Roosevelt Had It Right

by Big Dog on Apr 26, 2006 at 18:27 Immigration

With all the debate and furor about ILLEGAL immigration one would think this is a relatively new problem. In fact, people have been coming here for years (that is how we all got here) but a very long time ago they did it legally. Now, they walk into the country without fear and once they get here they demand that we learn what they are saying and they raise their flags as if they have conquered a new world. Teddy Roosevelt had the idea of immigration pegged in 1907:

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.”

Snopes says it is true.

Roosevelt also had this to say:

“Let us say to the immigrant not that we hope he will learn English, but that he has got to learn it. Let the immigrant who does not learn it go back. He has got to consider the interest of the United States or he should not stay here. He must be made to see that his opportunities in this country depend upon his knowing English and observing American standards. The employer cannot be permitted to regard him only as an industrial asset.” (emphasis added)

Maybe we should have listened to him then and we would not have the problems we do now. It is not yet too late though we need to get the group of pretenders in Congress to pay attention and stop placating groups in order to garner their votes.

If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 26th, 2006 at 18:27 and is filed under Immigration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.