Thread: Immigration then and now

Immigration then and now
Posted by Joseph Racioppi August 25, 2007 9:25AM
http://blog.nj.com/njv_joseph_racioppi/ ... d_now.html

One of the stark dfferences in the immigration of the early twentieth century versus the illegal immigration of today (other than legal status) is the language issue. The immigrants of the early 1900's were expected to and did assimilate (eventually) into society.

Most of the Irish, Italian, Jewish, etc... who came here had to and did learn English, which, contrary to the belief of many readers, is not the official language of the US. I am all for learning different languages. One of the glaring deficiencies of our public school system is the fact that few high school grads can speak a second language.

However, should the nation be bilingual? Last week I was in Montreal where the predominant language is French, though most people speak English too. There was and still is a
Quebec sovereignty movement or if you prefer the French, Mouvement souverainiste du Que'bec.

The driving force behind the movement is language. The central cultural argument of the sovereigntists is that only sovereignty can ensure the survival of the French language in Quebec Province.

I think part of the concern here, or fear, as the pro-amnesty crowd calls it, is that we are becoming a bilingual nation, like it or not. Just call any help line. President Bush often gives speeches in Spanish (he actually sounds more articulate in Spanish than in English). Many of us, like some of our Canadian friends, want to preserve our language. Is that racist?

The following quote is from an Irish newspaper, The Nation:

A people without a language of its own is only half a nation. A nation should guard its language-`tis a surer barrier, and more important frontier, than fortress or river.
THOMAS DAVIS
The Nation, 1 April 1843

Quote taken from THE IRISH QUOTATION BOOK, edited by Mainchin Seoighe

Most of the Irish, Italian, Jewish, etc... who came here had to and did learn English, which, contrary to the belief of many readers, is not the official language of the US.

SAYS WHO??????

I think Racioppi, or whatever the hell his name is, was DRUNK when he wrote this. Isn't it a crime to drink and write????