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Written nearly two decades ago, it spells out the very liberal historian's concerns that immigrants were becoming much too resistant to learning English and the possible implications of that for the nation and its ability to truly be "one" nation.
Language, Schlesinger correctly pointed out, is one of the most fundamental ways through which a nation defines itself.
And there is no denying growing resistance on the part of many new immigrants to learn English and make it their primary language is hurting their ability to effectively intergrate into American society and achieve the "American Dream".
When anyone moves to a country other than the country of their birth, they have a duty to learn the language of that country.
I don't care if it's Mexican, Salvadoran, or Brazilian immigrants coming here, or affluent American retirees flocking to live in fortress style, gated communinities in Costa Rica; if you choose to live in another country, you need to learn that country's language. Period.
And Mr. Carlson is absolutely right that people like John Tierney are off base when they try to blame GW, as much as I have no respect for our incompetent Commander in Chief, for all that is wrong with america.
In fact, one of the few decent and intelligent things our bonny Prince has done in his presidency was his advocacy of a truly comprehensive and effective overhaul of our immigration policies. Which are in desperate need of such overhaul.
Unfortunately, extremists, xenophobes, and ignorant nativists who were to the right of our very right wing president, used fear tactics and bigotry to undermine one of the few honorable and intelligent policies GW put forth in his entire tenure as president.
That, in my view, is truly un-American
Of course, if we reward illegal immigrants with a "path to citizenship" that is not shared with those legitimate immigrants who choose to follow the law in entering our country, then it should not be surprising that they resist learning our language.
I heard from my Irish grandparents countless stories about the "Irish Need Not Apply" signs in the textile industry through out the Merrimack Valley
Later iin the 19th century, when the migration pattern shifted to people coming from southern and eastern Europe, earlier northern European immigrants were extremely resentful of the new comers.
And the commonly known, and insulting acronym WOP used to describe Italian immigratnts actually stood for "Without Papers" - translation, illegal!
The debate over immigration and what to do about it is, in many ways as old, as the Republic itself.
Today's debate simply reaffirms for all to see that the old adage, "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is as true today as when it was coined many years ago.
To their great credit men like GW Bush, John McCain, and, yes, Ted Kennedy tried to put their many differences aside to craft an intelligent, respopnsible bill that would address the complexities of our broken immigration system in ways that did not result in vilification and of millions of people, whether they came to this country via the proper channels or not, the vast majority of whom are hard working people simply seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
Unfortunately, as much as you may dislike the terms Mr Carlson, the xenophobes, bigots, and nativists deliberately undermined and derailed the honorable effortss of Bush, McCain, and Kennedy for cheap, short term, political gain with little regard to the damage such actions would do the social fabric of this country.
Hope everyone survived that little sporting event last evening.... :-(
Let me see if I understand this, Michael....
I support enforcement of our immigration laws through LEGAL immigration channels, therefore I am a xenophobe and a bigot?????? Let me tell you a little story....
My great grandparents, legal immigrants, assimilated into society and literally worked themselves to death in a leather factory to support themselves and their growing family. They taught us the traditions of the "old country" while embracing the opportunities of their new country. They also taught us that hard work and not handouts, is the American way.
Merriam Webster online: "xenophobe":one unduly fearful of what is foreign and especially of people of foreign origin...
Xenophobe?
I beg to differ....
Well done all in the media who have taken up the GOP bullhorn to warn us that our childrens education, our elders retirement and our militarys lives are secondary when compared to the invasion of the subuman hordes from the south.
Yes well done, say it loud and then say it louder becasue these days the the quality of an argument is not as important as its quantity and volume.
I am immigrant, originally an illegal one, but as I have been told more than one, "you are different", so I am accepted. 'No Irish need apply" does not apply anymore. But this is one immgrant who is not for closing the door on his brothers and sisters in need, no matter where they come from. And this is an American who is willing to learn Spanish so that he can continue to fully enjoy what is possibly the greatest experiment in human history the melting pot of the United Stares.
Is that what you want to hear?
I'm curious as to why you didn't enter the country legally...just couldn't be bothered?
The people who support enforcement of the immigration laws don't care which country the illegals are from. This is a myth generated by the pro-illegal crowd.
I've done a little research on the illegal immigration problem in Ireland, and from what I've read it seems the majority of the irish feel the same way about illegal immigration and amnesty for illegals in Ireland as Americans do in the U.S.
So where do you get off lecturing us?
Thanks for speaking up.
And Mr. birmingham, the greatest number of people bailing on the US with their Social Security checks aren't immigrants who came here for a while to get whatever they could and then go back to the "homeland", they're native born Americans scrambling to get out of here with their SSI and pension checks thinking they can live much better and more economically in places like Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
I know. I have property in Costa Rica and I see it ALL the time. And none of them feel any obligation to learn Spanish, even though most of them are first to say when an immigrant comes to the US he/she MUST learn English.
