Study shows NYC home to 800 spoken languages, most linguistically diverse.

[Avanine-Commuter]

The arguments here are way out of hand. People aren't even talking about the right things anymore. Muppet has the right idea IMO, and everyone else is making petty arguments and dismissing responses as "inaccuracies" and "incredulities" as Muppet pointed out.

Get back on track: NYC is NOT the first multicultural city in the world. FACT. It may have been the first to reach a certain # etc., but multiculturalism has always existed in ancient cities. Get back to the roots of the argument. Multicultural means:"of, relating to, or constituting several cultural or ethnic groups within a society". As long as those ethnic groups have a community that practices their cultural ideas and heritage, it is a cultural phenomenon and it constitutes multiculturalism. The amount of diversity in many of the ancient cities mentioned are astounding, and by claiming the NYC is the first multicultural city is an insult to the history of those ethnic groups.

Now, those arguing otherwise will comeback saying "that's not what I meant!" and bring more BS to the table about irrelevant sh!t.

BTW, eye color is controlled by more than just 1 gene per parent. Estimated to be around 4. I don't know how that complicates the lineage if a dominant dark eye color gene came into the mix, but I'm sure it's NOT the same.

[Jasonhouse]

Originally Posted by fflint

You mean just like how we suddenly stopped talking about New York in 2010, the actual topic of the original post, and started talking about anyplace but New York? Bummer...

This is what I'm wondering... If you people want to talk about other places, then make a thread to discuss those other places, instead of hijacking this one.

I'm almost inclined to delete the last few pages of this thread and start it over. (not going to though)

[StethJeff]

New York is definitely not the "first" or "original" multicultural city. Not by a long shot. However, I will accept the notion that New York was the first city to represent all corners of the globe. Due to technological advances in transportation, New York was the first one that exploited this advantage.

[muppet]

^thankyou

Before it gets pointed out I'd add ...in such large numbers (as many other New World cities were also receiving their call for 'new populations' at that time, but were nowhere as large as NYC then, eg Rio, BA, CH, SP, SF)

[IIan]

Not as large and not as diverse, BUT Buenos Aires still has the record of foreign born population... 75% in 1914!!!!



The only lack for BA at those times compared to NY were probably africans...

[TheCity]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

New York is definitely not the "first" or "original" multicultural city. Not by a long shot. However, I will accept the notion that New York was the first city to represent all corners of the globe. Due to technological advances in transportation, New York was the first one that exploited this advantage.

America is the most diverse country in the world. This country was built off of immigrants. NY leads the U.S. in diversity. Therefore, this makes NY one of the most diverse cities in the world and has been proven through many studies. Also, Queens County is the most diverse county in the states.

Originally Posted by IIan

Not as large and not as diverse, BUT Buenos Aires still has the record of foreign born population... 75% in 1914!!!!



The only lack for BA at those times compared to NY were probably africans...

Cool fact. But this was in 1914, not in present time.

[pico44]

Ahhh, memories. Isn't this is the thread that went to 7 pages because of a single inflammatory comment made by yours truly. Good times.

Anyhow, I think I realized very quickly after I made the comment that it was inaccurate unless I qualified it, which was an uphill struggle. Or should I say an upmountain struggle.

Final point is this. The immigrant story in New York is a unique one. Not just in size and scope, but in the very principles behind it. An open call to the entire world to not only improve their situation, but to be a part of something truly great. A 20th century incubator where we proved that a 21st century global society might actually work.