[muawiyah]

My last immigrant ancestor arrived in 1811 ~ we've been spending years and years and years finding out where any of them came from ~ we had absolutely no experience growing up where there was any sort of family immigrant tradition to listen to, or know about other than the tale of an ancestor who stowed away in a featherbed.

I live in an immigrant neighborhood these days ~ even have fellows here who carried rifles against the Russians as children/teenagers in the Afghan war.

Helps me understand some of the Revolutionary War soldiers in the line ~ they were young too ~ 13- 16 ~ young!

They can humble a man ~ as they did Washington at Valley Forge. I have learned a lot about our Founders by listening to current immigrants.

[Tulane]

You know, I love your post, especially this part:

"They can humble a man ~ as they did Washington at Valley Forge. I have learned a lot about our Founders by listening to current immigrants."

I remember on September 12, 2001, I (like the rest of the country) spent the entire day watching the news. For lunch, I ran across the street to a sandwhich shop to get a quick bite...I chose the restaurant because they have a TV, and I knew everyone would be watching it...

The woman who makes the sandwiches is a hispanic immigrant (probably illegal). She brings her daughter (about 12) to work to translate for her...don't know what I was doing when I was 12, but it sure as hell wasn't going to work with my mom...The kid is about as American as a little kid can get...

Anyway, the woman was crying...I asked the little girl what was wrong...her answer "Momma doesn't understand why anyone would want to hurt this country...it is so kind to everyone."

So, I always think of her when these "immigrants don't assimilate" threads pop up. I know the truth...