Posted: 11/10/2008 5:44:31 AM EDT
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I just read an article that really reminded me of my own upbringing. I am a second generation American of Filipino descent.
When my parent's came to the U.S. they didn't want to become Filipino-Americans they wanted to become AMERICANS and raise their children as Americans with traditional Conservative American values. I don't know why, but I have from time to time encountered others who thought it was such a bad thing for me and my siblings were so assimilated in what they called American "white" culture. I just give them a smile, laugh and thank GOD that I am...  
The Politically Incorrect Americanism of Alba, Pacino, and Arnold by Mary Katharine Ham Hablas Espanol? Jessica Alba doesn’t. Is there anything wrong with that? Apparently so. The third-generation American and actress is under fire this week from fellow Latinos for comments she made to Para Todos magazine: Alba is my last name and I'm proud of that. But that's it. My grandparents were born in California, the same as my parents, and though I may be proud of my last name, I'm American. Throughout my whole life, I've never felt connected to one particular race or heritage, nor did I feel accepted by any. If you break it down, I'm less Latina than Cameron Diaz, whose father is Cuban. But people don't call her Latina because she's blonde… My grandfather was the only Mexican at his college, the only Hispanic person at work and the only one at the all-white country club. He tried to forget his Mexican roots, because he never wanted his kids to be made to feel different in America. He and my grandmother didn't speak Spanish to their children. Now, as a third-generation American, I feel as if I have finally cut loose. My whole life, when I was growing up, not one race has ever accepted me, ... So I never felt connected or attached to any race specifically. I had a very American upbringing, I feel American, and I don't speak Spanish. So, to say that I'm a Latin actress, OK, but it's not fitting; it would be insincere. She never felt connected to any race, specifically, but she always felt American. That doesn’t sounds like a bad thing, does it? And yet, it is, in the eyes of many activists. One blog post on the comments remarks, “Guess sell-outs come in all races and sizes.” Another calls it a “disturbing hoard of quotes.” Another claims she “hates Mexicans.” Comments about Alba’s comments include, “F**K YOU THEN, JESSICA…VIVA LA RAZA!!!,” “She should just change her last name to White, then,” and “I thought she could be a good role model for Latinas, but she is a fake, tryin’ to be white.” Alba wasn’t trying to make a political statement. Instead, she sounds like she was trying to avoid speaking for an entire ethnicity and many recent immigrants when she barely speaks Spanish, and identifies as an American first. But because she didn’t reflexively take upon herself her ethnic mantle and collective responsibility, she’s bashed as a traitor to her race. Elsewhere, a phenomenally successful first-generation immigrant was sharing his secret tosuccess in America, which was much the same as the approach Alba’s college-educated grandfather took. When addressing the national Association of Hispanic Journalists, and responding to question about how Hispanics can improve academically, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "You've got to turn off the Spanish television set" and avoid Spanish-language television, books and newspapers, the Republican governor said Wednesday night… "You're just forced to speak English, and that just makes you learn the language faster," Schwarzenegger said. "I know this sounds odd and this is the politically incorrect thing to say, and I'm going to get myself in trouble," he said, noting that he rarely spoke German and was forced to learn English when he emigrated from Austria. The response from those in attendance? "I'm sitting shaking my head not believing that someone would be so naive and out of it that he would say something like that," said Alex Nogales, president and chief executive of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. Naïve, out-of-it, hateful, traitorous. There is a large segment of the country that believes it’s somehow disrespectful to emphasize assimilation among new immigrants to the country. And, it’s not just among leftist activists and left-coast gossip bloggers that this idea prevails. Just last year, Sen. Harry Reid called a proposal to make English the official language of America “racist,” despite the fact that a large majority of Americans support such a measure. More recently, Barack Obama called the very discussion of English as an official language, “divisive” during a Democratic debate: I have to say that this is the kind of question that is designed precisely to divide us. You know, you’re right: everybody is going to learn to speak English if they live in this country. The issue is not whether or not future generations of immigrants are going to learn English. The question is, how can we come up with both a legal and sensible immigration policy? And when we get distracted by those kinds of questions, I think we do a disservice to the American people. But is everyone going to learn English, Sen. Obama? It seems that Schwarzenegger’s encouragement of English-language immersion for immigrants and Alba’s family’s decision to speak English only are put down in pretty harsh terms by folks on your own side of the aisle. The movement to make English the official language of America is, in part, a response to the Left’s active discouragement of assimilation. Even the idea of the “melting pot” went out of style when I was in grade school, replaced in text books by the less offensive “mosaic.” You see, now we don’t do anything so gauche as melt into one, cohesive society. Instead, we are all obligated to hold onto our various ethnic and cultural identities and languages, building little barriers between communities, lest we be