11 April, 2006

Timely words (Coming To America)

"In the first place 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 birthplace 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.

"We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. 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, and 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."

Theodore Roosevelt,
as quoted in The Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 4
7 January, 1919

5 comments:

Foo said...

Where I'm coming from is that what makes an American an American is to become a citizen, learn the language, and put aside allegiance to any other nation. Unlike what the illegal aliens are doing.

For the bonus round, I agree with Roosevelt that it weakens our nation for certain of its citizens to constantly set themselves apart from the rest with hyphenations. African-Americans. Mexican-Americans. Lithuanian-Americans.

It underscores the differences. We should all be just Americans... and work together.

Anne said...

AMEN Foo!!

Jenn said...

GOD BLESS TEDDY!

You can refer to me now as Irish-Swiss-Welsh-German-American.

Jenn said...

PS. Mel at Actual Unretouched Photo just posted on this. You both have nailed it on the head. Well said. (Fred)

Turtle said...

AMEN! I will hold my tongue and not go into a rant like I do every time the TV shows how much we want to keep illegal aliens. The media is obviously misinformed. Idiots. Sign up. Become an AMERICAN citizens like all my other relatives before me, and I'll welcome you with open arms.

Susie: There's so much more to the issue. I understand and appreciate diversity. But the illegals are the problem. All people who have come here in the past became legal US citizens, renouncing their former countries and accepting our ways. They were proud of their heritage, but they wanted to become a part of something better -- where they could be free.

Okay...I'm shutting up. For now.

God Bless Teddy Roosevelt. Right on, man!

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