Fisking a hyphen addict

This guy actually considers himself to be a traditional conservative. His positions would be laughable if their ramifications were not so damned dangerous. It appears I've offended another ignorant neocon, which, believe me, is more problematic than offending an aware neocon. Aware necons know they aren't really conservatives.

Compassion Regarding Immigrants Called Political Correctness
Josue Sierra, Latinoissues.blogspot.com

It seems I have been labeled politically correct! For those that read my blog regularly, I never thought I would be called such thing. I'm insulted!

A reader who calls himself "Katie's Dad" thinks my perspective on immigration is to soft, and from what I can tell, advocates a closed-door policy in regards to immigration.

There's nothing wrong with and quite a lot right with the restrictive 1924 immigration policy that gave birth to our "greatest generation" by assuring assimilation, promoting common mores, upholding American values, and, most importantly, doggedly insisting that those who came here shared our common language. You espouse a cleft, multilingual-multicultural society of the sort that has never been successful on this earth.

So, yes Josue, you are soft...just like so many of those who fled Cuba instead of fighting for freedom. I know that's going to seem harsh to you, but having lived as a derogatorily-labeled "Anglo" in Miami, I can testify only to what I experienced first-hand to be fact. There's a lot of talk from you folks, but no action. The whining of those who spring from your easily corruptible culture now falls on increasingly irritated, deaf ears outside Miami-Dade. If one quarter of Miami's "refugees" had the cojones to stay and fight, you wouldn't have Castro to complain about today. That's not to say ya'll wouldn't be jawboning sorrowfully at El Centro Vasco about some other corrupt regime you let come in to replace Fidel's.

Let's clarify some things. I am a believer in liberty, and a believer in the power of the American way of life. When I say the "American Way" I mean the way any man can work hard, study, and move up in life through honest hard work. Reading history, I also know a FACT: We are a nation of immigrants!

Ahhh! Dependence on this trite "nation of immigrants" fallacy is the hallmark of a either died-in-the-wool multiculturalist or someone who really doesn't understand American history. Clearly, your position is based on the silly idea that the people who founded this nation were "immigrants." They were colonists and settlers. The term "immigrant" was created by Americans to describe those who came to our nation after our freedom had been earned. Don't insult me with your misindoctrinated notions about "the American way."

Say what you may about certain periods in our history where we rejected immigrants and turned our backs on them, we are a collection of diverse people, united by our common values.

Until the ruinous policies foisted upon America's unsuspecting, long-term European-origin-majority in 1965, this nation's "diversity" was extremely narrow. It is reasonable to argue that from a macro-protestant-centric perspective, we were not diverse at all. Nearly all of us whose ancestors arrived prior to 1965 originated from places that today are trying to forge a European Union based upon its innate cultural similarities. It is questionable they can succeed. Heck, about a third of all American immigrants prior to the Hart-Cellar Actl repatriated themselves to their European homelands - mostly because they could not really "become Americans." And you expect that "a more diverse people" is workable at a time when almost nobody leaves?

What a load of hooey!

I am NOT advocating multiculturalism by no means! I believe any immigrant that comes into our country should come committed to complete integration. But, complete integration does mean complete abandon of our ethnic and cultural history or values.

You really don't see the inescapable conundrum in that, do you?

So, yes, while Tancredo may speak honestly, I don't believe he knows the full range of issues that relate to the problem of immigration.

Yes, he does. Your objective is to misrepresent the issue for your own personal and cultural agendas. I do not doubt your sincerity. I doubt your understanding of history and inescapable human cultural reality.

This issue should be more than just a simple "close the doors and protect our way of life" mentality. We are a nation founded on certain values and mores. These include helping the poor and needy. That is why we send so many missionaries and provide so much relief. That is also why we should welcome anyone who wishes to form part of this great American nation.

I cannot laugh hard enough over this idiocy in my blog. I can write nothing that would capture the essence of my antipathy for your suggestions.

I am all in favor of bringing to light the issue of ILLEGAL immigration, and ALSO, the many problems related to immigration in general. We should talk about integration, common American values, the dangers of multiculturalism, and what exactly is it that makes America attractive to immigrants. We should talk about border security. But, we should not forget that our compassion, our ability to help others, our commitment to give a hand to the poor, our commitment to provide for liberty, happiness and security, and our commitment to provide an environment where anyone can create economic prosperity are the core values that make us a great nation.

Like it or not, it is immigrants that made this nation great. Immigrants committed to contributing and becoming Americans. Let's talk about this, but let's not get distracted by rhetoric that uses fearmongering and lack of information for the sake of political power.

You're just another immigrant attempting to rationalize an uninformed, misindocrinated position. That's a damn shame that I'm really getting tired of hearing. Intentionally or not, you disrespect my colonist ancestors who suffered greatly to create this nation with your wishful, fallacious insistance that "immigrants" made this nation. I find your point of view to be incredibly insulting.

Technorati tags: immigration reform, ingratitude, chew up, spit out