The American experience: Teddy's wise words

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Compromising (or is it "compromised") Republicans and Democrats have cut "a deal" (oh boy!) in hopes of saving the disaster that is the "comprehensive immigration reform" (i.e., illegal alien amnesty) bill.

We interrupt these machinations to bring you a few century-old admonitions from one Theodore Roosevelt:


"(W)e should insist that ... the immigrant ... comes here in good faith, becomes an American and assimilates himself to us... ."

"(T)his is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American."

"There can be no divided allegiance here. ... We have room for but one flag, the American flag."

"Let us say to the immigrant not that we hope he will learn English but that he has got to learn it. Let the immigrant who does not learn it go back."

"(The immigrant) must be made to see that his opportunities in this country depend upon his ... observing American standards."
Critics, ignorant of history or purposefully perverting it, are quick to label such talk as "nativism," "bigotry" or "discrimination." It is not. It is the American experience -- one that will perish if the federal government fails in its duty to preserve, to protect and to defend it.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 12994.html