American?

       “A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.”[1]

"To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian. The signal Instances of providential Goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete Success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of Gratitude and Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good."[2]

           Arkansas recently passed a law cracking down on illegal immigration.  The emphasis here is on illegal, as in those who break the law of the land.  There has been a lot of demonstrating by illegal aliens and others against this new law.  It seems that there are many people that don’t understand we are a country of laws.  “American immigration (immigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States.   Illegal immigration to the United States refers to the act of foreign nationals violating U.S. immigration policies and national laws by entering or remaining in the United States without proper permission from the United States government.”[3]  That is, a government of the people, buy the people and for the people.  Those who enter this country by going through the proper and lawful procedures are more than welcome.  Glad to have them.  Those who wish to start their new lives by breaking the laws of their new country have no idea what America stands for.  “Authorities whether federal, state or municipal…are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country, before attending to any issues.”  Oops, that’s the Mexican Population Law, article 67. Apparently other countries think that their boarders are more important than ours.   The new Arkansas law on the other hand is very similar to federal laws already on the books.  The problem seems to be that no one is doing anything to protect us under the existing laws.  If you can’t get protection from the existing authorities, you have to protect yourself. 

          ‘Students Kicked off Campus for wearing American flag clothing on the Mexican holiday of Sinco de mayo at Live Oak high school in Morgan Hill.  "They said we could wear it on any other day, but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today.”’[4] Some Mexican students said they were offended.  The celebration of Sinco de mayo is a celebration of Independence Day.  Not America’s independence, its Mexico’s independence.  In case some of you don’t know – July 4^th. is the Independence Day for Americans.  Americans celebrate July 4^th, not May 5^th.  What’s next?  Guatemala’s Independence Day, Germany’s, Australia’s, China’s, or how about Canada?  This is the United States of America.  Join us or leave us, but don’t keep trying to divide us and destroy us.

 

           Should we be Americans or hyphenated Americans?  As far as I am concerned, hyphenated Americans are not whole hearted Americans; plus I don’t want the burden of being an English, German, Scottish, Irish, and Austrian-American.  I’m not saying that it’s not good to recognize ones heritage.  Part of my heritage is that my family has been here since the 1620’s.  They broke away from the country they left.   It’s all about a new life.  Out with the old and in with the new.  It’s about time that people coming to this country make the decision before hand as to whether they want to be Americans, or not.  Why would you want to come to America and not wish to be a whole hearted American?  If you like where you are; bloom where you are planted.   In both the past and present, many came here for a better life and the American dream.  It’s not a good idea to drag a bunch of old baggage with you when you are trying to change your life.  I personally celebrate Independence Day, Armistice Day, Veterans Day, D Day, V Day and any other day that commemorates the victory of America over any form of oppression.  Notice that two of the days I celebrate are the overcoming of two of the countries in my heritage.  "Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors."[5]   

---

[1] George William Curtis

[2] George Washington

[3] Wikipedia

[4] http://www.breitbart.tv/students-kicked-off-campus-for-wearing-american-flag-tees/

[5] Joseph Story