What I contrasted was voting behavior, saying that most immigrants I know do vote. (incidentally, this number is quite large, so my view is indeed "romanticized," as you put it; is your personal experience with immigration that extensive that it makes you views not "romanticized" but realistic?). Yes, I do think that something is wrong with the culture such as currently ours, in which only 49% of the electorate votes. Are not most of them native-born?
So the author blames the ascendancy of multiculturalism for the fact that many immigrants have no loyalty toward this country---indeed, actually despise it.
What else can I blame this on? This has never happened is this country before. Yes, we had ideologists, such as those enamored by Stalinist Soviet Union, that would commit anti-American acts. To love or hate ideas is easier than to love or hate people.
But never before did we have someone like Jane Fonda who wuld actually cheer a demise of an American pilot, that is, a real person and fellow American. Never before such someone like that could continue to be an idol to so many in this country. In the very least, she is acceptable to most of the public. How many people do you know who refuse to watch her movies? A few of your friends and mine?
Those Muslims who cheered when the World Trade Center was burning are easy to identify and point finger at. This cheer has been with us for a while, however, --- from Berkeley to Chomsky and his fellow travelers in Boston. Whereas before such un- or anti-American views and actions were on the fringe, they have become in recent years the mainstream. What does that have to do with immigrants? It has something to do with you and me. The answer is precisely in our pessimism, which you yourself express: "Well, its going to be a long, slow process to turn back the multiculturalism tide; it may not even be possible at this point. So now we're in a real jam." I beg to disagree: we should stop apologizing for our Western values but do so in a non-racist way. The now rampant anti-Americanism, if not removed altogether, will be pushed back to the fringes.
You also wite: It will be poetic justice if a lot of immigration enthusiasts get blown up by a terrorist suitcase nuke.
Given that you consider me an “immigration enthusiast” as well, I thank you. Had my wife not missed her train on September 11, which arrives under the WTC, she could have been among the "missing" in the WTC today. Your "poetic justice" would have been already served. As it is, you will have to wait for another attack on America.
But thanks for the thought and your good wishes. With fellow citizens like you, who needs Osama...?
I'm afraid assimilation of newcomers is going to be harder than in the past not just because of multiculturalism, but because of jet travel and cheap communications. Overwhelming immigration has and will have even more deleterious effects on our national unity, quality of life, and most especially, national security.