Are We Really a Nation of Immigrants? (multiculturalism, generations, Mexicans)

[All American NYC]

To say that America is a "nation of immigrants" is to imply that there has never been an actual American people apart from immigration...For one thing, it implies that anyone who is not an immigrant, or who does not identify with immigration as a key aspect of his own being, is not a "real" American. It also suggests that newly arrived immigrants are more American than people whose ancestors have been here for generations...from Britain and its territories to British colonies. They were not immigrants, but colonists. ...the "nation of immigrants" motto is meaningless in practical terms. Except for open-borders utopians (a group that has grown over the years until now it seems to constitute a majority of the Democratic Party)

Obama's Government wants an open border & no limit on who comes here thats why him & the Democrats scream we are an nation of immigrants.

Since every nation could be called a nation of immigrants (or a nation of invaders) if you go back far enough, consistent application of the principle that a nation of immigrants must be open to all future immigrants would require every country on earth to open its borders to whoever wanted to come. But only the United States and, to a lesser extent, a handful of other Western nations, are said to have this obligation. The rule of openness to immigrants turns out to be a double standard, aimed solely at America and the West.

[Old Gringo]

The vast majority of Americans are the descendents of immigrants.

How did your family get here?

[theunbrainwashed]

We've been a nation of immigrants. That link is all hyperbole. My main gripe is that for one, the government really wants to provide an easy "pathway to citizenship" for the illegals for the Democrats to take advantage of (although I would welcome the coming economic reforms) when my fiancee and I have to pay through the nose and jump through hoops because she was born with the crime of being European. On the other hand, I also don't like the largely anti-Hispanic ranting that your side displays, it hasn't helped at all. You guys propose a solution that doesn't work, will not work, and has not worked and that is hounding Mexicans and hunting them down like dogs, so to speak. The only sane way to manage with 12+ MILLION illegals is to give them temporary work permits that will not lead to a green card, get them in the system, and then later rescind their visas. We should also start implementing free exit visas for Mexican nationals, as well, to make sure that they really have left the country.

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

The vast majority of Americans are the descendents of immigrants.

How did your family get here?

Border crossed over most my family

[TheHurricaneKid]

Didn't we always have illegals?

[EmeraldCityWanderer]

The populatin is 0.9% native American, so yes we are a nation of immigrants. The other 99.1% of the population didn't appear out of nowhere.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

The vast majority of Americans are the descendants of immigrants.

This is quite true. Unless one's ancestors were Native Americans (Indians as they used to be called), then one's roots are not originally American.

[lycos679]

Aren't European politicians now saying that multiculturalism in their respective countries is a failure? I seem to remember complaints that immigrants do not assimilate, rather they stay in the ghettos for generations.

So far it seems only the USA can claim to be a melting pot. If we were to hand out citizenship like candy why don't we hand it out to smart, highly educated and motivated people? Plenty of Russians, Chinese, and Indians can fill up the USA.

[All American NYC]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

The vast majority of Americans are the descendents of immigrants.

How did your family get here?

Thats the Democratic mantra.

My descendants were colonist.

[legalsea]

What about the cave men (and cave women)? I am always hearing about cave men (and cave women). Fred (and Wilma) Flintstone was not simply 'made up' out of thin air.

I mean, there must be ancestors of cave men (and cave women) here in the USA. The cave men (and cave women) can't all be 'dead', DNA wise.

Indeed, I believe when the first Europeans landed in America, the local native Americans (and local native women) told the new arrivals: "We welcome you. But watch out for the cave men (and cave women). They have clubs".

[All American NYC]

Originally Posted by EmeraldCityWanderer

The populatin is 0.9% native American, so yes we are a nation of immigrants. The other 99.1% of the population didn't appear out of nowhere.

Even Indians came from somewhere.

This can be said for every nation on the planet.