One of our big strengths as Americans--perhaps the biggest--is the pluralism of our people and culture, with different nationalities, races and religions all mixing together. Sometimes we view this as a liability--such as with the current immigration or the 'Ground Zero' Islamic center controversies. But looking back just a little further historically, it is definitely our strength. English, Scots-Irish, German, French, Scandinavian, and Dutch from Western Europe adding their strengths together, along with the Africans originally brought to our shores against their will....followed by Italian, Greek, Spanish, Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian, Jews, etc. from a little further east and south. Add to that the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Philippinos, Indonesians, and other Asians, along with the Turks, Lebanese, Syrians, Egyptians, Afghanis, Iranians, Indians, and Pakistanis from the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Add to that Mexican, Central American, Columbian, Brazilian, Argentinian from south of the border. A true rainbow of humanity all come to America (everybody sing..."on the boats and on the planes, they're comin' to America...free, only want to be free, we huddle close, and hang on to our dream." by Neil Diamond.)
And among these folk are persons from each of the great world religions: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist. And increasingly these religions are being mixed and matched into new forms and creeds, or even no creed at all.
Which of these are you (or more than one, as is probably the case)? I personally am fairly homogenous--75% Swedish and 25% German, but my wife is a European hybrid. And we are Christians.
You probably know and admire someone from many of these nationalities and religions. You probably eat their food from one of the numerous restaurants we each pass by every day. Each one of them (us!) brings some strength and virtue to our new world, don't you think?
Which of these are you (or more than one, as is probably the case)? I personally am fairly homogenous--75% Swedish and 25% German, but my wife is a European hybrid. And we are Christians.
You probably know and admire someone from many of these nationalities and religions. You probably eat their food from one of the numerous restaurants we each pass by every day. Each one of them (us!) brings some strength and virtue to our new world, don't you think?
Okay, we can all admit that we can no longer have completely 'open borders'. There has to be laws that control admission to the country. You need a passport to come in and some kind of legal status to stay. Let's get that in place and enforce it. (Agreed, Mr. Conservative Businessman who likes to hire cheap, undocumented laborers and who doesn't want any real restrictions?)
But we don't have to go to the other extreme and become obsessed with outsiders and foreigners...that is the way of the KKK and other nativists, who have done little that is positive for our nation and much that is harmful. The problems we are having are NOT being caused by immigrants. I would be willing to debate that contention with anyone, and I'm pretty confident I would win, simply because we are/were all immigrants (with the possible exception of full-blooded American Indians)!
So let's stop obsessing about the Muslims, the Arabs, the Mexicans, the ______ (you fill in the blank) as if they're all terrorists and enemies and undesirables. They're not, and we just make ourselves look foolish to the rest of the world doing that.
I agree with much of what you have said here. There is no doubt that we've been the prototype for the "melting pot" of the world. I am of Scottish/German/American Indian descent (believe it or not, my great great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee). My family is indicative of this melting pot. But, obviously, with dwindling resources, access must be limited for many reasons, with the exception of political asylum, etc.
ReplyDeleteAbout the only thing that concerns me is that with the influx of cheap labor, many blue collar worker jobs are hurting. I've only known one Hispanic in the plumbing trade in over 22 years, while I am sure there were others. But, he was willing and did work for a 1/3 of what us others would work for, after spending 4 years in apprentice school, etc. So, I do think there are valid issues on both sides, and it really is hard to separate the both, except in jobs where American's appetite for cheap goods (produce, ect) has already ended the debate.