Why are there immigration laws

busterb · 03-27-2006, 06:36 PM

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone 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 person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907
And here is a link to http://www.snopes.com/quotes/teddyroos.asp

tw · 03-27-2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busterb

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, ...

So how is Roosevelt's point relevant to this discussion?

busterb · 03-27-2006, 08:58 PM

Don't fit for you? Don't read the damn post.

tw · 03-27-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busterb

Don't fit for you? Don't read the damn post.

What does that mean? The original question also remains unanswered: So how is Roosevelt's point relevant to this discussion? Simple question. Answer should be just as simple. How is Roosevelt's point relevant?

03-27-2006, 11:55 PM

Well, I don't know what busterb's point was, but Teddy's little diatribe sounds a bit xenophobic to me. Sure, we shouldn't allow people to come over here and be citizens while at the same time working actively to overthrow the government on behalf of some foreign power, but I have no problem with "hyphenated" Americans. So someone is Mexican-American. BFD. This is an English speaking country, so if people want to get anywhere here, it would be helpful for them to learn English. If they want to speak Swahili or pig Latin in the privacy of their own homes, I couldn't care less.

As far as a person becoming in every facet an American, look at the Pennsylvania Dutch. They've been here longer than a lot of other folks, they still speak a form of German dialect among themselves, and they haven't exactly blended into the main stream. I notice that none of them have tried to blow up any government buildings lately, either.

Old Teddy made his pronouncement at the turn of the last century when this country was getting flooded with European immigrants. Folks were feeling pretty overwhelmed by them all, and you can see that in Teddy's statement. Given the times, his words were actually rather magnanimous of him.

Bully.

03-27-2006, 06:36 PM	#1
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907. "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone 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 person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt 1907 And here is a link to http://www.snopes.com/quotes/teddyroos.asp __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

03-27-2006, 08:58 PM	#3
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Don't fit for you? Don't read the damn post. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

03-27-2006, 11:55 PM	#5
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Well, I don't know what busterb's point was, but Teddy's little diatribe sounds a bit xenophobic to me. Sure, we shouldn't allow people to come over here and be citizens while at the same time working actively to overthrow the government on behalf of some foreign power, but I have no problem with "hyphenated" Americans. So someone is Mexican-American. BFD. This is an English speaking country, so if people want to get anywhere here, it would be helpful for them to learn English. If they want to speak Swahili or pig Latin in the privacy of their own homes, I couldn't care less. As far as a person becoming in every facet an American, look at the Pennsylvania Dutch. They've been here longer than a lot of other folks, they still speak a form of German dialect among themselves, and they haven't exactly blended into the main stream. I notice that none of them have tried to blow up any government buildings lately, either. Old Teddy made his pronouncement at the turn of the last century when this country was getting flooded with European immigrants. Folks were feeling pretty overwhelmed by them all, and you can see that in Teddy's statement. Given the times, his words were actually rather magnanimous of him. Bully.

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