The New American Immigrant
12/27/2022
America prides itself on being a nation of immigrants. The British, Dutch, Spanish, and French colonized this continent. William Penn opened his property to the oppressed of what is now Germany. As new ideas came to pass, new states were formed. Rhode Island grew out of Massachusetts, and Connecticut later. With time and distance, they colonizers left the colonies to their own devices to succeed and move about as they desired. All the colonizers really wanted was resources and taxes. They eventually got greedy, and the Revolution began.
Most Americans have immigrant roots. Most groups of immigrants have had their ethnic hazing - a period when that particular group was looked at with suspicion. A fear was present that an influx of people with different customs would somehow change America.
The Chinese came to build the railroads, were discriminated against, and eventually gained acceptance and prospered. This held for the large influx of Irish, Italian, Poles, Asians of any stripe, and any group not of the WASP (white, Anglo-Saxon, protestant) persuasion. You know, those dead white guys who set up the system. They all came to America, got their cultural hazing of discrimination, and went on to succeed as individuals in an open society.
Most large influxes of immigrants were driven by people who wanted to be here to the exclusion of other considerations. These were often refugees of wars or oppressive governments that sought a better life for themselves and their children. They came in numbers that caused alarm to the WASP population, but they were admitted. Shiploads arrived at Ellis Island in New York, and in San Francisco that were processed. The immigrants set about at becoming Americans.
By becoming Americans, we mean meeting the requirements of their admission to the country. These requirements have always been part of the traditional immigration processing policy of the United States. Immigrants needed to have a sponsor to rely on for help in getting started. Usually this was a relative already here. They were to have a skill or obtain employment immediately. This was due to the fact that our current welfare system did not come into creation until the 1960s.
Immigrants were required to learn English as well as they could, as quickly as possible. It was the language that we spoke. They were required to obey the law. They were required to pay taxes, like everyone else. Failing to fulfill any of these requirements was grounds for deportation.
They were not required to apply for citizenship, but the vast majority did. They needed to pass an American history test as a part of obtaining citizenship. In short, they needed to assimilate.
Until recently, they did, and they succeeded in America. They did it the same way that every other family in America did. They worked hard to improve their circumstances, provide for their families, and make it easier for their children to do well. They did what any family anywhere does. They did what they would have done that in their home country.
In addition, they added the burden of moving halfway around the world, because the best promise of a better life was what America stood for - freedom and prosperity. They asked nothing of America, except to be given the opportunity to live here, and be allowed their "pursuit of happiness".
Times have changed. A new type of immigrant has come to America in small but growing numbers. Instead of assimilating into America, they seek segregation. They demand that we make accommodation to their heritage and practices. They claim that by not accommodating their culture, we are violating their civil rights. They wish to participate in the benefits of America, without becoming American. This has never been a part of our immigration policy.
The motto of the United States is "E Pluribus Unum" - out of many, one. It speaks to every unique individual from whatever circumstance pledging loyalty to the United States, and becoming an American, above all other considerations. To quote George Washington "The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations " (Farewell Address, Sept 19, 1796)
We are Americans. Hyphenated sub-groupings are the opposite of individual liberty and personal responsibility. It is an entitlement attitude. "We" (pick a subgroup) are entitled to "This" (pick your issue) because we were wronged by "You" (those not part of the group).
The mission statement of the United States, The Declaration of Independence, lists the rights bestowed by our Creator as "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". The Framers of the Constitution codified a few more and called them Amendments 1 through 10. Over the years several more were added. As for the rest of it, we as individuals, are supposed to sort it out and play nice.
Nowhere does a right exist that the American culture needs to be subjugated to appease a subgroup. The immigrant has come here, to live. In America. Not the other way around. We have made a lot of accommodations, such as everything being printed in English and Spanish (and Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Arabic - pick just about any language). A lot of times, it's good business. People buy what they know. It gets the other Americans familiar as well and allows them to enjoy the world beyond the United States. It was hard to find a Halal store in the United States even 30 years ago - not anymore.
Still the fact remains that the immigrant has come to America. Just as an American traveling abroad may be uncomfortable with his vacation choice, there are people who have immigrated here who may not like it. Not everyone reads the brochure. The option for both is the same - go home. Or pick a different destination, someplace that you are more comfortable with. No one is holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing them to endure a life of torture in America. We have Guantanamo in Cuba for that.
America as a nation is one. The vast majority of our 330 million residents would rather be here than anywhere else in the world. No nation honors individual initiative and liberty with better results than the United States. As always, it is a small and vocal minority that likes to stir up trouble. This has been accelerated by a growing entitlement attitude encouraged by generous social programs.
In the immigration issue, most of the fireworks are coming from those who come here for economic benefit, but who don't really want to become American. They value their heritage and customs above those of America. No one prevents them from continuing those practices in their personal lives or among their social circle, within the bounds of US law. St Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras and Diwali are more about heritage than history, yet they have become part of the American fabric. All are free to participate or not as the individual chooses.
The line gets drawn when personal freedoms of private behavior conflict with US law or the rights of others. The United States of America was founded as a society of laws, not men. In the example cited above, having translators or information available in many languages is a courtesy that the United States provides. There is no right to be addressed in an immigrant's native tongue. The only exception is in a court of law. The burden is for it to be established that a defendant can understand his rights and the charges against him. This may require a translator.
There is a call by certain religions to allow substitution of their moral law for our civil law, even if only for their members. This is not even a new debate. It has been addressed in the issues surrounding the founding of the country among various Christian denominations and the Jewish communities of the time. It has been revisited time and time again in the federal court system. Decisions handed down on issues from polygamy to ceremonial drug use have established that civil law trumps religious practice in the public sphere. That principle is at the very core of our nation as it was established.
We are a diverse people and our strength as a society depends on a constant infusion of new blood, new ideas and new commitment. Historically these 3 needs of the United States have been met by a willing immigrant population anxious to succeed and attain their piece of the American dream. To this day, the vast majority of immigrants arriving on our shores continue to be an asset to the country.
There is a growing number of immigrants, both legal and illegal, with a different agenda. They seek not to commit to and participate in building up their new home, but to take from and undermine it. That is unacceptable. There is a difference between putting out the welcome mat and being a doormat. Common sense argues that if an immigrant arrives on our shores and is not committed to the idea of becoming an American and a contributing member of society, that his visa be stamped tourist or temporary, not permanent. Living in America is a privilege, not a right.