I was cutting a large patch of ivy, which I thought would be
easy. It wasn’t, because ivy has a
widely dispersed root system and a complex, intertwined network of vines. The
vines, while not directly connected to each other are intertwined in
3-dimensions. Ivy is incredibly difficult
to dislodge.
I can’t help but see a metaphor in the ivy, in the live leaves on the top of the ivy, getting sunshine and the celluloid vines below, much of it dead and out of use. Just like a democratic commercial society such as ours.
America is built on decentralized interconnecting social, political and commercial ties that overlay generations of similar decentralized ties. Our society is uniquely robust and able, consequently, to absorb immigrants who have no choice but to fit in. Become ivy or you have to find some other place to live. Most other societies, based on family or class connections have limited interconnection and find immigrants disruptive.