Shouldn't they be called colonists, instead of immigrants?

Question

When the Europeans came to North America, and were still clinging to their country of origin for it's society and culture, they were called colonists. When they broke away, gave up their foreign allegiance, they truly became Americans.

Every time I see someone displaying Mexican patriotism instead of American patriotism, I think, geez, how would these 'torries' be treated if they had lived after the American Revolution? Torries, of course, being the term for Americans showing loyalty to Great Britain during and after the Revolution. They would either a.) tar and feather folks that continued to show loyalty to Great Britain or b.) deport the rest (mostly to Canada).

Teddy Roosevelt made a speech about there not being room for divided loyalties. You are either an American entirely or not at all.

If the immigrants want to come legally and become Americans, I say welcome to them! If they come illegally and want to remain Mexicans in America, I say let's get some tar and feathers.

Answer 1

In this case insurgents is appropriate.

Answer 2

No, logically America has already been colonised.
Actually the original British colonists were prepared to do almost anything to get away from from Britain because Puritanism (though tolerated) was v. much frowned upon and discriminated against. They never had a foreign allegiance they were part of the British Empire until (what are now know as terrorists and revolutionaries in today's vernacular) declared war on their own government. English/American Torrie's (sic) emigrated to Canada en masse during and after the American revolution because their rights as citizens of the British Empire were taken away from them by the revolutionaries.
Nothing could be more bland than a culture where everyone is terrified of being seen as different, nothing could be more ridiculous than insisting that everyone become exactly alike.
Tory was the old Irish name for a pursuer (as in taxes and law) Tory became the nickname for the current Conservative party in the UK.
Teddy Roosevelt was extremely ethnocentric to the point of being a bigot by today's terms and fortunately it doesn't matter what you have to say about tar and feathers. According to the Statue of Liberty and your originally English forefathers Mexicans have just as much right to live in America and/or as Americans if they chose as you do.

Answer 3

I do agree with you to a point. I'm a Hispanic American I'm very proud of my heritage and my country but I also love The United States of America for the opportunities and freedom that she has given me. I love her so much that I put my life on the line for her, I served in the US military and I'm proud for doing that. When I see people from other contry's waving their countrys flags I see people remembering their origens not showing loyaltys to those countrys. When white europeans migratted to this country they where recived with open arms when hispanics did the same we closed the borders we put fences we send our military to "protect the border" Please tell me what change? Is America only open for "white europeans or every one else that has been oppress and is poor and hungry? Hispanics deserve the same opportunity as everyone else we do the work that most people don't want to do we brake our backs picking the vegatables,fruits, cotton or anyother form of agriculture products that you find very economical at your nearest convinience store. We clean your places of employement, schools, homes and yards. We build the highways, roads, homes, stores, that you enjoy. And we do all of those things discribe above with pride with our heads held high. But there is a group of american that say we are dangerus to the american culture to the fabric of america. I thought that this was a melting pot. Were we where all included. You like our music our food our culture but not our people. We are here for the opportunity to make something out our selfs that our countrys could not provide for us. We will always be proud of where we are from but are allways love and be thankfull for what America has done for us.

Answer 4

To answer your question, the people that colonized the US represented their respective countries and established colonies here, thus colonist. To do so today would be a declaration of war. Once we declared our Independence and became a nation among Nations. People migrated to the US thus they are immigrants.

The Immigrants that visited the US in the 1900 waved no flags of the old country but learned our ways and became us. What we resent is people coming here to escape their country and try to rebuild it here rather than embrace the freedom we afford.

God bless America

Answer 5

I'm with you 100%. Roosevelt was right. You can't have divided allegiance. This is another problem I have with the proposal that President Clinton be Secretary-General of the United Nations. There are still too many people loyal to him and it could minimize America's role in the world and maximize the U.N.'s.

Answer 6

They were called colonists because they colonized what we now know as the USA. There was no official claim to this land. Now thah we are a country people from other countries are called immigrants because they are migrating from one land to another. Now if you or I moved to
Antartica we would be considered colonists.

Answer 7

I'm not sure I agree with the tar and feathers part, but I do think you have made an excellent point.

Answer 8

Well said in your comment, as for the question its self i say no, because this country was not formed when the Eropeans landed here. There was no country, no nation, no laws. it was our forefathers that broke this land, and made the foundation for what it has become.

Answer 9

Colonists by definition would be a group of people creating a colony. Are you talking about individuals or groups?

Answer 10

Bravo

Answer 11

We can no longer let illegal immigrants pour into this country. We are coming apart at the seams.