Ideas on Immigration and Being an American in 1907

I was out and about looking around for interesting pieces or articles which I could post at Angry Bear. I saw this article on Infidel753’s Blog. The author of this newspaper article is right or mostly right.

My thoughts? One can still be in disagreement in America as long as they are not openly or quietly attempting to overthrow the nation.

I always applaud people who can speak English and also German, French, Spanish, Mexican, etc. I stumble around when I use my knowledge of German in Europe. And then while doing so, they answer me in English which is far better than my capability in German.

Working for foreign companies? I worked for and with the Germans for a number of years in a couple of companies which were based in Germany. For weeks at a time, I would be at each company. It was interesting and I had a car which was at my deposal. My weekends were spent touring or staying in places such as the Czech Republic while waiting for the Monday to visit a company on the Monday. The people were very tolerant of me and my abilities to speak German. In fact, their knowledge of English was far better than the German I practiced.

Can we only exist with one language and one culture? I would take issue with the room for only “one language and loyalty to American people.” The nation is made up of many nationalities. Many of which might go to war in Europe, Africa, or Asia against each other. What makes America great is the ability to assimilate with other cultures coming to America.

A Pledge of Loyalty? The pledge of allegiance does not call for loyalty to American people. It does for the Flag of the United States of America. My oath . . . when I enlisted pledged allegiance to the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same . . .

Qualifications to be a citizen? It is a requirement for an immigrant to speak English to become a citizen. If they can speak in English in any fashion such as my speaking German, it more than likely qualifies them and proficiency will improve. The US will also hold classes for immigrants so as to improve their ability to speak English. Learning English does takes time. Learning a foreign language other than English takes time. More often, learning each other’s customs is more difficult.

I was at the ceremony for my neighbor a year or so ago when he became a U.S. Citizen. He invited me and of course I went. He knew I was X Military and he wanted me there. It was an honor to be there with him. I served with others who were promised they would become citizens. More recently, I have heard this can not occur. It would be a letdown if they were promised such and then refused to grant citizenship.

People still want to be U.S. citizens even with a hostile government in place. With the present administration, there is a danger of it being reversed by executive order which SCOTUS believes is ok in place of Congressional actions.