What are your views on immigrants?

[GRRReat]

Please Check Out This Link!!!

http://immigrationcounters.com/

This is not a post on letting new ones into the country. If you do feel the need to express your views on that also feel free.


From an e-mail I received recently.
I do not care if this was actually said by him or not I agree with the post

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia


'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'


'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'


Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

This is true!!! And I believe it wholeheartedly

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

[44]

I hate 'em. They're too different. Especially the Canadians. And the colored ones, too.

[Cadc]

I don't know much about immigration in Australia, but I very much like that first paragraph

[Mighty Mouse]

So I take it English-speaking Australians are native to Australia? Or are the aborigines non-countable because they don't speak English? How come all those nice English-speaking Australian folks 200+ years ago didn't adapt to the aborigine ways? I assume it's because they tried to make their homes more suitable for their lifestyles, in the end coming to spread until you push out the people already living there . . .

I assume all of those complaining immigrants are exercising their rights, otherwise you would have arrested them already. Second, you don't seem to have problems with taking taxes from people who don't speak English. Their money is good even if they are not REAL Australians. Maybe if you refunded and returned all of their contributions to Australia, net the services consumed of course, then leaving might be a viable alternative.

So God is part of who you are and you demand that it be respected by immigrants as core principles of a nation founded by Christians. In same light, you spend tremendous efforts trying to convert non-Christian nations founded by non-Christians to your way of thinking, but you have no problems exporting hundreds, if not thousands of missionaries and NGO's to "enlighten" them and interfering. You ask that immigrants respect God, but you don't respect other nation's gods.

Being sensitive to a weaker group is not a weakness, it is a trait to be admired. Immigrants are not raping your land and your culture. They are part of an evolution of a society. If it offends your sensibilities to the point of complaining, take a look at the mirror. Maybe your efforts can be better spent elsewhere.

[LGM]

^ well put.

The reality of this world is that cultures bump into each other. That can lead to many things, but I hope for the best.

Great people come from all over the world, and I don't really care what language they speak. Don't forget the words at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty. (Yes, some say it's aimed toward Europeans, but I think it applies to all.) We don't practice it too well.

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of you teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" (The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus)

[KillinBrainCells]

I've been doing a lot of Gynecology research lately... I've dug deep and found many interesting things...
OK done with the bad jokes.

My grandmother turned 100 recently, so my brother and I worked for 6 months tracking down old photos to make one of those Apple Photo books as a gift. It really turned out amazing!! Putting it all together I got bit by the genealogy bug. What were the stories behind some of these photos? Who was in them? When was the photo taken? Why wasn't Memphis in any of the photos?

With some of the names and dates we got, my brother and I started digging around the web. The more we looked, the more questions we had. I've seen RX's sleuthing skills, but what really AMAZED me was the sheer amount of info we were able to dig up on the web. I actually stumbled on my dead aunt's social sec. # before I found a photo of her gravestone.

Anyway, what's leading up to this long story is an interesting little tidbit I wandered into that happened very close to the homestead of my great-great grandparents. Here's a nice photo of them from 1865. What follows is a riveting story of... well nothing.

JOHN NELSON’S “INDIAN SCARE”
As will be seen from this biography, Mr. Nelson settled in Mapleton during the summer of 1866. At that time his only neighbor was John Thompson, who lived about two miles up the river on his claim. Mr. Nelson had erected his cabin in the woods near the Big Sioux river, where he thought himself safely hidden from the pioneer’s most dreaded foe, the roaming Indian. Everything was quiet for a few months, and no unusual sound disturbed the stillness of the prairie. But one evening during the fall, just about sundown, while he was chopping wood near the cabin, unearthly yells and howls suddenly reached his ears. In shorter time than it takes to tell it, he dropped his ax, ran into the cabin, and gathering up what valuable papers he had, brought his frightened wife and baby out of the cabin and around the bend of the river, where they remained until quite dark. They then crossed a little valley to a small lake surrounded by tall grass in which he hid his wife and child. Having placed them where the thought they would not be discovered, he shouldered his rifle and started for John Thompson’s place. Upon arriving there he was surprised to find the family quietly eating their supper, while he had expected to find them all butchered by the Indians. After having briefly told of the approaching danger, he returned for his wife and child, whom he safely brought to Mr. Thompson’s house. During this trip he heard something moving through the grass near him. He cocked his rifle and quietly awaited the approach of the stealthy steps of what he thought to be an Indian, but fortunately was found to be only a deer. It was temptingly near for a good shot, but for fear of attracting the attention of the Indians he did not fire.
The next morning, in company with Mr. Thompson and Ole Gilseth, he went down the river, and nearly opposite his cabin he discovered two Indian tepees. They then got behind a tree and called to the Indians, which seemed to greatly surprise them, and gathering up their belongings, they hastily left the place without further trouble.

