Free Republic

(Vatican Radio) The death of several hundred migrants off the Italian island of Lampedusa this month has focused international spotlight on the broader, complex questions of EU policies regarding immigration and integration. According to one American Muslim leader, the United States model of integration has much to teach European countries at the present time. Syrian-born Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat is founder and president of the Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation, which is based in Baltimore, in the United States. The organisation works to promote cooperation, rather than confrontation, between young people of different religions, cultures and backgrounds. He spoke to...

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) gave a magnificent speech on immigrants and the meaning of America a few minutes ago. If you tear up and are moved, you understand why immigration reform is so critical. And if you sneer, roll your eyes and disparage his words, then there is nothing any bill or pundit will do to change your mind. Yours, in that case, is a different vision of America than mine. After recounting the incredible details of his parents’ struggles and immigration he said: This is not just my story. This is our story. It reminds us that we are...

Now, in a move to ramp up support for immigration reform, Pres. Obama has made the following declaration: “Unless you are one of the first Americans, unless you are a Native American, you came from someplace else. That’s why we’ve always defined ourselves as a nation of immigrants. And we’ve always been better off for it.” Liberals seems to forget history a little bit, well a lot bit. It doesn’t matter whether you were born here, or your family came last week, last year, one hundred years ago, or two thousand. Nobody’s ancestors are the original natives of this land....