100 Years and Teddy R is still right?

Question

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on immigrants and being an AMERICAN in
1907.

"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 persons becoming in every facet 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.
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."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Isn't he still right?

Answer 1

As Teddy would say, "Bully!" He's right. Sad thing is, in his time, those who came here wanted to be American and totally American. My dad lived in a diverse neighborhood growing up. In the summer, he says, you could see all the neighbors studying for their citizenship test. Everyone went to night classes to learn English or their kids would come home and teach them English and how to read, sometimes. Now, even the kids don't learn it!

Answer 2

In theory, I agree with Roosevelt.
In principle, I think it's hypocritical. Four hundred years ago last month, European settlers started 'immigrating' to this new land of opportunity to escape tyrannical and oppressive governments and/or religious persecution. The Pilgrims were searching for a new way of life that included equality for all men, regardless of "creed, or birthplace or origin".
But we failed to include the native American Indians in the dream. In fact, we stole land from them; drove them on to reservations or massacred them as we moved westward; failed to accept their language or culture or to regard their values; and forced them to accept OUR ways!
Then we imported African slaves into our new "free' and "equal" America and treated them not as people, but - instead - regarded them as personal property to be sold, bought or traded at will.
Until the 1960's we failed to treat African-Americans "on an exact equality with everyone else" - and, in fact, such discrimination continues until this very day in some subtle circumstances.
I'm a 63-year-old white guy, so don't start accusing me of "playing the race card". Theoretically, Roosevelt had the right idea. But....was he right? I think he overlooked the atrocities that those first "illegal immigrants" (from which most of us are descended) committed as they plundered their way to this "new" America. We are supposed to be a 'melting pot' of people who practice different religions, have different sexual and political persuasions, and who presumably have learned the tolerance of living among those who are 'different' from us. Perhaps that lesson has yet to be learned. -RKO- 06/11/07

Answer 3

Three things:

1. It is easy to get on here and cherry-pick someone's quote to suit your opinion. Doesn't mean the quote is in context, or that the quote is correct. The fact is that an entire portion of that quote has been subtracted here in regards to "red" politics, as this quote was written in a letter to the American Defense Society in regards to Communism. It was NOT written in 1907, either, but rather in 1919, ten years after he was President. This is not an anti-immigration quote, but an anti-Communism quote, shamelessly edited to suit an agenda.

2. Lucky for most of us that Teddy Roosevelt did NOT implement any kind of scheme to boot immigrants that did not speak English or adopt supposedly Americanism, because if he had, most of us would not be here. Our great-great grand parents WERE immigrants, and many of them did not learn English when they first got here. Most of us speak English because of second-generation Americans who learned in school and had to translate for the parents.

3. How many of the people here who are mad that immigrants don't speak English actually volunteer to teach it? Hmm... so you want them to speak English, but you don't want to take the time to teach them? Ok. So what is the REAL reason you want them kicked out? Whereas Roosevelt promoted English requirements for immigrants, he also advocated for TEACHING English to immigrants. Maybe some of you need your actions to back up your big mouths.

Answer 4

Absolutely he is!

If you don't want to become an United Stated Citizen, in the full definition of the word, then do not choose to immigrate here.

Answer 5

Can't argue with that. Why would anyone want a fragmented and divisive society, except maybe to expoit one side, or promote fighting amongst people for for political gain?

Answer 6

I wish we had a president like "Teddy" now! My grandfather fought with him in the Spanish-American War.They just don't make them like that anymore..

Answer 7

I agree with Teddy if you don't want to be an American, then you shouldn't come here.

Answer 8

You bet! One flag, one people, one nation!

Answer 9

I've seen this a thousand times on here and I still have to say this is not at all applicable to our current situation. That was a much different time and place. You said it yourself, it was 100 years ago. WE ARE NOT THE SAME SOCIETY WE WERE BACK THEN.

Answer 10

He is one of my favorite President.