This kind of stuff fuels such emlightened forays of the soul as the recent National Review cruise:
The conversation ebbs back to friendly chit-chat. So, you're a European, one of the Park Avenue ladies says, before offering witty commentaries on the cities she's visited. Her companion adds, "I went to Paris, and it was so lovely." Her face darkens: "But then you think – it's surrounded by Muslims. " The first lady nods: "They're out there, and they're coming."
3 comments:
As for the issue of illegal immigration,The biggest differences over the last 50 years are origin/ethnic demographics, and the ease by which one becomes a citizen. Ironically, It's statistically possible that someone will read this article, considering themselves to be a "Red-blooded American", who is a decendant of European immigrants that came to this country during the turn of the 20 century or WWII - some of whom were stow-aways or lied about their identity. My wife (Dutch/German descent) traces her lineage to a maid that "piggy-backed in" with her wealthy principle. I (an African-American) partially owe my existence to my West Indian grandmother who came her without even being accounted for on passenger manifest. Albert Einstein was investigated extensively by the FBI during the 1930s based on his suspect immigration to the US and letters from concerned citizens about his (at that time, Nazi) German origin; he went on to write numerous affidavits recommending visas for Jews in Germany, and helped form Princeton's International Rescue Commmittee. In fact, how many of us would actually be citizens today were it not for ancestors that wouldn't have been able to stay here under today's standards? Quite frankly, the problem wouldn't be so bad if the path to citizenship weren't so bogged down in buearocracy. I have a friend - software engineer and Carribean-born - that has been carrying a green card for 12 YEARS waiting for his papers to come through. Any attorney or accountant would tell you that if most law-abiding citizens in this country had to wait that long for something that important, they would wind up taking illegal measures themselves.
I am a supporter of maintaining immigration laws, and believe in a structured legal path to citizen. My only caveats in that regard are extreme circumstances where immediate amendment promotes the best interest of people having an immediate need: war refugees (Bosnia, Sudan), religious/enthic persecution (China, Jews during the Holocaust, ethnic clensing in Sub-Sahara Africa), etc. That said, I speculate there is an underlying point to this article: the root tension that people have over demographic shift is based just as much in class/race/ethnicity as in the question of illegal immigration. One proof of this can be observed in many arguments I've heard on the immigration issue, including some comments made here - outrage over people that apparently refuse to embrace American culture, and continue to speak their language in public. Honestly, this has little to do with ILLEGAL immigration as immigrants -
legal or otherwise - may be inclined to do so regardless of their citizenship status. That has been a historical fact of this country. And as far as the assertion of what "American culture is", let's get one thing straight: the
strength and spirit of American culture partially rests in the fact that America has ALWAYS been an amalgam of cultures. So why is it that we, historically, have had no problem with ongoing influx of European influence, but now raise a stink with Hispanic and Asian culture? I grew up in Cincinnati, OH: a place that (as I found from my military travels) looks distinctly German in some areas, and even celebrates it's own "Oktoberfest". I now live in Denver, Colorado: a city that saw is earliest growth from a surge of European and Hispanic immigrants (many illegal) willing to work in the mines of the Rocky Mountains. I've spent most of my life listening to people that were regarded as "cultured" for continuing to speak German, French or Italian around town. So why is it that we now have a problem with someone that chooses to maintain their Hispanic heritage - regardless of whether or not they are citizens? Sounds like hypocrisy. I refuse to believe that we'Ve becoming "Land of the free, and home of the 'I got mine, but it sucks to be you!'"
LMAO..land of the free. What are you smoking?
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