Inspirational,
Informative, and General Reading
New Immigrants
by "David LaBonte"
My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC
Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it
myself by sending it out on the Internet. Dave LaBonte (signed)
Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the
Orange County Register:
Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is
made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down
the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being
treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other
ports of entry.
Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people
like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new
kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from
all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off
a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some
would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They
made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good
and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new
American households and some even changed their names to blend in with
their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a
new life and did everything in their power to help their children
assimilate into one culture.
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor
laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship
they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of
their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought
along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy,
France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any
thought about what country their parents had come from. They were
Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were
defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated
France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or
the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only
Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one
of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another
country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have
been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here.
These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They
stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.
And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the
same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with
a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a
guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's
not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants
who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that
for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations
to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching
for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being
used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.
And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it
happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration
bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just
yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte
See Also:
Are Indians the Model
Immigrants?
They have funny accents,
occasionally dress in strange outfits, and some wear turbans and grow
beards, yet Indians have been able to overcome stereotypes to become the
U.S.'s most successful immigrant group.
Happiness
Through Honorable Actions
Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness,
goodness, and self-respect? The collection of happiness actions broadly
categorized as “honor” help you create this life of good feelings.
Who Is More Likely To Be
Happy?
You can focus on the negative things in your life, or you can choose
More
Inspirational Articles