accused of “selling out” or trying to be too “white.” There is certainly a way to assimilate without losing all touch with one’s culture. Being American does not mean being “white.” “American” is, by definition, many colors and characteristics. But the strength of America has always been in creating Americans of all colors and characteristics, not all colors and characters who happen to live in America. The English language and cultural assimilation are unifying forces, economic passports, essential parts of preserving the American dream and all its blessings for everyone who comes to our shores. When talking about comprehensive immigration reform, some have compared today’s illegal immigrants—the challenges and the prejudices they face—to legal immigration of Italians and Irishmen and others who came through Ellis Island just a few generations ago. But those same people conveniently overlook that anti-assimilation forces in America weren’t nearly so strong at that time. Al Pacino is a second-generation American whose grandparents emigrated from Sicily, but despite living in his grandparents’ home, he speaks no Italian. Would anyone accuse that iconic Baby Boomer of being a traitor to his ethnicity? Well, he better watch out, if he keeps talking like this: Explain to me what Italian-American culture is. We've been here 100 years. Isn't Italian-American culture American culture? That's because we're so diverse, in terms of intermarriage. Most everybody who's Italian is half Italian. Except me. I'm all Italian. I'm mostly Sicilian, and I have a little bit of Neapolitan in me. You get your full dose with me. Alba, Schwarzenegger and Pacino have got it right. Their concern is with becoming successful, individual Americans, not with specious collective responsibilities imparted to them by their skin colors, accents, or surnames. As a result, they have all done both America and their ancestors proud. They are all walking, talking, acting illustrations of the American dream in action. When considering legalizing 12 million illegal immigrants, Congress should consider seriously the fact that the walking, talking American dream is now politically incorrect. That doesn’t bode well for its survival. Link to original article: http://townhall.com/columnists/column.aspx?UrlTitle=the_politically_incorrect_americanism_of_alba,_pacino,_and_arnold&ns=MaryKatharineHam&dt=06/19/2007&page=full&comments=true |
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My mom's grandparents came to the US from Sweden. They didn't do it to become "Swedish Americans", they did it to become Americans. They didn't teach my grandmother to speak much Swedish, because they worked so hard to learn English.
My best friend is Mexican. His parents immigrated legally when they were quite young. His parent's don't consider themselves to be hyphenated. His mother teaches English as a second language at a high school in a predominately Mexican neighborhood. About 1/3 of her students are illegal or are anchor babies. They have no interest in becoming Americans-they're interested in pushing everything to become bilingual. Their parents don't speak English at home, so the kids hang out with other Spanish speakers. Some of their classes are conducted in Spanish. She said that many of them have a serious entitlement mentality-they think they should be passed, because the tests are biased-being in English. You're either an American, or you're not. I've met a few genuine "African-Americans", but they actually came from Africa. If you ask them if they are "African-American", they'll look at you like you have a dick growing out of your face. They used to be Africans, but they are now Americans. |
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I was born in Ireland. My parents immigrated when I was 3.
I'm not Irish. I could give a shit about all the Irish heritage hype a lot of people of Irish descent are into. You want to be all Irish and shit, cool, move to Ireland. Me? I'm American. American, first, last and always. |
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Quoted:
When my parent's came to the U.S. they didn't want to become Filipino-Americans they wanted to be an AMERICANS and raise their children as Americans with traditional Conservative American values. I don't know why, but I have from time to time encountered others who thought it was such a bad thing for me and my siblings were so assimilated in what they called American "white" culture. I just give them a smile, laugh and thank GOD that I am...  
“White” in America isn’t a skin color, it’s a state of mind. We are one of the few countries where anyone can become a member of the majority race simply by adopting their language and values system. (Calling this race “White” is something of a misnomer, calling it “American Mainstream” makes more sense. But, since other people label it “White” I might as well use that label too.) American minority races see this as a threat. Any racial subgroup in America that allows itself to assimilate culturally will disappear as its members start identifying with the White American Mainstream. This means minority races must develop defenses against assimilation if they are to survive as a distinct group. What you are seeing is an example of those defenses in action. Anyway, thanks to your parents you are a White guy and it’s a good thing you like being one of us. Otherwise you might try to atone for your Whiteness by following Communist agitators and then going into politics or something… |
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Originally Posted By KC-130 FLT ENG:
I was born in Ireland. My parents immigrated when I was 3. I'm not Irish. I could give a shit about all the Irish heritage hype a lot of people of Irish descent are into. You want to be all Irish and shit, cool, move to Ireland. Me? I'm American. American, first, last and always. A big +1! I'm a first generation American, not Hispanic-American or some shit. AMERICAN and damn proud of it! |
Worth re-quoting. 