Can we talk hypocisy, arrogance, and double standards here? here?
I stand by the assertion about the outward migration of Americans taking their SSI checks and pensions and headingfor foreign shores where they think they can live more cheaply.
No country exemplifies that reality more than Costa Rica.
The Central Valley town of Escazu is so Americanized with expat retirees, it is the only Catholic parish in the country where the Mass is said in English.
The Pacific coast town of Tamarindo is so Americanized Costa Ricans call it "Tamagringo", and many Costa Ricans refer to the Pacific coast as a whole not as Costa Rica anymore, but as Nueva California.
Sio it's not just immigrants who come to America to take the money and run plenty of native born gringos are doing the very same thing.
Whereas the illegal populace has not paid into the social security system, yet they are drawing on the funds that rightfully should go to the American workers and taxpayers.
Therein lies the difference in the dollars.
Also, we don't require illegals to learn English in this country. Does the Costa Rican government require everyone learn Spanish? I doubt it.
As far as Mass being spoken in English, check out Immaculate Conception church in Salem. The Hispanic community requested a spanish mass, and they got one.
Prior to the closing of St. Joseph church in Salem, St. Joseph was the church where the Hispanic community went because they had a spanish speaking priest, again, requested by the Hispanic community. In fact, during major Catholic holidays, some masses were combined and both English and Spanish was spoken, to bring both communities together.
So I fail to see your point.
:-)
Could it be because the cost of living in the U.S. is becoming so expensive retirees cannot afford to live on their pensions and social security income alone?
Now, why do you suppose that is???????????
duh....
Now back to the Bullhorn-
Rat, your final question, "So where do you get off lecturing us?" begs for clarification, what qualification do you think I need to speak up on this subject, you are saying is that I am not quite American enough to have an opinion, right? I am foregin so why don't I go back to where I came from and look to the problems there? Is that it? Is the true test whether you are really American or not is whether you happen to be born on this land? Some one who chooses to be here doesn't qualify? True colors rat, true colors (or would you rather I say colours, eh?)
Immragtion probelms in Ireland, poohy, yeah I have done a 'little' research into the immigration debate in Ireland also, mostly by talking to friends and family there and when I am confronted with it I consistently point out the hypocrisy of Ireland, above all places, being hostile to immigrants. Really come on, Ireland?
I came here for adventure Rat, the world is a big place and I was eager to explore it and believed that no goverment should be able to tell me that I can't, surely that is something we can agree on? So yes congradulate me for not accepting tryanny, and for taking on the responcibility of improving my lot in life.
Gald to read you Michael, keep trying to turn down the volume and turn up the inteligence
In keeping with you and your ilk, you dodge the legal immigration point simply because it fits your personal and political agenda. I never said anything about being born in this country. Go back to my post, and read it slowly.
As I stated earlier, there is nothing wrong with LEGAL immigration. So how many of our other laws have you chosen to ignore because you don't feel like they should apply to you? Please, feel free, pick and choose whatever other laws you feel like ignoring, you have the backing of the democrats, anyways....
As far as the poor, downtrodden, meek, hard working illegals being too proud to accept "handouts", check out your local hospital emergency room. The handouts the illegals are receiving are not only monetary...
Chill out a bit.
You both have very valid points.
BR is right that people should not come here illegally.
But the fact of the matter is, people have been coming here illegally since the country was founded.
remember,the acronym "WOP" to describe many Italian immigrants? it stood for Without Papers.
Seamus, I agree with your assertion that the vast majority of immigrants, whether documented or not, are hard working people just looking for a better life for themselves and their families.
BR, your assetion about illegals and emergency rooms intrigued me. It came on the heels of a letter to the editor in the Tibune owned Daily Snooze of Newburyport.
In that letter, the author claimed eight five county owned hospitals in california were forced to close because of the "direct impact" of uninsured illegals receiving uncompenated care.
So, being the former social worker and freelance writer that I am, I did some digging.
It is true that many border area, county run, public hospitals in california and throughout the south west are closing their doors, as they are in many parts of the country.
But, according to a joint Hospital Association of America and Government Accounting Office study, it is not because of illegal immigrants draining the public hospital system in those locales.
In fact, only about 25% of those facilities' uncompensated expenses could be attributed to illegal aliens. 75% of those uncompensated expenses were attributable to native born Americans and immigrants here legally having no access to health insurance.
Today's economy, especially in the service and hospitality industries, cannot survive without immigrant labor, whether its is documented or not.
All one need do is look to the panic Cape Cod hoteliers, B&B owners, and restauranteurs are are living with since, for often bogus reasons of national security and this anti-immigrant nonsense, it was announced the guest worker visa program that allowed workers fom jamaica and Eastern europe to come for the summer season to bus the tables, clean the toilets, and change the sheets of affluent American tourists playing on Patty Page's old cape Cod, is going to be drastically restricted.
