As long as we had the melting pot, things were okay. During the immigration time-out from 1920 to 1965, people were assimilated into an American culture. People identified as Americans.
Now though, we have to bow down at the altar of diversity, which, far being a blessing, is a force for disunity and violence (not to mention expense!).
Earlier immigrants certainly strove to assimilate (in terms of language, work ethic); today the remnants of the WASP culture are expected to be conversant in the cultures around the globe that send their Least Valuable Players here to this country...