I was raised on Long Island, New York, not 20 miles from Manhattan. This has always been a blessing to me because I was exposed to a multi-cultural community. My neighbors were the Giovanelli’s, Damone’s, Sannella’s and Gravina’s. Coming from a Scot-Irish background, I was surrounded by Italians, Greeks and Sephardic Jews. These families were second generation in this country. They were born in America but their parents were from Europe. Their English was perfect, not just passable. Their parents spoke both English and Italian or whatever their native language, but they spoke it with a strong accent.
My neighbors made wine in the autumn and celebrated Saint Anthony’s festival and some attended the annual San Gianaro Festival in New York City. Many of these were from southern Italy or Sicily. They were fun loving and made wonderful neighbors. We broke bread with them and talked over the fence. When we were teenagers and working in the yard mowing or doing other chores, Mom Giovanelli would come out with a small glass of Anisette or red Vermouth to refresh us. We kids enjoyed this and my father laughed. All the men were members of the local volunteer fire department. They had a softball team and there was always something fun going on in the community. It was a great childhood for me.
Here is the point. These people were eager to be Americans. They learned the language as fast as they could. They integrated themselves into the American community and culture. And yet, they also retained their European culture and heritage. They did this without a government program to promote diversity and without schools emphasizing the need for inter-racial or inter-ethnic tolerance.
My neighbors had come to America to join the club. They wanted to be part of the “American Dream.” They had come to the land of opportunity to escape class restrictions and economic restrictions and to build for their futures. They did not come to America to change it. They came to take advantage of the American brand of capitalism and its opportunities.
Years later, as a soldier in Germany, I noticed that in Germany if an American civilian wanted a job he had to speak German. That seemed right, fair and appropriate. I came home to a country where we were printing ballots in a variety of foreign languages and in many other ways we were encouraging people to maintain their national heritage at the expense of not becoming integrated as full-fledged citizens of the nation they came to as immigrants. This I did not understand and still do not.
A few months ago I heard a college football coach on the radio. When new players came on the team at the beginning of the year, he took them aside and made a short speech. As part of that speech he emphasized an important point. He said, “You chose to come to this college because we have a well known and successful academic program and a fabulous football team. You chose us because we have been successful. You are here to join us and become part of that success.” Then, he went on to say, “You chose to join us, so don’t think for a second that you are here to change us. We know what success looks like and how to obtain it. All you have to do is support our already successful program!”
I thought that speech was appropriate to those who have chosen to come to America. They recognized the benefits of our success. They had heard about the land of opportunity and wanted to strive for those benefits. As the coach said, they wanted to join us! As new members of our society, they must accept, support and abide by our laws and our customs. Can they retain their own cultural identity? Certainly! Just as my neighbors did in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. They chose to come here because we have a history that supports opportunity. They did not come here to change us.
Our government and perhaps some well intended others have lost sight of the reason people have come to America. They made a choice. They could have remained where they were but America offered opportunities that they felt were not available in the country of their birth.
The first thing one does upon taking up residence in a foreign country is to learn the language. My missionary friends learn Spanish before they go to Peru or Bolivia to share the gospel. They study the customs and traditions of the people so they can blend in and not be unintentionally offensive. This increases the probability of success in their endeavor.
Have we as a nation lost sight of just how wonderful America is? People scrimp and save, they plot and plan and some even break the law to come to America. They recognize what a wonderful place this is. They see the result of 200 years of progress and they want to be a part of it. Why then do we encourage them NOT to become real Americans, to speak our language and submit to our laws and our customs?
As a child, my neighbors spoke both Italian and English. They maintained their cultural identity but they were proud to call themselves second generation Americans. Some served in the armed forces. Some went into business. Others went on to college and to graduate school, but they never lost sight of the fact that they were Americans.
This is a nation built on Judeo-Christian traditions and beliefs. If you don’t like that, don’t come to America. We speak English here. If you do not want to learn it, don’t come to America. If you think Shari‘a law is superior to our brand of law, don’t come to America. And, if you are an American who disagrees with this, perhaps you should review our history and see what has made America great. We have been for over 200 years a capitalist country. It works. It has its flaws, but it works. Socialism has failed around the world. You are part of the greatest country in the world. Don’t change it.
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