I was a college student in France 20 years ago. At the time they had already imported large numbers of foreign laborers. The idea was for them to help with the good economy in the 60's & 70's and then they would go back to their home countries (yeah right). The French economy then tanked (and hasn't changed since) and large numbers of these people were left jobless.

Neither they nor the French wanted to assimilate with each other. As most French students went to a university closest to home, many lived at home or in apartments. I lived in a dorm, which was largely populated by North African Muslims. The fact that these people were at a French university meant they were intelligent. Several of them became very good friends.

I saw very little integration between these foreign students and the French population. Ditto for foreign workers, they had their own cafes, etc to hang out. I think it was a combination of them not wanting to assimilate and the French keeping their distance and hanging out with "their own". Now look where France is today.

My point is that I see the same thing happening today here. We have massive Latino immigration without assimilation. We are partly to blame in that American govt. and businesses bend over backwards to change the United States to a bilingual country. The Catholic church I attend has more Latinos then Americans and offers mass in Spanish. I went to another Catholic church in western NC, the population was 90% Latino.

I wonder where it will end. Hopefully the US born children of Latinos will learn English and assimilate, but we are making it easier for them not to do so. Although I love foreign languages and cultures, I personally do not wish for the United States to become a bilingual country and experience the same problems down the road that France is experiencing.

Dan, there's assimilation/ethnic problems in France with it's 10 million predominantly Islamic immigrants?

From the news reports I've seen the rioters that burned 12,000+ cars over the past 3 weeks were unhappy youths who need jobs.

Hugh:

I think in France it's like the Irish problems of the past few decades - hopefully behind us.

It was "known" to be about the catholics and the protestants, but it was really an economic war, where the prot's had all the money and power and the catholics were pretty much a beaten people, who revolted after a few centuries of underlife.

I'm not sure we have that same problem here. The Hispanics and Orientals that have "invaded" our country, along with the Middle Easterners and East Indians have picked up on the opportunities in America and are kicking the white man's butt.

The problem here will come from the majority of whities who are being left behind - spoiled and not applying themselves in school entering a society where all the middle class jobs have moved overseas so they are left to do manual labor jobs which the hispanics have already laid claim to - and work at 5 times harder btw - or be the greeter at Wal-Mart - positions the retirees need to make ends meet.

I guess they'll always need shipping clerks and cashiers too ... and lawn mowers (I mean "landscapers"). UPS driver do well, or so I'm told, as do HVAC mechanics and plumbers so maybe there's some hope.

The other few percent of whities either worked hard as youth (the percentage of "farm boys" that do well is huge when contrasted with "city boys") or their parents are well connected or they are a very rare breed of extrodinary beauty or talent.

Of course Blacks have aways had an uphill battle.

OK - a lot of stereotypes there - but it's not far from the mark.

The question is - where we gonna be in 10 / 20 years? This is why I'm so outspoken about America - I'm scared to death for my own future as well as my kids. Screw the rest of ya'll (semi-kidding, but only semi).

I agree with assimilation. When are we going to assimilate with the Native Americans who were here first?

JDR,

You said it, not me. That was a whole lot of stereotyping going on. I worked in a lot of manufacturing jobs before turning in my workshoes for a calculator. I can honestly say that I worked with a lot of white guys, black guys, Indians, Mexicans, Asian, and people who I'm not sure where to peg and really couldn't see much difference in how they worked.

Sure, we had a few white foremen who would rather sit on their tails than work, but that was true of the black foremen too (there were just fewer of them).

What I've noticed in the construction and landscaping businesses is that the Mexican labor doesn't mind working hard. But I've also had to have the same job done over 6 or 7 times by a Mexican who was working hard before they called a white guy in who did it right the first time. I'm not saying it's anyone's fault or reflects on anyone's race. I just think that often the folks that hire these Mexicans do not properly train them and the Mexicans don't quite have the confidence or ability to vocalize that.

Truth, I can honestly say you have some very valid points. Having been in the process of renovation/restoration of an old property, I have seen first hand the muck created by unskilled and untrained hispanic laborers. Sure they work cheap and that is the reason so many contractors use them. And most have so much work they don't care whether you are satisfied with the job they do.

The first contractor I had used almost exclusively hispanic labor. They did such a shoddy job, I ended up having to fire the contractor. And I have been left with major problem because of the "cheap" labor.

It has been my experience they (immigrants) want nothing to do with assimilation. They come here to better their life but refuse to participate in the community at large. They want to keep the ways and cultural life they bring with them so we have to do all the conceding. In other words, they force their culture on us without any interest in meeting us halfway.

I feel we are used and abused by many of the folks coming here from other countries, particularly Mexico. Phillipenos are humble, gentle people, as a rule, and blend well while keeping their culture alive. Other immigrants should follow their lead, imho.

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