There is a lot of talk these days about immigration. Some want to close the door of our country completely and others want to ignore the fact that some have come in illegally. It seems to me that everywhere I travel in the world people are in awe of us being “American”. Perhaps being a loyal true sold out American is what has been lost in the debate. The conversation is confused by many that want to be this kind of american or that kind of american instead of just “American”.
It appears from the quote below that the question of immigration has been a problem before. Can we learn something from Theodore Roosevelt?
‘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
America will never be a nation of one race but if it is to survive it must be a nation of one people. Over and over the world has benefited from the benevolence this one people coming to the rescue. We are a people that lay down their differences and band together to defeat any foe and overcome any obstacle.
Today will we let the dividers conquer us?
I am one!
