What do you think of this?

Question

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
Statue 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 20 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 1900's 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 Statue 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.

Answer 1

It's a great point... but at least credit Rosemary LaBonte for writing it.

Answer 2

that is such an interesting, amazing and yet controvertial point...
i liked the writing and use of metaphors (red white and blue melting pot =) but please remember not to stereotype. not to contradict you, just too add another opinion on the issue i must say that i (a straight up american from the mayflower) know many emmigrants who work hard everyday to make it in america, without any special previlages or rights, and while they do hold on to a few customs, the only flag you see outside of there house has stars and strips. also, it is much different for an immigrant entering the country today than it was 100-150 years ago. for one thing most of the people immigrating today are of a noticably different skin color than the majority of the people who currently live here, unlike the european immagrants 100 years ago, not to say this makes them different, but as a society it means something to us. besides this it is largely us who keep them seperate, even after they become legal american citizens i, and many people i know still tend to call them mexians or chinses or brazilian. finally to address the point of laws they expect or demand as immagrants, or special labor union laws, i must remind you of one fundemental change in the government and social strucure of the US from 1900 to know, and this is that today we are a BEAUROCRACY and this changes everything. Charles D below me has got a great insightful answer

Answer 3

there is another diference between the new imigrants and the ones that landed on Ellis island. the one of which is a diference in skin color( no of european descent.)

And don't forget that many of those who start out at ellis island also can legally there is a diference between legal imigration and illegal imigration.

this issue is not one to just spout off about you should experience the cultrue around the south west border for your self many of you would mistake a legal US citizen for an imigrant.

Answer 4

I think it was an "apples and oranges" argument - if today's illegals were offered the chance to immigrate legally (as the "Ellis Island" immigrants were) they'd stand in line to be documented. And they'd be more likely to assimmilate, less likely to maintain prior alegences, and more likely to integrate into our country. One of the things keeping people from integrating is that they have to hide from the government, their fear keeps them from feeling like Americans.

Answer 5

Telll that to the Irish during St. Patricks day parade, nice book you wrote there though.

Answer 6

Damned skippy brother

Answer 7

RIGHT ON! Let them come here Legally or Not Come At All! If you come here Illegally you are Alredy a Crimminal and we don't you here!

Answer 8

Touche my brother!

Answer 9

Yup, I agree.

Answer 10

make it short boring to read