The point is immigrants succeed because of our form of Govt and commerce.. That a person could buy land. That capital was available in a country like no other that enabled people to work and succeed.
..and because there is a self-selection of the ambitious and strong from these depressed countries that gamble on a new life, giving up their old one. America has always "insourced" the best each country has to offer. Our national gene pool is so strong because of that.
Very good point about the "old countries being in the doldrums, while the immigrants make a better life here"
I certainly hope to get to New Orleans. My ancestors lived on Julia then DeLord streets, and my greatgrandmother was baptized in St Patrick's Church. I hope it survived the ravages of Katrina. I have seen pictures on the Internet of the magnificent stained glass windows there, and hope they remain intact. They remind me of a glazier's version of Mel Gibson's Passion.
St PAtricks on camp street is my favorite Church in NOLA. Its the one I attend when I am there. Not only was there hardly any damage it was the first to reopen and is thriving. Many Servicepeople attended Mass there in the early days of the Crisis. They still perform the Tridentine mass and in fact also have a service every Sunday where they perform the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin every Sunday. They have adoration I think almost every day. I was looking at that there site the other day to get mass times because I am going to NOLA next week.
The altar is beuatiful and the Paintings behind it are the most breathtaking aspect of the Church. They have a picture of it on their website I think still.
http://www.oldstpatricks.org/