Hey, the reality is that there were people here when Columbus came (via Spain). They had many cultures. Period. Ideologues and people with particular agendas aren't using multiculturalism as a description of reality. They're using it the way liberals have tried to argue for inclusion of different people in the teaching and discussion of history. It's not about culture at all. It's not about how American culture came about, what it consists of, or what it is now. We're as multi-cultural as our music and food.
Like I said, anyone who doesn't think we're multicultural should just google a list of neighborhood restaurants. I'll bet that you live near either an Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, or a French restaurant. Yet, come one November night, most Americans will be eating turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, and other good 'ol American things
.
Then again, maybe some people just can't be multicultural. In Switzerland, everything is written in four languages; and there are specific ethnic identities. Yet, it's one of the oldest countries in Europe. In Europe, it's common for people to speak several languages, and English. Personally, I agree with them and think that being familiar with more than one language is a cultural advantage.
Ahem, I think it's great when people, even Westerners, study other cultures and their arts and languages.