Who agrees??

Question

This is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, "In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people. Who agrees?

Answer 1

Totally. When we become American citizens we don't forget our past, our past becomes our heritage. We make a decision of loyalty to our country. If I do not learn to speak english, I will feel isolated and not be able to assimilate. If I maintain dual citizenship, what happens if one country goes to war against the other? If you are going to be an American citizen, you should love this country enough to defend her, even if she's not perfect.

Answer 2

I agree and disagree. I agree that an immigrant must actually go through the proper channels to be considered a US citizen, as opposed to illegal border hopping.

But I have a problem with the erroneous belief that dual citizenship is evidence that one can't hold fast to the "American" values of liberty and "civilization". America isn't the only country supporting these values.

Also, the use of the words "sole identity" and "no room for one language here" go against the idea of this nation being a melting pot, tolerant of various religions, languages and cultures. You would expect to hear this sort of mind-melding rhetoric in Hitler's Germany. It's practical to have popular language for the sake of easier communication, but not to the total exclusion of all others.

I think this speech is fraught with all-or-none black-and-white thinking. It reflects an unhealthy intolerance for differences and personal expression.

Answer 3

agree to some extent but then again...if a person live in a country for so long and then moves to america...how can the person simply erase his/her past...for a normal person its close to impossible...a place which provided shelter, culture, friends, language..etc..how can one simply abandon part of their history...for it will only be bad for America...if a person can turn their back onto the country of their childhood, what good will the person be for america or if he/she decide to move to another country...the bottom line is that a person should love the Land that provides them with Food, money, sheltory, job, well being, hope, freedom etc......thus a person who is not loyal to their native land will probably not be loyal to America....its like dening your mother when you don't need her to care for you anymore....

Answer 4

agree 100%

Answer 5

I agree

Answer 6

A true leader and wise man.

Answer 7

I agree wholeheartedly.

Answer 8

agree no speak english, no entry. period. no green card get the hell out.

Answer 9

I TOTALLY AGREE

Answer 10

right on!