And you don't have the right to evict people because you don't approve of the way they conduct their day-to-day affairs.
The "melting pot" that you erroneously describe, has always meant that as each and everyone of the many waves of immigrants, from every corner of the world arrived in the US, they added their own "ingredient" to the stew of American culture.
With the passing of time, these immigrants have "melted" into a society, that while remaining strong, was augumented with the remmants of their culture, and traditions.
That's why we celebrate St. Patrick's day, Columbus Day, Chinese New Year, Oktoberfest, and even Bastille Day.
That's why American cousine includes spaghetti, fried rice, fajitas, hot dogs with sauerkraut, and even black beans and rice.
Now, you talk about the people who move here to "subvert" our Constitution, but you provide no examples of any subverting of the Constitution. Instead, you wander off into vague, unsubstantiated, and even contradictory mumblings about politicians pandering (when have they not pandered?), and people coming here to "re-order our society".
Well, you yourself just admitted that this is what immmigrants have always done!
"Through the years, people of the world's various cultural and ethnic groups have brought many positive ideas and values and have contributed much to the mosaic of America. That is all to the good."
And no, this nation does not have the "right", under the current law of the land, to run anyone out, who obeys the laws, renounces allegiance to any foreign government or nation, and stands willing to defend this country when needed.
Your particular sentiments about what language legal immigrants speak (when communicating with one another that is, interaction with government at any level should always be conducted in the language deemed to be the common language of the nation), what religion they practice, what cultural observances they maintain, or what political ideology they support, have no bearings on their right to be here, as all these things are guaranteed to all people legally residing anyplace where the recognized law of the land is the US Constitution.
Once people have legally migrated here, and become citizens, they have every right that any American has. INCLUDING the right to bitch about the government, and the current state of affairs.
When The Founders said that all men were created equal, and that they all had the inalienable rights to life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they didn't qualify that with a statement indicating that these rights were subject to approval by their next-door neighbor.
Sometimes, to love America, is to exercise the gifts she so generously gives us.
Freedom, it's a scary thing because everyone gets theirs.
The "melting pot" that you erroneously describe, has always meant that as each and everyone of the many waves of immigrants, from every corner of the world arrived in the US, they added their own "ingredient" to the stew of American culture.Tremendous post and dead on.
Both the "melting pot" and the PC "salad bowl" are false concepts of how American assimilation works. The "stew pot", where the new ingredients blend into the rich base and remain distinguishable at the same time. That's how if I eat kielbasa it's part of my heritage, black beans and rice or lasagna and I'm taking advantage of living in America.
There's a balance though. The modern-day Know-Nothings seem to object to any expression of ethnic identity by the "newer" immigrants, just as their 19th Century predecesors objected to such (including Catholicism) practiced by Poles, Italians, the Irish, etc. They are as full of it as their apt-named ancestors. Still, there are ways in which all Americans can and should be expected to adapt. I'd include following our work ethic, adapting to our sanitary and hygenic practices, and learning English. The PCers object to this largely to maintain large blocks of economically disadvantaged voters they can exploit.
In modern assimilation, we can even see patterns being repeated:
What people often run small entreprenuerial businesses that employ the whole family, yet place tremendous value on education for their children? Asians? Nope, Jews 100 years ago.
What people have very close family and religious ties, work hard in a lot of manual labor type jobs (sometimes to the ire of their predecesors), and sometimes have language issues? Hispanics? Nope, Italians and Eastern Europeans, 100 years ago.
What people are heavily represented in entertainment, sports, domestic labor, politics, and both crime and law enforcement? Blacks aren't really immigrants but their modern experience resembles the Irish 100 years ago.
Assimilation progresses over time.
-Eric
1. Ill stick with my definition of the Melting Pot. This is America foreigners are obliged to adapt to our ways; we are not obliged to adapt to foreign ways! To the degree that the Melting Pot results in LEGAL immigrants and their families becoming socialized to the American way of life and adopting a non hyphenated I am an American attitude, immigration is beneficial for all of us, IMHO. To the degree that foreigners insist on keeping their own traditional way of living and to the degree that said traditions and customs do not conflict with the U.S. Constitution and the law of the land, Im OK with that. To the degree that foreigners insist on legal recognition of customs and traditions repugnant to the American way of life and that are illegal, I stand in firm opposition to them.
2. The American people have every right, through their government, to evict people who conduct their affairs in an illegal manner (and that includes those who are here illegally), or who work to subvert the Constitution or cause harm to this country or its people. I never said that we have the right to run those who are legally residing in the United States out if they obey the laws. We damn sure have the right to deport those who are illegally here, though! And on that basis alone. It is a black and white issue One is either a legal resident of the United States or one is not.
3. As far as I am concerned, if a person is in this country illegally, they should be identified, charged with the federal crime being here illegally is, convicted, and shipped back to their country of origin. We need to take off the gloves, and control our borders. And jealously, very jealously, keep illegals out!
4. HST, America needs to develop a much better Green Card program.
5. All bilingual education programs should be cancelled, immediately. I have a message to all who would come to the United States: This is America. We speak English. Learn it. You will be much better off.
6. With regard to your comment about non-official language, I personally could care less what language is spoken around the supper table or in private conversations my concern is that non-English speaking people are allowed to, among other things, become citizens. register to vote, vote, obtain drivers licenses, and have official documents translated for them and/or translators supplied for them at taxpayer expense. U.S. taxpayers should not spend one damn dime to facilitate this kind of insanity. The lesson is this: To thrive in America, you have to speak English, and the sooner you learn it, the better off we all will be.
7. I agree that legal immigrants and U.S. citizens have the same Unalienable Rights. Recall that some of the 9-11-01 perps were legal residents, and they were here to subvert not only the Constitution, but the country. And they damn sure Re-ordered it, didnt they?
8. The pandering I was referring to was the politicians (Ds and Rs both) to buy votes with such deals as blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants, bilingual education, preferential loans, refusal to militarize our borders, etc., etc. Every thoughtful Real American, regardless of their country of origin, recognizes that this is not a smart thing to do, unless you are trolling for the class warfare vote.
FReegards. When is the next march?