Quote:
Originally posted by rcecale
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 person's 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
Randy
|
Albert Schweitzer once remarked: "nationalism is an infantile disorder: the measels of mankind".
It is ridiculous to suggest that a recent immigrant from wherever should become "in every facet an American and nothing but an American". As anyone who is or knows immigrants will tell you, their loyalties will be divided for life.
It is interesting to contrast the Canadian approach to this with the American. Canadian immigration policy has always been at pains to recognize, accomodate and celebrate the rich ethnic mix of our immigrants. The notion that "any man who says he is an American but something else also, isn't an American at all" is totally absurd in a Canadian context - as of course it is "de facto" in an American context.
Immigrants will always have divided loyalties - and that is as it should be. By choosing to live in America, an immigrant is already making a more considered statement about his loyalties that someone born in America fortuitously - and that choice alone is worthy of respect.