Posted on 07/06/2019 8:27:24 AM PDT by Kaslin
Independence Day used to be a happy day when all Americans put aside their partisan differences and came together to celebrate the miraculous birth of the United States of America.
But like almost everything in the upside-down era of President Donald Trump, our great Fourth of July holiday has been spoiled by ugly politics.
Whether it's Nike deciding not to sell a running shoe with a Betsy Ross flag on its heel because a leftist ex-pro football player was offended, or President Trump being charged with militarizing the July 4th parade in Washington, Independence Day has become another thing to fight about for a few days on cable TV and in social media.
Immigration is still by far the country's most divisive issue now.
My father loved and understood immigrants, but with the way things have deteriorated in Washington, I don't know if he would have many allies on either side of the immigration battle today.
This Fourth of July weekend is a good time to listen again to the uplifting things he said about immigrants and America in 1989 during his last speech at the White House:
" ...I think it's fitting to leave one final thought, an observation about a country which I love. It was stated best in a letter I received not long ago.
"Yes," my father continued, "the torch of Lady Liberty symbolizes our freedom and represents our heritage, the compact with our parents, our grandparents, and our ancestors. It is that lady who gives us our great and special place in the world.
"For it's the great life force of each generation of new Americans that guarantees that America's triumph shall continue unsurpassed into the next century and beyond. Other countries may seek to compete with us; but in one vital area, as a beacon of freedom and opportunity that draws the people of the world, no country on Earth comes close.
"This, I believe, is one of the most important sources of America's greatness. We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people -- our strength -- from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation.
"While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier.
"This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost."
My father then told a story to remind his audience that "the magical, intoxicating power of America" was so strong it could make even a German POW imprisoned in the United States "fall in love with us."
"Those who become American citizens love this country even more," he said. "And that's why the Statue of Liberty lifts her lamp to welcome them to the golden door.
"It is bold men and women, yearning for freedom and opportunity, who leave their homelands and come to a new country to start their lives over. They believe in the American dream. And over and over, they make it come true for themselves, for their children, and for others. They give more than they receive. They labor and succeed. And often they are entrepreneurs.
"But their greatest contribution is more than economic, because they understand in a special way how glorious it is to be an American. They renew our pride and gratitude in the United States of America, the greatest, freest nation in the world -- the last, best hope of man on Earth."
Happy Fourth.
After all, he was deceived and then screwed by the Democrat Party once they had secured Amnesty from him while promising border security that hey refused to deliver on. One of the most devastating mistakes your father made as President Michael, and I speak as one that loved him from the moment he began his candidacy.
So far, President Trump outshines your father in my eyes, as far as Presidents go in my lifetime, but there will always be a special place in my heart for your father. He was a special person above all else.
If employers lived up to the bargain and OUR GOVERNMENT ENFORCED THE LAWS with fines and penalties we wouldn't have this immigration crisis today.
Sorry I couldn't resist. I have no idea who that woman is.
“I have never heard of a face ringing a bell.”
It’s easy if you smack their head into it.
I'm not even sure your father would agree with himself on immigration, and hopefully he would reject the open borders approach that dominates in the Democrat Party, and with far too many RINOs within the Republican Party.
After all, he was deceived and then screwed by the Democrat Party once they had secured Amnesty from him while promising border security that hey refused to deliver on. One of the most devastating mistakes your father made as President Michael, and I speak as one that loved him from the moment he began his candidacy.
So far, President Trump outshines your father in my eyes, as far as Presidents go in my lifetime, but there will always be a special place in my heart for your father. He was a special person above all else.
Margaret Heckler
Reagan did later say that his biggest mistake was signing the 1986 Amnesty bill. Of course by then it was too late.
“Margaret Heckler”
Thanks! I never heard of her. I mistook her for some imaginary person in my head.
Yeah, but in reality I was talking to Michael Reagan, not you personally. I was merely directed my comments to your post.
Even Ed Meese said that the 1986 amnesty was Reagan’s biggest mistake. When you reward something you get more of it.
Margaret Mary Heckler was an American politician, member of the Republican Party for Massachusetts who served in the United States House of Representatives for eight terms, from 1967–83 and was later the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Ambassador to Ireland under President Ronald Reagan
I know that, but you could have replied in the comment line in Townhall,com directly. Some columnists read replies if readers and actually answer them.
When the Federal Courts ruled that illegals were to be given the same access to Safety Net benefits previously reserved for citizens along with education etc. the previous relationship was changed forever. I’m old enough to remember that even legal immigrants used to have to have a sponsor that would guarantee they would not be a burden to society, a far cry from today’s guaranteed rights immediately bestowed upon crossing our borders legally or illegally. And the States must pay for these benefits because the Federal government won’t do their job of securing our borders.
I was thinking something like that.
This has nothing to do with open borders or illegal immigration.
Increased productivity of labor also leads to increased average wage rates, and increased standard of living of the average worker.
- Right click your mouse over the picture
- That gets you the image URL {https://media.townhall.com/townhall/reu/ha/2018/219/14653205-70ad-4e91-821f-9b7ae8e0f2ea.jpg }
- Goto Google
- Goto Image
- Click on the little camera at the end of the search box
- Paste in the image URL
- Look through all the possible matches < You'd have found:
Thanks for the info. Anyone know how to right click on a track pad?
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