Previously: The perspective of history on the news
On immigration: I am very pro- immigration. My great- grandparents and great- great- grandparents were immigrants from Switzerland, Germany, and Ireland. Americans are, to quote Ezekiel, “the people who were gathered from the nations.” However, I believe that those who wish to emigrate to the United States should do so legally. A person who does not respect the laws of the country in which he wishes to become a citizen, does not make a good candidate for citizenship.
If I had a hand in redoing the immigration laws, I would make legal immigration easier, and cut as much red tape as possible for gaining citizenship. I would make the penalty for illegal immigration stiffer. For example, a person who entered the country illegally would be deported, and barred from future legal immigration or citizenship. Legal immigrants who aspired to citizenship must learn to speak, read, and write English, and state- and federally- funded colleges and universities must provide ESL classes at no cost (we could pay for it by canceling welfare for illegal immigrants). In a perfect world, citizenship would require courses in Western civ and constitutional philosophy, as well as American history. Any legal immigrant who had not become a citizen within 10 years would be required to return to their country of origin.
In my mind, it is not so much immigration that is the problem, but assimilation. Watching the May Day protests on the news makes it seem as if today’s illegal immigrants want the benefits of living in the US without the responsibilities of US citizenship, or leaving behind their country of origin. My great- grandfather came over here from Switzerland when he was 17. He worked hard and acquired a farm in Iowa, where he married and had 12 children. The family only spoke German at home, even though the children all spoke English at school. When World War I broke out, my grandmother was a 16-year-old girl. Her father told the family on that day: “We are not German, or Swiss. We are Americans. No German will ever be spoken in this house again.” I have only one memento of him: it is his German Bible that he brought with him on the boat from Switzerland. He ceased reading to his family from it on that day, and only read from the English Bible after that.
to be continued …
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Update: continued in Transmission and assimilation
I have several friends who are here from all over the world, legally. My husband is from Poland, he and his family came (legally) when communism fell. It’s not an easy route – but it’s honest, and legal. If you’re trying to hide something, it’s because it’s WRONG – duh! I am Mexican (legal, born in CA) and my family has lived in Arizona since before it became part of the United States. (And no, no one is bitter about it becoming part of the US years and years and years ago.) I was proudly shopping all day on Monday and telling everyone about it.
Next time, I’m making a t-shirt to wear for the occassion!
Mrs. L
To be fair to the immigrants, you should define “assimilation.” Most people, when they use that term, mean they think the newcomers should act in ways that make them blend in with the Anglo-American majority. I don’t know if that’s what you mean or not, but let’s face it, your German ancestor had the right genetic makeup to blend-in with the majority. Most Hispanics don’t. You can tell at a glance that they’re not native-born Whites. That makes it a LOT harder to blend in, even if their English is flawless. By the way, most Native Americans have assimilated in to the majority, and that was a tradgedy. I don’t think assimilation is such a great idea myself; people with any pride in their heritage should respect their cultures and customs and celebrate them– even FLAUNT them.
Please don’t take this as a critiscism of what you wrote. I admire you for being willing to write about serious social issues. I shy away from that stuff myself because I don’t know how respectful others here are of diverse opinions.
By the way, I’m not anonymous I just forgot to log in.-HouseMouse
I understand what you are saying…this issue is driving my husband and I insane! All of our grandparents came from different countries (legally)…interesting stories…my “Nanny” was an exiled Russian Jew; my “Poppy” came from Cuba and was going to pitch for the Cleveland Indians (until he broke his arm in a motorcycle accident); my husband’s grandfather is Coushatta Indian (a true native American) and my “Grandpa” came from Italy and spoke seven languages! When people say immigrants shouldn’t have to assimilate to the “Anglo-American” culture…what exactly are they talking about? My kids are true Americans…individual little melting pots….but I can’t put “American” for their nationality on school applications….sometimes I can’t even put muli-racial! The whole situation is so messed up.
I believe in securing our borders (you can’t keep bailing out water from the ship, if the ship still has a hole in it) and I think a “guest worker” program would help…at least it would give incentive for the illegal immigrants that are here to register. Then they can come and go across the border LEGALLY and keep their Mexican citizenship. Otherwise, they have no reason to come out in the open.
BTW, I did MAJOR shopping on Monday! Keep the discussion going…it’s a good one! icart
I love your well thought out, well worded response to the immigration issue. My husband and I are in total agreement with you. Wish you were in a legislative position! 🙂
Are these illegal Mexican immigrants feebleminded people who cannot see (or care) that what they are doing is wrong and dangerous?
The general idea seems to be that they are some kind of savages; ignorant and immoral people who are not able to fully comprehend what they are doing (either by comming here or by joining the protests). I don’t think this is so. Of course; if we simplify the problem; ignore the real issues and needs that force them to make this perilous journey , then the job of trying to keep them from coming in gets a lot easier. (and not so at the same time)
I do not think that most Mexican immigrants really want to come here illegally or even be here at all. I believe that illegal immigrants that come from Mexico into this country do so knowing they are not only risking their freedom but their lives….and yet they still decide to come and confront the difficulties that will be waiting for them once they reach the United States because of stronger issues than just living the “American dream”.
I read in an article somewhere that a lot of the indigenous peoples from Mexico ( who do not speak spanish and whose dialects predate the Spanish conquistadores) have been steadely comming here because of the hardships in the places they live. And if you are familiar with them you should know that even in Mexico these people keep mostly to themselves and do not like to consociate with people who do not belong to their tribes or communities. So…are they stupid?
Oh. by the way….some of them living in California do live like the “cavemen” they are thought to be, in little sheds build out of cardboard boxes enjoying the “comforts” of an illegal immigrant’s life.
Sorry about that :-S
Well, my point is that the reason for people to migrate is very different depending on so many factors. For so many it is a viable option to come here legally and settle and “blend-in”. For so many others things are different, and they come here illegally not because they decide it is OK but because for them that seems like the only option.