Thoughts on Immigration and American Exceptional-ism

The United States is a nation of immigrants.  Most families can trace their family tree back to someone who came here from somewhere else.  In my case, my great-grandparents immigrated to the USA from Germany in the 1880's.  They were of Dutch descent living in Germany.  They boarded a ship there, and landed in Baltimore harbor, and eventually settled in Kentucky.

Once here, they became Americans.  They assimilated into churches, communities and schools.  They raised families and followed the laws of the land, and they prospered.  As God says, they went forth to be fruitful, and multiplied

Immigrants from many countries did likewise, and the country grew in size, scope, wealth and power to be the greatest country in the history of the world.  We walked and drove cars on the moon, cured diseases, raised billions of people out of poverty, and shared our wealth with the world.  Americans continue to be the overwhelmingly most charitable people in history.

Today these resourceful people who built the nation, freed slaves, fought and won world wars, and accomplished so much, are being replaced by a nation of the aggrieved.  Every little thing, and some larger, seems to find someone claiming offense and demanding retribution.  This is not what America stands for.

Even freed slaves pulled themselves up to become more than chattel, though not without a great struggle.  Descendents of slaves are now captains of industry, leaders of armies, judges, and even the President of the nation.  Hispanics, Asians and Indians are elected office holders, men and women alike.   We have broken so many racial and ethnic barriers to get this far.

It was never without struggle, pain, or risk of life, limb and fortune.  But for those who worked hard and smart, took calculated risks, and succeeded, America benefited.  America became great on the backs of immigrants.

This country should never turn an immigrant away who wants to continue the traditions of American exceptional-ism.  The problem we have is separating those immigrants from another kind that do not want what American stands for.  There are many who will succeed and others who will fail to succeed in this country.  But there are many who will not try, and some who will take advantage.  We must never allow America to suffer because we stop trying, stop caring, and stop risking.