News-Record.com

Hey, Jose, the key word here is "illegal". You seem to have omitted that. Just an oversight, I'm sure.

There would be absolutely no problem or discussion on this topic if these illegal immigrants were from Afghanistan...think about it...

Crypto: Are you advocating Shoot On-sight All Towelheads?

Writers like Davenport who use terms like "linguistic slums" in reference to the American landscape are not only off-base, they conjure a myth of a past America united in its purposes and attitudes, all speaking the same Davenport-like language and presumably, sharing in the Davenport-version of the American dream.

Somehow, such writers overlook the historic differences among even European descendants and immigrants in America, and their unhesitating willingness to beat up on newly arrived European immigrants who lack political power. The Times has run a front page story today about German Americans thrown into prison for saying a few unkind words about the government back in ...1918. Of course, Anglo-Americans spat on the Irish, who eventually worked their way into political power, enough so that they could spit on newly arrived Italians. Then, "swarthy" Mediterranean people were considered racially inferior to those of northern European stock. The key point here is that the word "race" was used to describe the differences between "them" and "us", and to justify some pretty violent and atrocious behavior.

The history of America is: Today, you call them "illegals", "towelheads", etc. Tomorrow, they're fully invested Americans, holding jobs, raising families, sitting on the Supreme Court, running the best corporations in America, fighting our wars, living across the street, and marrying your daughter or son.

Answering Davenport and his supporter's "concerns", point by point, is really beside the point. Given the pattern of immigration and diversity in the US, unmatched by any country on the planet in its success, the main questions are, What do Davenport and his ilk fear? Why are the same boogie men pulled out of the closet, generation after generation? And, Why do otherwise normal and relatively sensible people, reading Davenport's column, feel free to indulge in attacks on the politically powerless using the ugliest language imaginable?

America still does a good job of assimilating immigrants. But the Irish way back when had no recourse to contemporary identity politics, which privileges non-assimilation as a cultural imperative. The fear is that, increasingly, immigrant groups will demand this or that as immigrant groups or as hyphenated Americans, and not as Americans, and that there will be, consequently, a balkanization of American culture--that is, a divided allegiance to one's ethnic in-group and to the broader culture of an increasingly antagonist sort. I don't see it happening anytime soon, but it's not unimaginable.

The major problem with Jose's argument about present day Americans being in touch with their heritage and the comparison to immigrants coming here and retaining their own culture is, one has nothing to do with the other. While we may or may not know about the history of our ancestors, we do not retain old country ways, fly the flag of our "mother" country or speak in a non-native language. Immigrants coming here illegally from Mexico not only retain their third world country ways, they speak spanish even when they know english.

If immigrants are legal, I still have a problem with the lack of assimilation, but I am comforted by the fact they are not breaking the law of our land by being here. And I definitely think legal or not, they do not have the right to come here and start demanding anything. That is a right earned by working, meeting all the requirements for citizenship and becoming a citizen of the US. Until that is achieved, they are living here as a guest and should have the common courtesy to act like one.

Perhaps if Jose and those who think like him would change their own attitudes regarding "When in Rome......", Americans may have less of a negative view and thus less division. Sounds as if he is trying to lay all the blame for the present division at the feet of the American people when in fact, his own attitude reflects some clear resentment towards Americans.

BTW AJY, speaking for myself, fear has nothing to do with my opinion. I have a real problem with illegals coming to the US illegally to begin with. But I especially get riled when they have the gall to break our laws, then flaunt the fact they are getting away with breaking the law. They have not earned the right to be here at all, much less suck from our economical system.

No, it is not fear you are seeing; it is anger. Do you not get angry at the thought of someone coming into your home and taking what they want without your permission and then demanding more? It is only human to resent someone taking what you have earned and for them to feel as if they are entitled to do so. It is their law-breaking, stealing and sense of entitlement that I am angry about, not fearful of.

yvonne nailed it. couldn't say it better if I tried.

Sigh....Oh well, here goes:

Yvonne,

CLAP,CLAP,CLAP,CLAP,CLAP,CLAP,CLAP.......

Ditto yellowdog/neocon, quite an eloquent post Yvonne.

While I'm proud of my Irish heritage, I do not speak Irish nor do I have an Irish flag flying in front of my house.

It angers the hell out of me that people invade this country by the millions, break our laws, and then parade around the country demanding citizenship and the benefits that go with it. It also angers me that our govt., including Pres. Bush, does nothing about it.

Way to go, Yvonne! I can't see that anything else needs to be said!

DAN: What do you mean the Decider has none nothing?

He said he think's the National Anthem should be sung in English, and he has offered them a reason to vote Republican on 6.1 years.

Thank you Yvonne for saying all and saying it well. I had a full page prepared for the writer and for AJY but you saved me the trouble of the edit. Two things stand out. Some still don't understand the word illegal and some don't understand that to assimulate and become a citizen one must know the words to the National Anthem in ENGLISH and that is the law of the land. Guess those who demand it in Spanish don't have citizenship as a goal or so it would appear.
Cheers again for Yvonne!

I agree too, great job Yvonne.

Hear, hear! Well done, Yvonne!

I must be having a weak moment, I agree with Yvonne....I new there was a reason I love being American. And yes the other code word "undocumented resident" makes me ill as well.

Yvonne,

I notice you devoted not one word of your diatribe to the mega-corporations who HIRE illegal immigrants. Surely it is they, not the poor paisano who crosses the border, who pull the strings in this debacle.

Dan,

While you no longer fly the Irish flag, many recent Irish emigres at the turn of the century, did just that. Also, Irish is not a language, so it would be difficult to speak it.

Illegal immigrants are not "demanding more", nor are they asking, in general, for citizenship or amnesty. They want basic human rights, humane treatment, and an acknowledgment of their contribution to our own prosperity. Illegal immigrants sometimes die at work, often are shamefully exploited, and, above all, are PEOPLE. They are the reason your lettuce is 99 cents a head, and they are employed by our nation's largest corporations and Republican donors. This demagoguery is hypocrisy at its worst, and contrary to all Christian principles.