Why do so many Americans despise immigrants when they are descended from immigrants themselves?

Question

Most people here in the U.S. seem to despise immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America. They criticize these people for seeking a better life in the U.S. and say they should try to make thing better in their native country. But really, almost everyone in the U.S. is descended from immigrants, mostly from europe. Does this mean that if your ancestors moved to the U.S. at some point, they should have just stayed in their own country and tried to "make things better there"? By that logic, everyone who isn't native american should move to whatever country their ancestors lived in. So it seems very hypocritical to me to criticize people from Mexico and Central America for immigrating to the U.S. unless you are a native american.

About the difference between "illegal aliens" and "legal immigrants"...it's still hypocritical to say that illegal immigrants have no right to be here, because many of the Europeans who came to America just settled in America without any permission or approval from native tribes. And to top it all off, they killed most of the native americans, conquered their land, and introduced deadly diseases. Mexican and Central American immigrants, legal or not, are not doing any such thing.

To Ms.Kitty:
I don't have any problems with free speech. I just am pointing out a hypocricy that many americans are guilty of. And let me point out another one: what about MY free speech rights? Don't i have a right to ask this question? Or do free speech rights only apply to people who agree with you?

I don't understand why so many people are mad about having Spanish on everything. To me, it doesn't seem like it's such a big deal, as long as they have English as well. And it's not like anyone is forcing you to learn spanish or start speaking it. Do you realize that there are many countries where people speak multiple languages, and where they always have labels and suchlike in multiple languages? For instance, in Canada, everything is in both English and French. In Luxembourg, they speak French, German, and Luzembourgish. In Switzerland, they speak German, French, Italian, and Romansche (a dialect of latin). In Belgium, both Dutch and French are spoken. So why is it such a big deal here in the U.S.?
And by the way, very few (if any) europeans who moved to America learned any Native American languages.

That said, i do think that if you are moving to a foreign country, you should learn their language.

Sorry about the typo, i meant "luxembourgish", not "luzembourgish".

And by the way, it wouldn't be necessary for so many people to immigrate illegally if the immigration processes were easier and more efficient. The current system makes it very difficult to immigrate to the U.S. legally.

Answer 1

Because people in the U.S. are dumb hypocrites. Just like people all over the world.

You have to get it into your mind that people are not rational.

Answer 2

First, there is a difference between illegal immigrants and immigrants who founded our country. The reason people are against illegal immigrants from Central America is because for one, they are illegal, and two, they generally make up the majority of illegal aliens. Yes, our ancestors were from Europe, and technically "immigrants", but it was also a different time back then as well. When our ancestors migrated from Europe to the United States, there were more natural resources and they contributed to the development for the good of the nation. Today's immigrants consume more than they contribute and are overburdening our social services.

Most people who you say "despise" immigrants today do not "despise" them simply because they are foreign, many migrating from Mexico and Central America are doing so without declaring themselves which creates problems among the work force and the welfare system in the U.S. Generally speaking, those who migrate from foreign countries illegally, lack education and are looking for entry-level jobs. Those not able to find such jobs may look to crime as a way to survive, thus increasing the crime rate and burdening our government yet again. It would be more acceptable for people to migrate to the U.S. if they paid taxes for the social reforms they are so eager to use.

Answer 3

Nativists don't have much of an issue with thier own ancestry. They figure if your family's been here a few generations (generally, at least as however many generations thier family has been) you're a native. But, nativists are really on the fringe of the current backlash.

Racists, OTOH, are obsessed with ancestry to the exclusion of most other considerations. To the racist, the merits of your ancestors are more important than your merits, and it's fair to judge people by the actions not only of thier ancestors, but of contemporaries of those ancestors.

The majority of Americans, though don't object to immigration, and aren't excessively race-conscious, let alone overtly or actively racist - but the majority of Americans are increasingly concerned about ILLEGAL immigration.

Answer 4

The biggest problem that I have with the immigration problem is that many of the things in our country now have spanish all over them, including some commercials that are entirely in Spanish. This is our country, they can learn our language. I have absolutely no problem with someone seeking a better life, but I would prefer that they do it the right way instead of sneaking over the fence. Not to mention the ever-increasing problem with many Mexicans buying vehicles and not insuring them which then causes a huge number of difficulties if someone happens to have a collision. I'm not saying that they all do this, and I'm not stereotyping because I know several very respectable, very legal Mexicans. But I believe that if they want to be an American they can respect our culture and not try to force theirs upon us. That being said, I apologize to anyone I may have offended, this is simply my personal opinion.

Answer 5

“Most people here in the U.S. seem to despise immigrants, especially…..”

First off most Americans don’t despise immigrants, most of us don’t really care if you are an immigrant or not. What we care about is Illegal aliens, we don’t want or need people who don’t respect OUR way of life or OUR laws. My grandmother and my great grandfather come over from Norway, on the other side of my family ALL my ancestor were here waiting for them, I can go back over seven generations on my mother’s side all of them NA I could go back farther but the records get real spotty. Now most Americans don’t criticized people from Mexico or Central America, or Japan, Korea, or wherever, unless, they are here illegally. It’s not hypocritical to expect everyone who wishes to live or work in the US to follow the laws.

