just something to make you think about our current situation...?

Question

(Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register. )

Dear Editor:

So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one,suggests we should tear down the Statute of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer.

Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people.

When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And, we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about.

I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900s deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags. And, for that suggestion about taking down the Statute of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.

(signed) Rosemary LaBonte

P.S. Pass this on to everyone you know!!! KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING!! I hope this letter gets read by millions of people all across the nation!! ~~

Answer 1

amen
to the answerer after me .yes there were some bad people who came to the country and the question / letter writer was trying to point out that back then people (majority)came to this country to make a better life for them selves they did come here and they adjusted to the way we were then they worked hard for their living and they learned to speak our language here they they worked to fit into america .now i am not saying they should lose them selves or their roots .but it is not right to come here now and expect us to change everything about our country the language the laws the whole system for the new people coming here. when you go to a friends house do you expect them to completely change their way of life when you are there .it is the same thing you adjust to the new environment .like anyone coming here .as to the native americans and the african slaves well .we cannot change the past just learn from it .yes there were a lot of injustuces done then but we can not change the fact that it happened .and they as individuals have to deal with that .but that has nothing to do with what the letter was talking about .the letter was simply staing if u now r gonna come to america dont think we are gonna change our country for you .you should adapt to us.

Answer 2

That letter writer has a somewhat idealistic and naive view of immigration to the U.S. Not everyone who came through Ellis Island--and back then there were plenty of illegal immigrants from Europe as well--was a fine, upstanding citizen. Many turned to crime, or brought their criminal way of life with them. IMafia, anyone?)

What about the Japanese-Americans--who were U.S. citizens--who were interred in camps during WWII? Were they treated fairly and without prejudice?

What about the Africans who were brought here by force to help build our nation through free labor? They didn't pass through Ellis Island.

What about the native American tribes who were all but obliterated by the Europeans who took their land?

Don't ALL of these groups deserve better treatment than they have been given? The letter writer seems to be interested in preserving the European values and way of life, without extending the same right to people of other cultures and ethnic backgrounds. We are not really the melting pot people want to believe; it is the richness of our mixed cultural heritage which gives us strength.

Answer 3

Well he would not be spreading the wealth round like a few socialist. He'd generally reduce taxes. Bring jobs again into America wherein they belong. Design an infrastructure that might aid with organizations, except bailing them out. The economic climate might be Allot higher off if Reagan used to be within the govt's chair. Bailing the car industries out might of been intriguing. The cash is so hopelessly tousled that each one cash within the economic climate now isn't reliable. So, I suppose he'd have allot of labor forward of him and plenty of trial and mistake politics. But I count on he'd slash on spending the complete manner round and perhaps make some thing higher that wasn't so well wherein it stood. That's what I consider might be taking place if The Gipper used to be nonetheless dwelling.

Answer 4

I imagine we're gonna have the same stuff happen all overagain once we start moving to Mars :-s ( sigh)