DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Theodore Roosevelt on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN

**sleelverrex** · 01-29-2006, 07:46 AM

I've always hated the hyphenated American label! I'm of Irish descent but many generations have passed since my family migrated here so above everything else, I'm an American.
Politicians are so afraid to say what Teddy Roosevelt did because they're afraid of offending someone, particularly the Latino voter. Can any of you imagine a politician today saying that we have room for only one language...English?! For the record, I think that anyone wanting to become a citizen should be required to speak our language first. I don't like calling a business in Texas and being told to "Press 1 for English..." That's BS!
Maybe one day, we'll get another politician that is willing to voice the same thoughts as Roosevelt, but I'll not hold my breath!

I think it is fine if immigrants want to identify with the culture they came from. Live and let live.

Myself, I rarely use a hyphenated label. I have grown up being called American and Irish interchageably because both things are true regarding my background and citizenship. It simply reflects the truth of the way it is in my situation. I feel enriched by both, and would repudiate neither. Both things have made me a better American insofar as this topic is concerned.

Very few places on Earth am I familiar with that could aptly be called the 51st state than Ireland. A quarter of this nation shares some Irish heritage, and my own family contributed to that. The Irish and their descendants in America have offered and given this nation tremendous gifts and sacrifices. And in Ireland, the bonds of brotherhood with America are felt equally strong. Even the Irish declaration of independence and the national anthem both mention the assistance of Americans of Irish descent who helped get that freedom. I know of no other nation that recognises America as such. America inspired the Irish as a hope for liberty and freedom. Even its own United Irishmen rebellion of 1798 was inspired by the American Revolution:

The emblem reads: "Equality--It is new strung and shall be heard."

My paternal grandfather who fought for Irish independence had most of his relatives before him, most of his siblings who survived the war, most of his wife's family, and most of his children come to the US. He was here over 20 times or so. Although he never immigrated here himself, he always called himself an American too given he loved and identified with the nation as part of himself given his visits and connections here. When he died, I placed the following pin above his heart when he was buried at his request before he died:

The claddagh heart and hands mean love, loyalty and friendship.

My family always became American citizens after arriving here and made their mark as being strong community assets who valued America, and they strived to sacrifice to make America a better place for themselves and the country that admitted them. Nothing less would be expected in my family, and the Irish have generally felt that way apart from my family. John Fitzgerald Kennedy said how the Irish feel on such matters: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." But they and their descendants never forgot from where they came either, and have been of the utmost help back in Ireland and by keeping their Irish culture in America that contributes to the wonderful melting pot of culture to be found here.

01-29-2006, 07:46 AM	#14
sleelverrex Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 460 Senior Member	I've always hated the hyphenated American label! I'm of Irish descent but many generations have passed since my family migrated here so above everything else, I'm an American. Politicians are so afraid to say what Teddy Roosevelt did because they're afraid of offending someone, particularly the Latino voter. Can any of you imagine a politician today saying that we have room for only one language...English?! For the record, I think that anyone wanting to become a citizen should be required to speak our language first. I don't like calling a business in Texas and being told to "Press 1 for English..." That's BS! Maybe one day, we'll get another politician that is willing to voice the same thoughts as Roosevelt, but I'll not hold my breath! I think it is fine if immigrants want to identify with the culture they came from. Live and let live. Myself, I rarely use a hyphenated label. I have grown up being called American and Irish interchageably because both things are true regarding my background and citizenship. It simply reflects the truth of the way it is in my situation. I feel enriched by both, and would repudiate neither. Both things have made me a better American insofar as this topic is concerned. Very few places on Earth am I familiar with that could aptly be called the 51st state than Ireland. A quarter of this nation shares some Irish heritage, and my own family contributed to that. The Irish and their descendants in America have offered and given this nation tremendous gifts and sacrifices. And in Ireland, the bonds of brotherhood with America are felt equally strong. Even the Irish declaration of independence and the national anthem both mention the assistance of Americans of Irish descent who helped get that freedom. I know of no other nation that recognises America as such. America inspired the Irish as a hope for liberty and freedom. Even its own United Irishmen rebellion of 1798 was inspired by the American Revolution: The emblem reads: "Equality--It is new strung and shall be heard." My paternal grandfather who fought for Irish independence had most of his relatives before him, most of his siblings who survived the war, most of his wife's family, and most of his children come to the US. He was here over 20 times or so. Although he never immigrated here himself, he always called himself an American too given he loved and identified with the nation as part of himself given his visits and connections here. When he died, I placed the following pin above his heart when he was buried at his request before he died: The claddagh heart and hands mean love, loyalty and friendship. My family always became American citizens after arriving here and made their mark as being strong community assets who valued America, and they strived to sacrifice to make America a better place for themselves and the country that admitted them. Nothing less would be expected in my family, and the Irish have generally felt that way apart from my family. John Fitzgerald Kennedy said how the Irish feel on such matters: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." But they and their descendants never forgot from where they came either, and have been of the utmost help back in Ireland and by keeping their Irish culture in America that contributes to the wonderful melting pot of culture to be found here.
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