Every American citzen needs to read this.

[~candice~]

MG - I hope that is what he meant, but it isn't what he actually said. What he said was so general that it sounds as if a person must relieve themselves of all cultural heritage in order to become an American, that they cannot retain that 'something else'. It is this that I disagree with. If he meant something else then he certainly said it in a very strange way.

[MorningGlory]

MG - I hope that is what he meant, but it isn't what he actually said. What he said was so general that it sounds as if a person must relieve themselves of all cultural heritage in order to become an American, that they cannot retain that 'something else'. It is this that I disagree with. If he meant something else then he certainly said it in a very strange way.

We have to consider the time period in which these words were uttered. They didn't worry about being PC back then. The fact remains that the U.S. is full of different cultural traits that have been absorbed (along with the people who brought them here) into our culture. And the vast majority of immigrants became part of the fabric of our country. It's only very recently that some immigrants have begun to want to build countries within our country. And it makes for very bad feelings on the part of Americans. Nearly all of whom can trace their heritage to another part of the world. We don't care what they do at home, we just expect them to speak English in schools and the workplace and not parade down our streets waving their former country's flag. I think that's quite reasonable.

[~candice~]

MG - I hope that is what he meant, but it isn't what he actually said. What he said was so general that it sounds as if a person must relieve themselves of all cultural heritage in order to become an American, that they cannot retain that 'something else'. It is this that I disagree with. If he meant something else then he certainly said it in a very strange way.

We have to consider the time period in which these words were uttered. They didn't worry about being PC back then. The fact remains that the U.S. is full of different cultural traits that have been absorbed (along with the people who brought them here) into our culture. And the vast majority of immigrants became part of the fabric of our country. It's only very recently that some immigrants have begun to want to build countries within our country. And it makes for very bad feelings on the part of Americans. Nearly all of whom can trace their heritage to another part of the world. We don't care what they do at home, we just expect them to speak English in schools and the workplace and not parade down our streets waving their former country's flag. I think that's quite reasonable.

MG, you have to consider that not all countries view waving or wearing the flag the same way. It doesn't mean the same thing here in Oz, as it does in the USA. Perhaps, it doesn't mean the same thing to your immigrants either.

And are you saying that TR supported the asorption of immigrants cultural traits?

[oldzimm]

"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 shell 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 but one sole loyalty and that is loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

What happen since 1907? I personally would of added some words to it, but I won't right now because it was Teddy's own speech.

Oh boy, I couldn't disagree more.

I don't understand, candice. You don't think it's important to speak the language of one's adopted country? To assimilate and pay taxes to that country? I venture that a country comprised of smaller groups that remain separate can't be strong or united. An immigrant who remains apart from the larger society is a second class citizen, whether in the U.S. or any other country.

Well those are your words, not mine.

Immigrants do no harm by remaining bilingual, by continuing to celebrate the customs of their birth nation along with the customs of the land they now live in. The quote by TR goes beyond merely speaking english and paying taxes. If that was all it was, I wouldn't really have a problem with it.

But it expressly says that if they are 'something else also' they aren't an American at all. This I take issue with. I don't see why a person can't be a loyal American citizen and celebrate their cultural heritage at the same time.

They can. I'm talking about the groups of foreigners who live in one area, speak their native language, open businesses with signs in their native language, record phone greetings in that language, dress as they did in their native country and want their native language spoken in schools. This goes on right here in Houston. No one says they can't preserve their heritage.

I really don't know how else to interpret the words I just made bold and in red. It says they must be American and can't be 'something else' also.

Candice the answer you are looking for, you read right over it in Ted's speech, so I underlined it for you. There can be no divided allegiance, you either give your allegiance to your new country or move back to your old country. If I were to move to your country and raise my family, I would give my allegiance to your country and your country alone.

[~candice~]

"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 shell 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 but one sole loyalty and that is loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

What happen since 1907? I personally would of added some words to it, but I won't right now because it was Teddy's own speech.

Oh boy, I couldn't disagree more.

I don't understand, candice. You don't think it's important to speak the language of one's adopted country? To assimilate and pay taxes to that country? I venture that a country comprised of smaller groups that remain separate can't be strong or united. An immigrant who remains apart from the larger society is a second class citizen, whether in the U.S. or any other country.

Well those are your words, not mine.

Immigrants do no harm by remaining bilingual, by continuing to celebrate the customs of their birth nation along with the customs of the land they now live in. The quote by TR goes beyond merely speaking english and paying taxes. If that was all it was, I wouldn't really have a problem with it.

But it expressly says that if they are 'something else also' they aren't an American at all. This I take issue with. I don't see why a person can't be a loyal American citizen and celebrate their cultural heritage at the same time.

They can. I'm talking about the groups of foreigners who live in one area, speak their native language, open businesses with signs in their native language, record phone greetings in that language, dress as they did in their native country and want their native language spoken in schools. This goes on right here in Houston. No one says they can't preserve their heritage.

I really don't know how else to interpret the words I just made bold and in red. It says they must be American and can't be 'something else' also.

Candice the answer you are looking for, you read right over it in Ted's speech, so I underlined it for you. There can be no divided allegiance, you either give your allegiance to your new country or move back to your old country. If I were to move to your country and raise my family, I would give my allegiance to your country and your country alone.

Well, I'm not quite sure what you think I am asking.

The reading of TR's quote [to me] makes it seem as if people had to leave their cultural heritage behind in order to be considered American. I don't really agree, I think people have the capacity to be quite loyal and an active member of the community without giving up that heritage.

MG has been discussing with me whether or not TR really meant that. Appears he didn't, but it really didn't come out in the quote.

[MorningGlory]

MG - I hope that is what he meant, but it isn't what he actually said. What he said was so general that it sounds as if a person must relieve themselves of all cultural heritage in order to become an American, that they cannot retain that 'something else'. It is this that I disagree with. If he meant something else then he certainly said it in a very strange way.

