The New Americans, Introduction

Regnery Publishing ^ | January 2001 | Michael Barone

[KC Burke]

Saturday we had a thread about a column by Pat Buchanan filled with vigorous comment. As his views represent only a portion of conservative thought, I thought a reference to, and the Introduction from, a conservative that, perhaps, represents a greater percentage of the conservative body of thought would be in order.

I think that Buchanan, a commentator who draws a lot of fire on this issue, has a particular lack of usefulness for that reason alone. Pat has lived exactly in the period of the false turn cited by Barone and perhaps is fighting a battle that conservatives have already won. The efficacy of assimilation and the bigoty of the leftist failed solutions, that confuse immigration and civil rights issues, is now so apparent that fresh attitudes may be welcomed by the general population.

I had felt that this book provided such a fresh attitude and commented about it upon its publication. However, events of 2001 overshadowed the issue and it seemed to pass unnoticed by most. Perhaps even the "elite" of conservative thought can't see Americanization as worth salvaging?

Neither the column from Saturday, nor this book's Introduction sufficiently address the failure of both political parties to properly secure our borders. A problem whose history is tied up in the immigration issue, but also the drug war issue and now the terrorism issue. Perhaps as it is so evident a universal failure by all involved, including the general public who have failed to make it a primary concern, this thread can take it as a given and center on immigration itself, Americanization and history's lessons we might profit from applying. Those are the issues that Barone sets out in this valuable book as outlined by this introduction.

[KC Burke]

I happily claim all the typos,

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[KC Burke]

A different take on the issue.

[KC Burke]

It takes some time to wade through, but I felt it is worthwhile.

[Torie]

I actually read the book when it came out, and refer to it often, and on this very forum. It is filled with interesting material.

[KC Burke]

Despite Franklin's fears for my ancestors, we are getting by, at least until Kerry takes office.

[risk]

Speaking of "New Americans," I recommend that everyone take a few hours to watch a repeat of The New Americans, an Independent Lens presentation on PBS about recent immigrants.

Presented with a straight face as advocacy for making life easier for newcomers, you may have quite the opposite reaction.

The most striking scenes involve Islamic Palestinian immigrants who take to the streets in protest of Israel's "occupation" of Palestine.

This is not the America of our forefathers, far from it. And it's not about race. I'm sure that a lot of Japanese farmers, blacks, Latino land owners, and Christian Lebanese are horrified to see the America to which they immigrated disintegrating into this Balkanized state of affairs.

Yet still the elites keep selling us on the idea of "cultural diversity." It's national suicide, nothing short of it.

I liked every one of the immigrants portrayed, even the Palestinians. But I just can't imagine having their problems imported here, and with many of the featured immigrants, it was somehow apparent that they're not coming here to become "American," they're here to make money and setup a landing strip for their own families.

They're coming here to change us, not for us to influence them.

[Torie]

Immigration has been one of the gleaming jewels in the American crown. It has made us what we are, the beacon of the planet, like none ever seen before. It has been a fabulous success story. Of course, the past is not necessarily the future, but I remain bullish on America. The 21st century will be an even more American century than the 20th. It will our golden age. We will remake the planet, in our own image. I really believe that.

[cyborg]

Coming to America gives immigrants a chance to get away from a dysfunctional society, but they also bring with themn habits of mind that turn out to be dysfunctional in the United States -- the deep distrust of institutions among Italians and Latinos, for instance.

***I don't know about anyone else but this is certainly true in my family's case. I find myself going :yawn: Okay I'll vote for Bush but otherwise politicians could care less about what I think so back to working for my pennies. That's not dysfunctional culture though. It's par for the course of living in Ole Crusty's state.

[Happygal]

Immigration to the US is damned hard.

I'm an Irish, College graduate, journalist with a 14 year work history (never, not worked...in fact, wouldn't know what it was NOT to work)...but if I applied for a Green Card to go to the US to find my fortune I'd get a big ol'..thanks, but no thanks. (I know, I've tried)

Maybe if I didn't speak English (btw, I am bilingual) and I wanted to be a welfare leech, I'd have some chance.

But presently, I need to marry some American mug to get me a Green Card.

Not my style, frankly.

[Torie]

Of course the system is messy and irrational. None could defend it really, except that it still works. I see it every day with my own eyes. But the filter is that those who are willing to make the sacrifice to become new Americans, find a way. And it is a filter, and always has been. Get a skill that is in high demand.

[mrustow]

I'd love to see a revitalization of "Americanization," but it's not going to happen. The primary vehicle of Americanization 100 years ago, was the public school. Today, the public schools are run by traitors who devote themselves to inculcating a hatred of America and the English language in their students, and running out on a rail, anyone who would teach otherwise. (I taught in public colleges during much of the 1990s, and God knows, I saw enough of such anti-Americanism there.)

As far as I know, there is no legal mechanism for deporting America's "educators."

[Happygal]

''Get a skill that is in high demand''??

I'm an Irish conservative journalist. I thought there was only ONE of me! *L*

[cyborg]

Bill O'Reilly would claim that spot!

[Torie]

LOL. Apply to the National Review. You should fit right in.

[mrustow]

BTW, thanks for the ping!

[KC Burke]

Speaking of Irish journalists and scholars, I am baffled trying to overlap what little I know of Conor Cruise O'Brien with his great interest in the conservatism of Burke as exhibited by The Great Melody. His later work on Jefferson is interesting as well. But I thought that the last term that would be used to describe him over his lifetime was conservative. Any insight?

[pacpam]

I hope it can be pounded home that what G Washington meant still holds.
' The nation would welcome newcomers of all backgrounds -- there were no restrictions on immigration then -- and treat them as equals, not out of generosity but on principle. A diverse people would ahre a common citizenship. America would be a proudly multi-cultural nation. But it would be a nation with a common civic culture.'

We seem to have lost sight of our common civic culture and I think it is time to get it back.

[KC Burke]

You are quite welcome.