dck4shrt said:
First let me say that I'm against illegal immigration in principal, I just don't know how we can tackle the enormity of the issue, or if we're prepared take on the consequences of such action.
But...
Since when is there a guidebook on how to be an American? I think it is presumptuous to think that immigrants should and will be a part of your culture. Immigrants come here for religious freedom, jobs, the ability to advance economically, not for our McDonald's on every corner, Budweiser drinking, Git 'R Done culture. If legal immigrants want to hold on to their cultural heritage there shouldn't be anything to stop them from doing that. The only thing they have to do is to obey the laws (migrate legally) and pay their taxes.
If someone wants to be a part of 'your' house, legally, and they go through with it, they are now a member of 'our' house, and they get to follow the same rules that we do. In fact, they also get to vote to change the rules of the house, as equally as you do.
As far as language issues go, aside from the government doing it, most of it is corporate American trying to cater to a new market and trying to expand their business.
You know, we do actually agree on most things. I just hate the slant on things people take, especially when I try very hard to very explicit in my meaning.
One of my most favorite commercials is that one that aired after 9/11, where people of every nationality and ethnicity were saying "I ... am an American". Because the greatest thing about being an American is that it's based on an idea. Anyone can be an American. I can't be Japanese. I can become a Japanese citizen, but I will never BE Japanese. And that really goes for most anywhere else I can think of. You don't shake the hands of some Chinese or Indian person, and they tell you that they're proud of their German or Italian heritage. But you can DO that, in the United States, because it's not based on your race.
And people come here, and have Chinese New Year, and St Patties Day, and Cinco de Mayo, and Bastille Day. And I've had neighbors and friends invite me in on those days when it means something to them. It's great.
But everyone of those persons was also an American. And mostly, very proud to be one, and glad to be here.
Fast forward to 9/11.
We had a bunch of terrorists here - remained in our country for as much as eight years. As much as what they wanted to do was DIE *killing* as many Americans as possible, and praise be to Allah, perhaps destroy our way of life - they enjoyed the benefits of this nation. Hell, some of them, good Muslims that they are, drank in our bars and frequented our strip joints - while at the same time condemning the same way of life. And then they did the unthinkable.
Now illegals aren't the same as all that - but I have known several illegals, and a handful of 'potential' LEGALS whose aim was to come here strictly to take advantage of our tax situation, salary, benefits, all the while DESPISING the American way of life, and publicly proclaiming it - and if given the opportunity, to injure it as much as they could. They hate this place, but they don't mind a little cherry-picking here and there. It would be as though you invited someone to live in your house, and they wiped their hands on your curtains, and put their cigarettes out on your counters.
The language thing is a tirvial albeit important one. Every other ethnic group doesn't seem to mind the idea of learning English. For pete's sake, not only is it NOT "American" - but "English" (the language of ANOTHER country) but even linguo-phobes like the FRENCH come here and learn our language. What's so friggin' special about SPANISH that everyone else comes here and gives up Hindi, and Arabic, and Vietnamese etc - but Spanish speakers must have everything in their language? To the extent that you can be BORN HERE and still not know English?
There's a similar situation arising in Europe - Arabs, in Europe, who have formed their onw little communities and for what it's worth - have re-created versions of their homeland in the new nation with NO INTENTION of assimilating. It's causing trouble already. They've declared the intent of remaining separate, and I gotta ask - if it's so great to have this culture - why did you have to move 1000 miles from your homeland, where it obviously didn't do YOU any good?
Then we can verbally 
. Did that once to an Amish guy who was speaking German to the woman in front of me in line. Two different price structures; one for Amish and one for everyone else. I asked about the same item that the woman in front of me had asked about in German. They did not know that I understand "food" German. She had gotten a price significantly lower than I did. I told him, "Kein danke" and left.
