Historically, all nations over a long period of time tend to integrate diverse ethnic groups. The cultures and sub-cultures of the minority are preserved in part as influences and contributions to the main-stream, and in part are lost. Integration, with its positive and negative aspects, is achieved more or less rapidly depending on ethnic and language distance. A minority group of the same race and same family of languages may be absorbed more readily, unless religious or other ideological differences persist, than another race with an unrelated language. In the latter case, compensatory efforts to artificially accelerate integration or assimilation may suppress ethnic evidences such as food and clothing preferences, behavioural characteristics, minority language, and knowledge of ethnic history. Loss of ethnicity is considered a loss to the entire society when conceived in the world context. Within minorities themselves, as well as in the majority culture, there is insufficient preservation of ethnic history and characteristics.
Integration or assimilation, that is, the minimizing of ethnic differences and the mastering of a common language, is in the interests of all, including those who in the short-term might be considered minorities. The proper places to preserve the ethnic legacies of peoples are the museums, for the dynamics of society will continuously form a new and common heritage for all people.