one who can't accept the green one

For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one

And different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo


Oh sha sha we got to live together


I am no better and neither are you

We are the same whatever we do

You love me you hate me you know me and then

You can't figure out the bag I'm in


I am everyday people, yeah yeah


There is a long hair that doesn't like the short hair

For bein' such a rich one that will not help the poor one

And different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo


Oh sha sha we got to live together


There is a yellow one that won't accept the black one

That won't accept the red one that won't accept the white one

And different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo



Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone




Get Out There, and play nice kittens. The world looks to us for guidance.


t. smugala - da editora



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