When did America become such a xenophobic nation?

Question

A good question, but one that, aparently, someone doesn't want me to answer, or even view.

So, I guess I'll ask it myself...

I'd characterize America a 'isolationist' more than xenophobic - and from the begining.

'1776' would not be an unfair answer: If you consider it to be xenophobic, today, it certainly was so at it's founding, as well.

Answer 1

Ummmm, what history books are you reading? Let me guess the ones they gave you in high school right?

Piece of advice go do some independent research. Xenophobia and overcoming that xenophobia is a hallmark of this country since the beginning.

native Americans, Italians, Germans, Poles, Catholics, Chinese, Japanese, African, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexicans, Irish... the list goes on and on.

America is about diversity, yes differences are not appreciated at first but with time comes acceptance. At first the opposition is very vocal, but as time passes it lessens and weakens and becomes acceptance, even if it is begrudging.

America is hardly an idyllic place but the history has shown us to be able to grow and adapt, that's why this country works.

Answer 2

Isn't fear of outsiders part of the call to rally round the flag?

Cosmopolitan though many cities in the world now are, there is still an assumption everyone out there (outside the US) would starve to death if they hadn't emigrated, so their life must be better and they must continue to show gratitude until fully assimilated into (exclusively?) American values.
I would say that since the end of 2nd World War has been a time when American foreign policy tended to show little respect for other countries and their thoughts and wishes.

Answer 3

Have you seen France's new immigration bill.

PARIS, May 17 -- France's lower house of parliament approved a tough new immigration bill Wednesday that would allow the country to selectively chose which foreigners can live and work here and require that they learn the French language.

The bill, which passed the National Assembly 367 to 164 after 54 hours of debate, was a reaction to rising complaints that the country's problems are being caused by immigrants. It was authored by France's tough-talking Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, and is vital to his plans to run for the presidency next year, political analysts say. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it will be debated next month.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701210.html?nav=rss_world

Answer 4

It's gotten worse -- but the US has always (for at least the past century) been fairly egocentric and isolationist -- and it's just escalated as the US gets more involved in world affairs and finds out that lots of people don't like us.

It got the worst in the past decade -- both because of foreign terrorist attacks -- and because the nation has become so polarized internally that hatred and bigotry and opposition to others have become national pastimes.

Answer 5

We always have been, look at what we did to the Native Americans. But whenever the economy gets bad and we kick into collective hate mode our true nature as a nation comes to the fore.

Answer 6

One isn't being Xenephobic when one asks why don't the 3rd world countries build infrastructure in their own country. The 1st world isn't obligated to accept their poor & allow them to use the infrastructure our taxpayers bought & paid for. Then you also wish the larger amount of $ taxpayer to subsidize the ones not even covering the cost of consumption with their taxes.

Answer 7

when were we NOT a xenophobic nation?
isolationist vs xenophobe? does not the latter produce the former? and would you want to have been in any of the first few waves of new immigrants to this country at any time in its short violent past? then you would know xenophobia!!!

Answer 8

its always been xenophobic, just look at the laws passes as each wave of immigrants came , we take them in but it just takes a couple of generations to accept them.

Answer 9

since when is it a bad thing?

After all, what is ANY of those people come across the boarder bringing to our country?

Really. Check a newspaper from a California town that once was peaceful.

Hispanic Gangs, Importing Poverty, out breeding the people that are already here, not integrating, sending their money made here home to Mexico, bringing disease across the boarder, poor literacy, etc.

Is anything GOOD coming from allowing these people across the boarder illegally?

I'm all for people coming across that boarder through the gate so we can keep an eye on them and deport them.

but I don't like the ones that are jumping the line, breaking laws... they are criminals... since when is it a bad thing to dislike criminals?

Answer 10

We're a nation of immigrants. NYC is probably the most ethnically diverse city on the planet.

So, what are you talking about?