I am glad my grandparents weren't tear gassed when they got off the boat in 1910(Ellis Island)

[Stuart G]

They had to stay there a week to prove they did not have tuberculosis. They all did. So our border patrol used tear gas on those who wanted to come to this country. Times have changed. In 1910 all were welcomed from to the U.S. from all parts of the world. I was told that people had to be able to read a language, (any language and no tuberculosis) Maybe that was not true, but that is what I read. All of that changed in the mid 20s with the Immigration Act of 1924. Now, our police tear gas some who approach our border..How sad.

[brooklynite]

1. Fun Fact: Six Chinese survived the sinking of the Titanic...they were turned away at Ellis Island.

[oberliner]

3. Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

An ugly history indeed:

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=47

[UniteFightBack]

2. America has a long rich history of hating immigrants of all kinds. Just repulsive. nt

[MFM008]

4. Or mine in 1853

........

[Sherman A1]

5. About the same time for mine

And I agree that I would hate to have heard of them being tear gassed.

[octoberlib]

6. I'm glad my great great great grandparents

weren’t gassed when they applied for asylum to escape famine in Ukraine.

[912gdm]

7. I wouldn't word it quite like that.

all were tolerated to the U.S. from all parts of Europe.

and that was really only to feed the beast of industry and westward expansion.

at one point the Irish were hated, and Italians, and the germans.
pretty much the same arguments and stereotypes used by the alt-right today were used agents those groups.

I don't know much about Eastern Europeans at the time, but I'm sure they didn't get a welcome cake at Ellis.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Some of our ancestors were forced here against their will

So we know how low the PTB in this country will go for enhancing their wallets and ego.

[malaise]

9. Yep

And they are still not welcome.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Ain't that the damn truth!

And then ones who arrived here AFTER we did have the nerve to tell us "Go back to Africa!!1111!".

[malaise]

11. You know that's why I detest Melania Con

That racist illegal had some nerve to call for Obama's birth certificate.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Thank you.

Projection.

[Stuart G]

14. Note: PTB...short for "Powers That Be" (I didn't know this abbreviation, so, this

definition is for others like me who are not familiar with this).....sorry for interruption..

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Yes - that used to be a popular abbreviation on DU

and I used to use it a lot too in the past.... Haven't used it for awhile though!

[Gothmog]

13. My paternal grandparents got off the boat im 1896 at Ellis Island