Debate on National Identity and Xenophobia

What's the problem with xenophobic nationalism?

Don't you think that's better for Americans in general?

Like xeno-

To be xenophobic-

Yes

... nationalism is better?

We should have a coherent culture. Everyone should be a part of the same

culture.

We should have assimilation.

Which, do you get to choose what the culture is?

We already have a dominant culture-

What is the dominant culture?

... based on European and Christian values and identity.

That is the dominant culture.

White Christian-

It's rooted in European identity.

White, so y- so your argument is that-

That has been the dominant culture

... it's, just to be clear-

And we're not letting people assimilate to that.

Your-

We're saying, "You should keep your culture,"

and this is why our culture's so

divided

... your argument is that Trump is good for those who want a,

a dominant white European culture?

I mean, that is what America is. It's rooted in European

identity and Christian values. That's what it has been.

You, like, would you really disagree with that?

What, what is it, then, if that's not the identity of America?

Well, what, well, I think the identity of America-

For the majority of time America's been a country, you don't think that's been the

identity?

Well, actually, uh, no. I think actually the, the, the

identity of America has been, uh, you know, for better or for worse,

a, a melting pot in that regard.

Yeah. Yeah, maybe since, like, the 1960s.

Even then, like even we have this idea of, a melting pot literally means

assimilation, too. It means melting.

It means you're assimilating to the dominant culture.

But, uh-

Is that not what melting means?

Well, no, no, it doesn't mean you're assimilating-

And now instead we're saying there's something wrong with xenophobia

... to the dominant culture. No. I mean, look, I gotta be honest with you, like,

I, you and I have a fundamental disagreement.

We will never see eye to eye on this.

It's a choice, and people, I think what you're expressing, though,

is really what the, the, the Trump, uh, uh,

movement at its heart is about, and I think that's problematic.

I mean, I disagree. I don't think Trump's, like, anywhere close to being a

Christian nationalist. That's ridiculous.

Like, Trump's basically a Democrat from, like, 15 years ago when it comes to social

issues.

So you don't think that he's conservative enough for you?

Oh, I, oh, definitely. Nowhere close, no.

He's not xenophobic enough for you?

No, he's trying to import a bunch of H1Bs. Are you kidding?

Right. Oh, so you'd wanna get them out too. Yeah.

No, I, I mean, I,

I think you're making my argument for me.