I know that the Indians were bloodthirsty savages (and I say this tongue in cheek) so I can't understand why they didn't just slaughter these two guys. Couple of armed idiots jump out of the bushes and yell "Get off my lawn!" Heck. I'd shoot them.

I think the reason they didn't is because Norwegians are bad ass.

So I guess I'd say; unless they can scare the hell out of the locals, keep the immigrants out.

...or at least make them all Lutheran.

[*Stiffler]

i am cool with immigrants. But if you want to live here learne the damn language and stop taking hard working familys jobs for only half pay stick to lawn care seems they have a green thumb

[GRRReat]

Stiffler said it short and to the point.

As far as Australian's I do not know the history. I do though agree with the statement above.
I think they did the same thing we did with the Native Americans. Which was a very long time ago and is over.
We need to deal with the present now.


I realize as far as America we are all immigrants.
Except for the native Americans.
We, mostly Europeans in the beginning murdered,cheated and stole from them.


The founders were Christian, English speaking people.
Well never mind just read what Teddy said.


If you come to America and follow all the proper channels you are welcome no matter what race,creed or financial stasis, ect.
what was the reason you came here for in the first place?
It seems we are divided into groups instead (United States Of America) African American, Mexican American ect. ect.
If you come here you are an American period. You live by the laws set here and you should learn the English language.

As far as taxes how many illegals pays taxes and how many use the services supplied by taxes?
And I am sure at this point there are many many legal Americans that will do (the jobs no one else will do) right about now.


In reply to some of your interpretations of my post. Your are right If you do not have white skin,blue eyes , blond hair and speak German, Get the hell out of my country.

[GRRReat]

By the way I traced my fathers side back to 1658, Nordheim, Pfalz, Bavaria. (Yes Germany)
First signs of America was around 1786.

[jedirieb]

I'm ok with immigrants. After all, the US was founded by immigrants and is supposed to be a home for immigrants. It'd be nice if they learned English for communication purposes. However, I think the biggest problem Americans have with immigrants has to do with the illegals. As is the case for all groups, the troublemakers have the biggest impact. In this case, the thing that pops into many Americans' minds when they hear "immigrants" is "illegal Mexicans". It is an unfortunate event that our government does not have a strong stand on it, because ridding America of the illegals would leave a better immigrant society, if it can be called such, to become part of America. (I do not necessarily refer to the immigrants themselves as bad guys here, but also those who make profit off of it and thus support it.)Therefore, I'm fine with immigrants, but cannot approve of the illegals.

To address the Australian idea at the top (assuming that the quote is true): I completely disagree. You cannot expect people to adapt to your way of life if you let them in without such restrictions. It is like telling a friend that you'll give them a ride home for free, but once they are in your car, you tell them that they have to pay you to open the car door to get out. The examples stinks, I know, but you should still get the point. If you want people to adapt to your culture, then make that a requirement in order to migrate into Australia. If I'm told to pay to open my friend's car door to get out, I'm just opening the door and getting out. I wasn't told before getting in that I'd have to pay to get out, so I'm not. In the same fashion, if people aren't told that they must learn English and become a Christian in order to migrate to Australia, then you can't expect them to do so. Either tell them up front what you want, or don't complain when they won't do what you say after they have what they want.

Oh, and btw, once they become a legal part of your society (not referring just to Australia anymore), then they are a part of your country and your culture. By legalizing them, you are telling the immigrants that they are ok to become a part of your country, and thus, you should accept their language, religion, etc, since they are a part of your country now. Sure, its nice if they learn your language in order to communicate, but it was never a requirement in order to become legalized. Oops, you want to ignore that part, right? Ok, I won't mention it to anyone.