I get a lot of email forwards from people of many different opinions and beliefs with whom I don't necessarily agree. Usually, I don't respond. Today, though, I got this one, and I felt compelled to respond to the way the message was twisted to represent a xenophobia that is downright unbecoming. Those who make ignorant assumptions or harbor misconceptions about immigrants in this country need to hear from those of us who don't share their views. I couldn't let this one go without sending a reply to EVERYONE on the list of recipients.
Here's the forward:
The year is 1907.....but the speaker knew what he was talking about. READ PRINT UNDER PICTURE
Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907. "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt 1907 EVERY AMERICAN NEEDS TO READ THIS!
Here is my reply:
This is true, and while we are agreeing with this, we need to remember our parents and grandparents who spoke their "first" language at home for years while they became fully versed in English, kept and honored the customs of their countries of origin, and loved and longed for "the homeland" while they were proud Americans. We see evidence of this all around us, and it remains part of the beautiful, complex heritage of our country today.
Immigrants have always been demonized, but don't be fooled by those who say Mexicans and other immigrants don't want to assimilate- I am a teacher in a public school and I see evidence, every day, of this desire to become one of us. Don't be fooled by the tongues that wag and mouths that spout hatred for those who look and speak differently than we who are blessed to have been born here by an accident of birth. The people who have come to this country recently are willing to work the most menial and difficult jobs, and have, against all odds, made their way to America. They are so grateful for the opportunities this country affords them. They are willing to work hard, they want their children to do well in school, and they desperately want to take part in our democracy and become full-fledged American citizens.
Sometimes, a girl's just gotta speak her mind.
1 comment:
Oh Best Beloved,
I love T.R. for so many things, but you gotta remember he's T.R. That alone should pretty much do it, except to say that he of course was a republican. LOL.
Oh, one other thing. Ted forgot he was NEVER a Native American, and that actually he is eternally in the company of say, Bugsy Siegal, Al Capone and Jeffrey Daumer. Good thing he had a better relative to stick up for the family name, a Democrat President that we so needed that he had to die before everyone would quit voting for him.
It isn't the newbies that are stealing your lunch folks, it's the same old company store that keeps you in the coal mines.
J.
Post a Comment