My wife is Italian, and she is furious this morning. Although she can't vote in this election (Italian Citizen) She has been a stalwart Supporter of President Bush. She has passed out more registration cards than I have!!!!
She reminds me of my Grandma, who came from the south of France(Basque). She came over as a young adult, and so did most of her siblings. She was so proud of becoming an American, and wanted to be included in everything in her new country!
She also learned English pretty fluently, but with a charming accent that she never lost. Furthermore, she wanted her children to learn English, rather than Basque. And claimed she never wanted to go back to her native land.(economic problems in the region she lived, also her fiance had come before her, she wanted to join him.)
That's because America was still a land of great opportunity then, as it still is to many! I also had immigrant relatives that came from Germany, and they probably felt much the same way.
Finally, she became an ardent Republican! She owned a small hotel, restaurant complex in her town, and when the politicians came to town, they would stay at the hotel; particularly an old senator(McCarran(sp?)). This was way back in the 40s and 50s.