Immigration Reform

Immigration reform should be a hot topic with the crisis on the borders with Mexico.  I think we should look at our history to find solutions to this problem.

Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president  once said in a letter dated January 3, 1919   :

We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.

But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.

Throughout history, societies have crumbled when they allowed themselves to become splintered with different nationalities and languages.

If I were to go to Mexico and take a driver’s license exam, it would not be in English.  Why do we insist on allowing everyone else to segregate themselves instead of becoming a citizen of this country.   A common language that is spoken by all citizens is a necessity to get the best from all who come here.

This idea is not intended as a hardship on those who want to become citizens, but as a way to even the playing field.  If you can speak English then you can compete better, get better education, and not be held back by a language barrier.

In the early years of our country, the first generation immigrants insisted that their children lean English.  For some reason we have decided that is not a good idea.  It is times like this that we must refocus our immigration polices to enforce becoming an American, and not a foreigner in our country.

One thought on “Immigration Reform”

  1. I agree. Being an immigrant myself, I was never given the option to do anything else. When I went to school there was only one language, English, I had to learn it. I am now bilingual and that has its advantages. People in my country of origin speak a minimum of 3 languages. What is going on at the border between the USA and Mexico is a tragedy. It is a psychopathic political game. Welcome to the Internet Mr. Smith.

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