Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.

"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

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />Thats exactly how I feel 100 years later! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Fred, I agree with TR...BUT there is a reason why so many immigrants (I'm thinking Mexican) are fleeing for the United States, and it IS largely the result of US trade policy, specifically NAFTA as WELL as CAFTA.

One example is the US agribusiness which has forced low priced agricultural products south of the border. What happens? Local farmers can't compete with the prices and are forced from their land. Where do they go? The United States.

What about "family-friendly" Wal-Mart-type stores that sell cheaper products (largely manufactured in China) which have been allowed into Mexico as well? What happens? The local, Mexican busineses that HAVE survived are forced to close their doors as they cannot compete with the might of these new corperations....AND are forced, if they DO choose, to work for even lower wages. Not being able to make a living, where do they go? The United States.

I don't see any real meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform any time soon. Bush and his corporate cronies can't survive without cheap labor. Meanwhile, US CITIZENS are taking the toll on their backsides.

Isn't all of this just so ironic?



<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

There are three reasons they come here!
1. No birth control! The poor Indian family has 12 to 18 children. No country can sustain employment for that kind of growth.
2. These poor people are not allowed by the ruling class to rise out of their class.
3. WE allow them to come here! Which is the worst thing that can happen to them. They desperately need another revolution. (no different than us, huh?)

Remember this has been going forward since long before NAFTA.
Our country is no longer a "melting pot". Unless we are making Potato soup and the Mexicans are the potatoes.

Soon the ruling class of Mexico will have our country to rule too.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I don't think those trade agreements are the main reason.

I worked for a law enforcement agency in San Diego County in California in the late sixties and early seventies. We had a standing invitation to assist the US Border Patrol when we were off duty. We would wear our uniform shirts and badges, and Levis and boots, and ride shotgun with a BP officer in their 4x4 vehicle.

On weekday nights, just in the area East and West of the San Ysidro border crossing, we would CATCH over 2000 illegals each night. On the weekends, it was over 3000 per night. And that's just the ones we caught, which I'm sure were just a percentage of the total that came across.

And none of those trade agreements existed at that time. In fact, during the first part of that era, the Bracero program was still in effect.

hello .I spend most of my time on the toyota board but couldnt help but chime in on this.We are throwing our country away for the sake of saving a few bucks.STOP DOING BUSSINESS WITH THOSE THAT EMPLOY,TRADE OR HOUSE CRIMINAL ALLIENS.any politician that does not stand firm on enforcing our immigration laws should be put out asap .This is not a republican/democrat thing ,this is the survival of our great way of life.I agree with TR 100%.I wish there was more I could do to help fix this.I am willing to pay more for tomatoes,roofing,yard work etc.. to save the USA.GOD bless this country. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

T.R.'s point is clear : "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."
Anything short of this predication is simply making excuses for turning our backs to a difficult situation; at least some people are perceptive like our friend from the toyota board. Too often and too much we depend on our congressmen to resolve self-evident issues like this one. Obviously, the will of the people here in the United States is not important to the majority that now sits in the house of representatives.
IMHO it's time to take a stand personally and not tolerate any excuses for immigration by any people not willing to accept full allegience to The United States ... one culture, one language, one flag! We need to speak out: we need to take a loud verbal stand at the water-cooler and/or at public forums when misguided progressive liberals attempt to misrepresent issues and/or persuade the uniformed to sell America for feel-good, well-intended,short-sighted, ignorance-based issues.
Our real enemy are the "elites" who now control the United States ... politically and socially. Their goals are short-sighted; personal gain of political power and/or wealth, are all that matters to these progressive liberal social-climbers. Whether the USA and it's principles and values continue to be a lighthouse to the world doesn't matter to progressive liberal elites.
The time to have said enough is enough to our government regarding illegal immigration has long past! But, this has always been the way of things in America since the American Revolution! It's time to protect what we have, and in some cases, what we once had. I say we can't be silent any more ... we can't be tolerant any more; we must re-establish American values, the American way of life, and the repopulate the American Congress. Stop sending liberal middle-of-the-road politicians to Congress! I'm not going to take it any more, will you?

I'm certainly not saying that trade policy encompasses the ENTIRE reason for illegal immigration but it has CERTAINLY exacerbated it. It is largely why the Mexican homegrown economy has been decimated, causing a ten-fold increase in immigration. It's simple cause and effect!

I also highly disagree with the notion that "progressive liberals" are to blame...in fact, it has been the polar OPPOSITE, with CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS and a now defunct Republican Congress which is largely to blame (well, sort of) for what this country is experiencing.

Do you remember the 1986 Amnesty bill ("Conservative" Republican agenda) which significantly increased illegal immigration? Does this administration just ignore the lessons of a historical past?

Obviously. Think 1980's/Russia-Afghanistan. 10 years. We're half way there at 5 years. It's the classic "I told ya so".

I agree that we need to take OUR country back. I'm a registered Democrat, but in all honesty, I'm a firm believer that our new Congress is the same sh*t, different pile. It's a shame, from what history shows, that significant change has only been made reality when the citizenry revolts in violence against it's "oppressors". Just look at the history of unions in this country and what they experienced to get us an 8 hr. work day, fair wages, safe work environments. It's an entire history in itself. How many were murdered or beaten?

Half the problem is that it's not taught in school, so no one knows about it, thanks to "conservative" rationale. They think that too much thinking is a bad thing. If only we were all so informed.

Yes, the time has long passed to take a stance in support of what is OURS.