Do immigrants want to be patriots?

Question

I know foreign soldiers who are in the US military as part of their quest for citizenship. Many have relatives living in the states illegally. Interestingly these soldiers are often far more motivated and reliable than many of their "born-and-raised" American counterparts. One of America's greatest military heroes was Rafael Peralta, a legal immigrant who loved his new country. In Iraq he repeatedly volunteered for dangerous missions, ultimately taking rounds to the face, tucking a live grenade to his abdomen, and saving the lives of a squad of Marines who otherwise would have died. The day will come when I will honor the Peralta family, the Mexican town from whence he came, and all Mexican immigrants in gratitude for the life and the sacrifice of one of their noblest sons. If even an ounce of the immigration venom on either side is due to racism, the racists are those who don't belong in this country. They should leave. American freedom isn't a birthright - It's an earned right.

Are we seeing the racists emerge? Look at the responses. They know neither this man, nor the quality of men he fought and died for, of MULTIPLE races ..... yet the venom spews forth. If they were to take the time to research Rafael's background they would know how baseless some of their foolish blanket statements are. THEY are those who don't belong in this country. THEY are those who aren't worthy of a single drop of American blood that has ever been sacrificed for this country. RACISTS - regardless of the race - are a putrid stain on our country, our flag, and on all we stand for. DO YOU stand for racism, or do you stand for America. The ARE mutually exclusive.

P.S. Note that I didn't state that ALL immigrants are more reliable soldiers than their American counterparts. I said they OFTEN are. Guess what, you racists, I lured you with that one, and you fell for it ..... Because OFTEN many soldiers of any race, origin, or belief are more motivated than their counterparts. ;-) Idiots

Freedom is a BIRTHRIGHT? Tell that to the soldiers and families who have suffered death in YOUR generation fighting for freedom. CITIZENSHIP is a birthright. Freedom must be fought for at the polls, sometimes on the battlefield, and in the face of those who have grown fat and lazy. Do you have such an inbred sense of entitlement to freedom that you're incapable recognizing the sacrifice of others, TODAY, for the freedom you enjoy? Your BIRTH entitles you to freedom? Are you an idiot? Why are you even on this forum? Aren't you fighting? Wake up, put down the arrogance, get on the treadmill of liberty, and walk off some of that fat.

To sealRborders: Not a single illegal is fighting for this country. Those gaining citizenship by proudly defending not just our country, but their fellow troops, deserve it ..... They deserve it far more than the armchair warriors who avoid serving in the armed forces for fear of war, but deride those who DO serve our country, living and dying for their comrades in arms. I cannot fathom minimizing a soldier's sacrifice of time and life, merely because that soldier desires citizenship. It doesn't matter their origin, nor their race, nor even a fraction of their motivation. Moreover, if an illegal's son dies in Iraq defending MY son I'll embrace that father as quickly as I will the father of a fallen American, and will welcome him into my country, FIGHTING for his citizenship in the face of bigotry and racism.

Answer 1

Having first hand experience in a combat zone, I can agree with you that some of the most courageous soldiers in my company were first, second and third generation hispanics fighting for this country along with all the rest of us Americans who were there. I saw many of them give their life for the freedoms we so take for granted. For that alone I find myself sprinkling whatever small amount of morality within a legal issue in how immigrants from Mexico are viewed.

The hatred and racism wearing the cloak of patriot in this forum is undeniable. I console myself with the fact that it's the wolverines in action here, and that mainstream America has a heart, at least in the way they view them on an individual basis. I am not on the side of lawlessness and recognize that some of the hispanics in this country have committed crimes, but I still do not condone such sterotypical hatred on a blanket approach.

Until 9/11 no one even paid attention to immigrants, legal or illegal; Bush's administration as well former administrations are the reason this issue is now gone rampant on the southern border. Ironically, this forum never mentions Canada, though many of the actual 9/11 terrorists made their entry there. You will hear it's because they are a trickle and not masses as the southern border yields.

I have lived the ugly side of human dignity having done a tour in Iraq, and I will never agree that we can mistreat human beings because of race, not even an enemy. Thank you for your post; we need more understanding within the legal issues at hand.

So, do immigrants want to be patriots, I would say, yes , they ARE and have died for this country, in my arms or at my feet.

Answer 2

Sorry your wrong, American freedom is my birthright, My family and ancestors have been fighting for this country since the revolutionary war, My roots go deep in this country, The man you are talking about is a true American, but he was legal, and he wanted his citizenship so he could bring his family to citizenship, he wanted his family to be Americans, and that is great what he did, but their are many more who want to come here not to be citizens or to be Americans, they do not want to assimilate, or speak the language, they don't want to obey laws or pay taxes, but they do want a job to send money home to Mexico and that is costing us big time. The American people are paying billions every year for illegal immigrants. How many are we supposed to take in before we turn into Mexico, which is on their agenda, with their Mexican activists groups like La Raza, and others that want the southwest back by colonization and with out firing a shot, they call them selves the race, which is what La Raza means, and some of our Mexican-American politicians are with them. Just type in La Raza and read, also type in ( the high cost of illegal immigration, and read for your self. And I am not racists because I want people to come here legally or because I want to protect my country from being over run with illegals, if they come legally that is fine with me.

This is what some think of us http://www.daylaborers.org/

Answer 3

PATRIOTS,or a TICKET to citizenship????? I'm sure there are MANY mexican people who are helping fight the war,that ARE patriots,and to THEM, i am grateful!!!
For the ILLEGALS over there fighting,they have NO right to even be in this country!!!!!!!!! And, just because they may be over there fighting,does NOT make them LEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!

As to your question, if we are talking about the ILLEGALS who have sneaked into this country in the last several years,then i would have to say, NO,they do NOT want to be patriots!!!!!!!!!! At least, not to THIS country!!!!!!!!!! Maybe to mexico!

Answer 4

Immigrants in any country, be it USA or Europe or others, are basically concerned about their economic well-being and if they can succeed in that endeavour and if they have also the social and political rights in the country they are in, patriotism will follow suit automatically. Whereas, if they are treated as second-class citizens, then the situation will be totally different.

Answer 5

I guess you didn't know that people who aren't even citizens yet also joing the Minutemen, but are still here legally.

I was shocked to learn that too.

Don't spread lies like Americans aren't good soldiers like immigrants, that almost as bad as saying immigrants do jobs Americans won't do, and both are utterly false.

Answer 6

Its interesting you mention that. Another interesting fact is, that minorities, be it black or Hispanic, disproportionately represent those in military service and are usually put on the front lines. So it doesn't surprise me when you say immigrants do want to be patriots.

Answer 7

you know they do, all of them r on the front line. but u won't hear from them or their families cuz ppl don't care they only want to hear all the bad, inhumane crimes they commit-w/o mentioning any of the positive things. that just goes to show how far Americans r willing to open their eyes. it disgusts me, cuz i know many young & latino & black soldiers r in Iraq right now. but no one will see beyond their hearts HATE. oh well, to each his own.

Answer 8

He didn't volunteer in Iraq. He was doing that to get a great paid
which is the american passport.

Answer 9

That was well said my son