Thursday, July 5, 2007

A Forgotten Component of Immigration

A New York Post editorial by Michelle Malkin hits the nail on the head regarding a critical component of immigration that was completely absent in the recent amnesty debacle. She points out that an immediate backlash from militant illegal aliens (waving Mexican flags, burning American flags, etc.) last year prompted amnesty proponents to switch tactics to embrace the American flag and support learning English and pursuing citizenship. Now that amnesty is dead, she questions whether or not those tactics will change. We'll find out in time.

Malkin puts forward the theory that we are NOT a nation of immigrants since 85% of the population was born here; rather, we are descendants of immigrants. But, even if we were a nation of immigrants, why would we not want sensible immigration control? She cites our Founding Fathers -- including George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton -- who repeatedly stressed the importance of assimilation. We are a nation of laws, and the primary purpose of the government is "to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty", not to "celebrate diversity" or to "embrace multiculturalism" or to give "every willing worker" in the world a job.

I ask you to recall when during the recent amnesty debate you heard the term assimilation. My guess is you never did, unless it was from someone opposed to amnesty saying assimilation was completely absent from the amnesty bill. As I said in my last blog, immigration is key to the success of our country, but it has to be done correctly. And that means assimilation.

There's my two cents.

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