"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 man's becoming in very fact 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, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...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, January 3, 1919 "This is a nation — not a polyglot boarding house. There is not room in the country for any 50-50 American, nor can there be but one loyalty — to the Stars and Stripes."  
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"The man who loves other countries as much as his own stands on a level with a man who loves other women as much as he loves his own wife." - Teddy Roosevelt.
"Every immigrant that comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country." - Teddy Roosevelt. "A nation without borders is not a nation." - Ronald Reagan "There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. This is just as true of the man who puts “native” before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance. But if he is heartily and singly loyal to this Republic, then no matter where he was born, he is just as good an American as any one else. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English- Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian- Americans, or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality than with the other citizens of the American Republic. The men who do not become Americans and nothing else are hyphenated Americans; and there ought to be no room for them in this country. The man who calls himself an American citizen and who yet shows by his actions that he is primarily the citizen of a foreign land, plays a thoroughly mischievous part in the life of our body politic. He has no place here; and the sooner he returns to the land to which he feels his real heart-allegiance, the better it will be for every good American. " Teddy Roosevelt Addressing the Knights of Columbus in New York City 12 October 1915 "There is no place for the hyphen in our citizenship... We are a nation, not a hodge-podge of foreign nationalities. We are a people, and not a polyglot boarding house." - Teddy Roosevelt |
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My best friend is Mexican. His parents immigrated legally when they were quite young. His parent's don't consider themselves to be hyphenated. His mother teaches English as a second language at a high school in a predominately Mexican neighborhood. About 1/3 of her students are illegal or are anchor babies. They have no interest in becoming Americans-they're interested in pushing everything to become bilingual. Their parents don't speak English at home, so the kids hang out with other Spanish speakers. Some of their classes are conducted in Spanish. She said that many of them have a serious entitlement mentality-they think they should be passed, because the tests are biased-being in English. This is precisely why I would NOT become a teacher. I can't be around people like that. My husband teaches high school and has this exact same problem. Some kids need a translator just to take a test. Then some graduates get financial aid for college, even though they're here illegally. That makes my blood boil... my mom did everything right to ensure a good life for herself and her family here (she immigrated from the Philippines too, btw Yojimbo), so all this free sh*t and accommodation for illegals and anchor babies - it's all just a slap in the face to her and everything she's ever worked for. |
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I seriously wish that just for once people would look at history. "Multi-cultural" societies end up either splitting apart or civil war or just plain nasty internal politics. It does not work as each group jostles to be "top dog". In order to do that they engage in prejudice, Tribalism, class distinction, Language Imperialism etc. etc. Multi-cultural IS NOT the same as Multiracial.
Here are some examples of societies that are "multi-cultural" India - Muslim, Hindi, Sikh. History - 500 years of civil war, war, caste system, ethnic cleansing. Recent events includes Millions dead or displaced from 1948 Partition. Destruction of Muslim Mosque by Hindu nationalists 2004. Over 1000 dead from Kashmiri problem. Hindu nationalist party rises from obscurity to become largest party in India. Balkans - Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, Plus nationalities. History - 1000 years of War, ethnic cleansing. recent events include War crimes during civil war of 1990's with thousands dead. Partition of countries into smaller states. Displacment of Communist party with Serb, croat and Bosniak Nationalist parties. British Isles- Catholic and Protestant. 1000 years of war and oppression. English attack Scottish Clan system, absorb Scotland. Irish oppresed for 500 years. Irish Catholics attack Irish protestants. Colonization of Ireland by King James. Result, millions dead over the milliena. Ireland revolts for independence. Northern Ireland in turmoil until 2000's. Scottish National Party becomes Scotlands largest political party. These are just three examples. there are hundreds more. Multi-culturalism does NOT work. |
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These are just three examples. there are hundreds more. Multi-culturalism does NOT work. Exactly. This is an intended result of the Left's 'diversity' push over the past 30 years. It, more than anything else, is the root cause of the fall of American exceptionalism. |