We have to consider the time period in which these words were uttered. They didn't worry about being PC back then. The fact remains that the U.S. is full of different cultural traits that have been absorbed (along with the people who brought them here) into our culture. And the vast majority of immigrants became part of the fabric of our country. It's only very recently that some immigrants have begun to want to build countries within our country. And it makes for very bad feelings on the part of Americans. Nearly all of whom can trace their heritage to another part of the world. We don't care what they do at home, we just expect them to speak English in schools and the workplace and not parade down our streets waving their former country's flag. I think that's quite reasonable.

MG, you have to consider that not all countries view waving or wearing the flag the same way. It doesn't mean the same thing here in Oz, as it does in the USA. Perhaps, it doesn't mean the same thing to your immigrants either.

And are you saying that TR supported the asorption of immigrants cultural traits?

And that is the crux of the matter...that IS what is required here, in the U.S. It's who we are. And I do realize that other countries are different in how they view such things.

Yes, I do believe Teddy Roosevelt supported the absorption of other cultures. He was the grandson of immigrants himself; if memory serves (Dutch and British).

[~candice~]

MG - I hope that is what he meant, but it isn't what he actually said. What he said was so general that it sounds as if a person must relieve themselves of all cultural heritage in order to become an American, that they cannot retain that 'something else'. It is this that I disagree with. If he meant something else then he certainly said it in a very strange way.

We have to consider the time period in which these words were uttered. They didn't worry about being PC back then. The fact remains that the U.S. is full of different cultural traits that have been absorbed (along with the people who brought them here) into our culture. And the vast majority of immigrants became part of the fabric of our country. It's only very recently that some immigrants have begun to want to build countries within our country. And it makes for very bad feelings on the part of Americans. Nearly all of whom can trace their heritage to another part of the world. We don't care what they do at home, we just expect them to speak English in schools and the workplace and not parade down our streets waving their former country's flag. I think that's quite reasonable.

MG, you have to consider that not all countries view waving or wearing the flag the same way. It doesn't mean the same thing here in Oz, as it does in the USA. Perhaps, it doesn't mean the same thing to your immigrants either.

And are you saying that TR supported the asorption of immigrants cultural traits?

And that is the crux of the matter...that IS what is required here, in the U.S. It's who we are. And I do realize that other countries are different in how they view such things.

Yes, I do believe Teddy Roosevelt supported the absorption of other cultures. He was the grandson of immigrants himself; if memory serves (Dutch and British).

Ok MG, well I understand that the States is different to here, and that's fine. Thanks for clarifying what you think Teddy meant. His quote [without your commentary] seems quite brash without that info and from a different cultural point of view.

[MorningGlory]

MG - I hope that is what he meant, but it isn't what he actually said. What he said was so general that it sounds as if a person must relieve themselves of all cultural heritage in order to become an American, that they cannot retain that 'something else'. It is this that I disagree with. If he meant something else then he certainly said it in a very strange way.

We have to consider the time period in which these words were uttered. They didn't worry about being PC back then. The fact remains that the U.S. is full of different cultural traits that have been absorbed (along with the people who brought them here) into our culture. And the vast majority of immigrants became part of the fabric of our country. It's only very recently that some immigrants have begun to want to build countries within our country. And it makes for very bad feelings on the part of Americans. Nearly all of whom can trace their heritage to another part of the world. We don't care what they do at home, we just expect them to speak English in schools and the workplace and not parade down our streets waving their former country's flag. I think that's quite reasonable.

MG, you have to consider that not all countries view waving or wearing the flag the same way. It doesn't mean the same thing here in Oz, as it does in the USA. Perhaps, it doesn't mean the same thing to your immigrants either.

And are you saying that TR supported the asorption of immigrants cultural traits?

And that is the crux of the matter...that IS what is required here, in the U.S. It's who we are. And I do realize that other countries are different in how they view such things.

Yes, I do believe Teddy Roosevelt supported the absorption of other cultures. He was the grandson of immigrants himself; if memory serves (Dutch and British).

Ok MG, well I understand that the States is different to here, and that's fine. Thanks for clarifying what you think Teddy meant. His quote [without your commentary] seems quite brash without that info and from a different cultural point of view.

It does sound brash, to us, because he lived in a much different time. I doubt if he would use the same language if he was President today. The basics remain the same though; we welcome all who want to be American and don't want divisive elements among us.

[Guest]

Prehaps This Will Explain What Was Going On Then (And Now?)

Or Not.....

A few months later, Roosevelt expanded on this theme in a series of Memorial Day speeches he delivered in St. Louis:

Moral treason to the United States was charged by Mr. Roosevelt, in an address delivered before the City Club, against German-Americans who seek to make their governmental representatives act in the interests of Germany rather than this country. He characterized the German-American Alliance as "an anti-American alliance," but added that he believed that its members "not only do not represent but scandalously misrepresent" the great majority of real Americans of German origin.

Using the motto "America for Americans" for all Americans, whether they were born here or abroad, the former President declared that "the salvation of our people lies in having a nationalized and unified America, ready for the tremendous tasks of both war and peace." "I appeal to all our citizens," the colonel said, "no matter from what land their forefathers came, to keep this ever in mind, and to shun with scorn and contempt the sinister intriguers and mischief makers who would seek to divide them along lines of creed, or birthplace or of national origin."

[Rick-Parker]

"I appeal to all our citizens," the colonel said, "no matter from what land their forefathers came, to keep this ever in mind, and to shun with scorn and contempt the sinister intriguers and mischief makers who would seek to divide them along lines of creed, or birthplace or of national origin."

Like our government and the illegal aliens are doing now. But I digress, I guess.