“About the difference between "illegal aliens" and "legal immigrants"...it's still hypocritical…..”

How things were done in the 1400s and 1500s and how they are done now is completely different. Things were done differently back then. Also there was no central government for anyone to ask permission to immigrate. Now there is, I can’t go to Mexico without asking permission. In fact if you look at Mexico’s south boarder and see how they treat illegal aliens compared to how the US treats illegal aliens. After all the illegal aliens coming into Mexico are just looking for a better life, etc. But the police don’t seem to have any problem with deporting them as soon as they find them, even if it means breaking up a family, that’s if they are lucky, if not maybe they are robbed, raped, killed. And all they are doing is looking for a better life.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/060815a.aspx

If anyone is a hypocrite, it’s the Mexicans.

“I don't understand why so many people are mad about having Spanish on everything. To me, it doesn't seem like it's such a big deal, as long as they have English as well….”

The problem isn’t that everything is in Spanish it the fact that the illegal aliens are DEMANDING that everything is in Spanish. Go to Mexico as an Illegal alien and demand that everything be put in English and see how far you get.

Yes Canada has two languages, and it’s causing them a lot of problems. The French speaking Canadians have threatened to break away from Canada. In Switzerland, they have an official language Swiss. All legal documents are in Swiss. Heck I can go to places in the US where they speak Sioux, French, German, Norwegian, all within about a 100 miles from where I live. The big deal is that illegal aliens, people who have NO right to be here are DEMANDING that we accommodate them, they can’t be bothered to learn English so I have to learn spanish.

“And by the way, it wouldn't be necessary for so many people to immigrate illegally…”

First off there are no illegal immigrants, that’s just a PC term to make people feel better, they are illegal aliens.

So it’s hard to become to immigrate to the US, try immigrating to Mexico, or almost any other country in the world. Almost every country who found out you where there illegally, or working on a visa that didn’t allow you to work would toss you out on the next plane if you didn’t spend some time in a nice jail of course. If you are unskilled, uneducated, try getting immigrating to any other country, it’s almost impossible. Most countries already have enough unskilled workers, what they want and need is skilled workers. Do we need a better system, I’d say yes. It took my friend 5 years to bring his wife back to the states, but we first need to fix our boarders, both of them, and get rid of ALL illegal aliens. And no I don’t care where they came from, they just need to go home. Once we do that then we can decide how many and who we need to let in our country.

Answer 6

I don't see any Americans despising IMMIGRANTS...MOST Americans love them and are very accepting of their culture. But, now I DO see Most Americans fed up with ILLEGAL ALIENS.

There is a big difference between the two. One has to do with coming here legally, knowing our customs and language and making sure that they don't have any commutable illnesses.

The other is nothing more than a drain on our society living like leaches off of our economy while giving back NOTHING...except illnesses and problems.

What is so hard about obeying the federal laws?

Answer 7

Many of our ancestors came here long after the US was a nation with immigration laws not as you say when Native Americans controlled America. Again you on the far left do no see any difference between those who follow the laws and come here wanting to be a US citizen, to adapt to its customs, and obey all its laws. The illegal immigrants can't even comply with our basic laws let alone wanting to be US citizens (they just want to take from our system and never adapt to our customs).

Answer 8

Do you think the reason the immigration process into America is difficult and the requirements so stringent because there are 300 BILLION people here already?
What seems hypocritical to me is to allow illegal aliens to enter this country undeterred and to destroy this nation while claiming they come here for a better life.
Well, how many poverty stricken, illiterate, unskilled people do you think a nation can absorb without suffering from the effects?
How many do you think a nation should have to support?




Add: Amen Ben C

Answer 9

While most of us are descendants of immigrants, our ancestors did not have the same opportunities and bonuses that immigrants do today. Spanish on almost every packaging label from shampoo to potato chips. Do you think they did that in the 1930's? No. Juan, Jean, and Jupka had to learn English in order to assimilate. Low cost and free health care. Same thing. No one who migrated to the US and went through Ellis Island was given free health care. They were given nothing and came with nothing and built a life for themselves and helped to make the country what it is today.

Now illegal immigrants believe they are entitled to something just because they made it across the border? I don't think so.

Answer 10

This is the silliest question that simply won't die. In 2000 years, if America hasn't become a third world cesspool, people like you will still be calling native born Americans immigrants.

At what point, in your view, do the descendants of colonials get to decide immigration policy. Never?

Answer 11

I agree with Lori....it's not so much the ones that are legal....it is the illegal immigrants that are taking work away from legal americans and causing problems here. Lets face it most illegal aliens are usually disrespectful to mostly females and can hardly ever speak english! At least learn english if you are going to try to stay here!!! It has caused a lot of econimic problems....but if you dont have a problem with immigrants what is your problem with other people's opinions? This is America and you and all of those immigrants need to learn we have what you call "Freedom of Speech" here!