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...
I know a grown woman who has lived here for 27 years, and cannot speak conversational English at all.
And she finds that she doesn't need to.
She is the mother of a friend.
Many of my neighbors have been my neighbors for years, and still they don't speak a word of English.
It's very difficult communicating with them.
In places like Miami (the former) and LA (the latter), learning English is completely superfluous, and there are tons of people who do not assimilte. I don't know the exact percentage, but it is significant.