Robert Macdonald’s letter echoes sentiments of previous writers (July 23). Most people in Lewiston and Auburn display a welcoming and healthy attitude toward our newest immigrants. Some, however, do not.

Macdonald says, “It is not up to us to learn about other cultures. It is up to the immigrants to learn about ours.”

That implies that assimilation is a one-way process, which it clearly is not. Surely Mr. Macdonald has eaten a plate of spaghetti, which I suppose his ancestors, on a really bad day, might have mistaken for haggis.

Thinking of assimilation as a one-way process implies a power relationship of dominance – that of the host culture over the immigrant culture.

Our newest immigrants are a concrete manifestation of the global economy. Because of their presence, all of our children will assimilate some African culture, and be far better prepared to engage the world they will work in.

Macdonald ought to try that “shed their former culture” stuff himself. He should move to an African town and adopt its culture for just one year, not a lifetime.

Aside from having to learn a new language and become familiar with a new religion, he might have to learn to like simplicity.

It would be very interesting to see his perspective on our newest immigrants after a year abroad.

John Henderson, Auburn