I work in the hospitality industry on the Outer cape as a waiter in the summer to fund the maintenance of my little cabina, and I do mean little, in the rainforest. The only reason I can work there and have it be financially feasible, even though I make what some would consider good money, is because I have a long standing relationship with a friend who rents a beautiful room to me for a fraction of what he could get for it in the open rental market.
There will be no workers this summer to do those lower end hospitality jobs thanks to, and sorry Bilge rat, bigotry, xenophobia, and plain, old fashioned fear.
The economy of the Outer Cape cannot function, anymore than than the nation's can, without immigrant labor.
And this summer on Cape Cod is going to drive that point home for all to see in a very, very painful way.
So, come on guys. Let's all lighten up a bit. After all, unless one of us is filthy rich and can stand apart from all the rest of us, we are , even when we disagree on some of the fine points, all in this together.
Harry you realize that the people you were talking about are legal immigrants, otherwise they would not be in the social security office. The answer to your question is yes, can I come out from the shadows now and when were your grandparents allowed to.
Rat, I am shameless, but I am honest, they tend to cancel each other out. Now honestly how many ERs have you spent time in and were you issued some sort or decoding device to tell who were the legal and who were the illegal? Or is it the bullhorn that you were listening to? Someone is stealing your inheritance Rat but it is not Jose from Mexico or Huang from Cambodia. Tax cuts for the rich will benefit us all right? In answer to questions about picking and choosing laws, well I speed sometimes, don't drink and drive anymore and taxes.. what about you. And you didn't but you did, didn't you.
The first line I wrote here was that this frenzy about illegal immigration is a farce, the point of our back and forth. It is a farce, the latest to keep us worked up.
In the end, I am honest enough to say that a Laotian family moving in next door would cause me alarm, but happy to know that I would question that feeling, I hope you can all say the same.
Are you really as illiterate as your postings suggest?
Seamus, you seem to be an intelligent individual, why are you reverting to the name calling tactic?
Once again, when confronted with an opinion different than one's own, the petulance, childish behavior sets in.
BTW, you still have not answered my original question.....
:-)
As I mentioned before one should never apologize for calling out xenophobia and bigotry where it’s seen, you would agree with that right. You kinda have to in todays world even if you don't believe it.
And Michael, take Harry on the basis of what he says not how he says it.
Harrys take on the SS office is Xenophobic; the idea that the government is being hoodwinked by illegals is ridiculous. Two people were talking loudly about they were in entitled as citizens, but with foreign accents which, this provoked a reaction in Harry. Xenophobia 101.
And you, Rat, the ERs are being over run with illegals, and how do you know, well just listen to them, right? Since you didn't answer my question I'll split the difference with you, you do spend a lot of time in ERs (plausible) but you don't have that decoding device (to sci-fi-ish) so i have to believe that you are using your keen ghuman senses. I am showing my intelligence again right, thanks for noticing btw.
Again would you welcome a legal Guatemalan family into your neighborhood? Or would you even stop yourself from complaining to your other neighbors about it? Answer that question honestly and then maybe your concern about the "law breaking illegals" can taken as just that.
By the way Rat, if some said to me "So where do you get off lecturing us?" could I say "Once again, when confronted with an opinion different than one’s own, the petulance, childish behavior sets in."
Answer your original question, well lets see I said yeah congratulate me, then there was I came here for adventure, are we back to the "So where do you get off lecturing us"?
I SUPPORT LEGAL IMMIGRATION...
Now slowly repeat it until it sinks in....
Is that clear enough for you????
If a LEGAL Guatemalan family moved into my neighborhood, then I would welcome them with open arms, as would my neighbors...
'Nuff said.....
I'm done....
:-)
Keep the faith!
;-)
I love how you guys claim you're not in the personal assassination mode. But that's just what you do when someone dares to stand up to you.
Bilge rat, when I winked at you CR comment, I then went on to say how frustrating it is that "development" is destroying the very things that made Costa Rica so desirable in the first place.
Then Birmingham, who's posts reveal time and again the poor sap is functionally illerate, starts saying I'm going to bring my WEALTH, back from Costa Rica and live like king here.
Guys, I'm just a working stiff trying to figure it out too.
Just because I had the balls to take a risk and buy property in Costa Rica before CR became hip and trendy doesn't mean I still don't care about the US
Michael, when was I in "personal assassination mode"?
I've always tried to keep my posts free from personal denigrations against other posters here.....
If you're talking about the exchange with Seamus, I believe he began using the adjectival noun crusade, hence the troll post....
From Google-
troll:A troll is a user of a newsgroup, forum or message board that posts messages with the intent of inciting an argument or flame-war
We need some fresh topics, these are getting quite stale....
:-(