Quote by T. Roosevelt in 1907 on Immigration:

[babylonsister]

I received this from a repug. Thoughts?

"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

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. My immediate response would be

haven't we advanced at all in 100 years? :shrug:

On edit, I don't believe we should become a nation with unlimited immigration either, but saying people shouldn't remember their heritage or dialect is wrong.

[olaus]

3. I do not

think it says they cannot remember their heritage or language, what I read is learn English to use in your life. I see nothing about forgetting where you came from.

[Javaman]

5. My Grandparents came over from Italy...

They immediately learned english. They only spoke Italian at home. They understood the realities of life in America. Without english, the chances of advancing were basically nil.

I have no problem with people being bilingual, however, I don't feel the least bit sorry for someone who refuses to learn english if they live here.

With that said, more free programs should be offered to allow immigrants to learn english. Many don't because they can't afford the fee associated with the ESL classes.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi olaus!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jacobin]

2. Holy Joe should read this

Loyalty to the interests of his own country should trump his concerns about his fantasy land in the Mideast

[Virginia Dare]

4. They were much more progressive at the turn of the century

in terms of immigration than we are today, that's a fact. I tried to bring this up earlier, but that quote says it all. Thanks!

:toast:

[merbex]

6. Interesting -but the first names that popped into my head were

Wolferitz,Feith, Ledeen about who should read this quote

[MrPrax]

8. Context is wrong...

When Teddy said this, the US, like any new world society, didn't have a thousand years to build up it's populations. Those countries HAD to attract /bribe/cajole/lure bodies to fill up the country in order to sustain continued growth.

Today it is debateable as to whether or not this 'economic theory' is valid anymore given the global 'awareness' of a finite limit to growth.