Home of the Brave: Immigration and America
Americans have had varying attitudes towards immigrants since it’s inception. Some have been very welcoming and sympathetic to an immigrants plight for freedom and happiness. Others have been cautious, and strict. Amongst the less sympathetic, xenophobia is present in their discourse. They believe that America and it’s Dream belong to Americans only, rejecting to aid any perceived outsiders in pursuit of what they believe is rightfully theirs. Despite such extremes, immigrants have been an integral part to American society, and the more reasonable opinions on both sides of the argument agree that immigrants deserve the right to live amongst, and become, Americans.
Emma Lazarus expresses a friendly, …show more content…
He opens the second chapter of American Ideals with the statement of “The might tide of immigration to our shores has brought in its train much of good and much of evil…”, recognizing that while immigrants can bring an abundance of good things to the American community, there are other things brought along with them Roosevelt deems evil. Roosevelt believes these “evils” are the customs and culture belonging to the immigrants homeland. He says “…where immigrants, or the sons of immigrants…cling to the speech, the customs, the ways of life, and the habits of thought of the Old World which they have left, they thereby hair both themselves and us.” Roosevelt argues in favor of assimilation, claiming there is no other way for the immigrant to truly become American. Roosevelt states “…if he wishes to ever amount to anything he must throw himself heart and soul, and without reservation, into the new life to which he has come.” To try and bear the name of an American is an option open to all, but Roosevelt believes that it takes more than simply living in the country to have a right to the title. It requires an immigrant to fully adopt American culture and values, including the extreme of abandoning their native language to speak English, the dominant language in the country. Roosevelt clearly feels this is the most appropriate …show more content…
Roosevelt’s stance is progressive for his time, but does contain some of the qualities of the anti-immigrant movement being espoused today. At both their cores, both stances reject the foreign in the immigrant. Lazarus, and those that share her views, welcome immigrants to try and be part of the American experiment. The supporter of immigrants believe they have the right to exist in America, and they posses the right to try and achieve the American Dream. Despite differing opinions on how to treat the immigrant situation, both Lazarus and Roosevelt at least agree on the point of immigrants being allowed the opportunity of being an American, and to believe otherwise is a detrimental to the spirit of the United
Americans have had varying attitudes towards immigrants since it’s inception. Some have been very welcoming and sympathetic to an immigrants plight for freedom and happiness. Others have been cautious, and strict. Amongst the less sympathetic, xenophobia is present in their discourse. They believe that America and it’s Dream belong to Americans only, rejecting to aid any perceived outsiders in pursuit of what they believe is rightfully theirs. Despite such extremes, immigrants have been an integral part to American society, and the more reasonable opinions on both sides of the argument agree that immigrants deserve the right to live amongst, and become, Americans.
Emma Lazarus expresses a friendly, …show more content…
He opens the second chapter of American Ideals with the statement of “The might tide of immigration to our shores has brought in its train much of good and much of evil…”, recognizing that while immigrants can bring an abundance of good things to the American community, there are other things brought along with them Roosevelt deems evil. Roosevelt believes these “evils” are the customs and culture belonging to the immigrants homeland. He says “…where immigrants, or the sons of immigrants…cling to the speech, the customs, the ways of life, and the habits of thought of the Old World which they have left, they thereby hair both themselves and us.” Roosevelt argues in favor of assimilation, claiming there is no other way for the immigrant to truly become American. Roosevelt states “…if he wishes to ever amount to anything he must throw himself heart and soul, and without reservation, into the new life to which he has come.” To try and bear the name of an American is an option open to all, but Roosevelt believes that it takes more than simply living in the country to have a right to the title. It requires an immigrant to fully adopt American culture and values, including the extreme of abandoning their native language to speak English, the dominant language in the country. Roosevelt clearly feels this is the most appropriate …show more content…
Roosevelt’s stance is progressive for his time, but does contain some of the qualities of the anti-immigrant movement being espoused today. At both their cores, both stances reject the foreign in the immigrant. Lazarus, and those that share her views, welcome immigrants to try and be part of the American experiment. The supporter of immigrants believe they have the right to exist in America, and they posses the right to try and achieve the American Dream. Despite differing opinions on how to treat the immigrant situation, both Lazarus and Roosevelt at least agree on the point of immigrants being allowed the opportunity of being an American, and to believe otherwise is a detrimental to the spirit of the United