100 years ago.. a President got it.

[Parkbandit]

"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 person's becoming in every facet 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... 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 - 1907

[Warriorbird]

Teddy'd be horrified by the current Republican Party...but I like these particular sentiments.

[Slark]

If he's so smart, how come he's dead?

[Sean of the Thread]

The Muslims in Minneapolis that are douching out in cabs and cashier jobs are pretty much pissing me off at this point.

[The Ponzzz]

If he's so smart, how come he's dead?

Uhh, because he was born in the 1800s...

[Parkbandit]

Teddy'd be horrified by the current Republican Party...but I like these particular sentiments.

I'm pretty sure Franklin would be even moreso with his Party.

[Mabus]

I find myself in agreement with Theodore Roosevelt on this issue. We term ourselves "a melting pot" not "a buffet table". Those that come here should do so legally, and once here assimilate.

Thank you for posting the quote.

[Alfster]

The Muslims in Minneapolis that are douching out in cabs and cashier jobs are pretty much pissing me off at this point.

What?

[Khariz]

"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 person's becoming in every facet 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... 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 - 1907

QFT^3

[TheEschaton]

So those Italians in all the Little Italies all over the place.....fuck off with your Italianness.

Every immigrant group, when it first comes here, tends to be very immigrant-y. It was true for the Irish, the Italians, the Polish (hell, all the Poles still live in one area in Buffalo), the what-have-yous. Give the more recent generations time, and they'll assimilate - against their parents wishes, but they will.

You have to realize most Hispanic, Muslim, and South Asian immigrants are at second generation at best. Hell, I'm a first generation immigrant.

-TheE-

[ElanthianSiren]

"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 person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here.

Agree, yet show me where immigrants are treated with exact equality. There have been plenty of surveys and studies done that show that people are discriminated against for not having American sounding names etc. What constitutes "divided." If you're saying everyone should go with the herd and never question or dissent, otherwise they're an unamerican immigrant, I'd advise Mr. Roosevelt to investigate the foundation of our country and its history.



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 - 1907

Well, he almost got it right, except that the federal legal language in this country isn't English; anyone want to take a guess what it is?

As TheE implied, our "history" of immigrants that came here English-ready and melding into later gen American culture is revisionist. It was generally G2 or 3 that did that with the help of cultural immersion (ie schools etc). A good but BORING book on this is Racial and Ethnic Relations by Feagin and Feagin.

[Skirmisher]

Theodore Roosevelt was a warmongering asshole, so please find someone better.

[Atlanteax]

"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 person's becoming in every facet 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... 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 - 1907

Too bad the concern about "preserving culture" is so overhyped, people underestimate how much you can stay true to your ethnic roots as a *full* American.

Instead, it's a situation of resenting others for not being a true part of American society, which only exacerbates tensions, and the illusion of "being oppressed".

[Artha]

Well, he almost got it right, except that the federal legal language in this country isn't English; anyone want to take a guess what it is?
I didn't know they offered the nationalization test in any language other than English.

[CrystalTears]

As far as I know, the USA doesn't have a legal language. Even though I believe it should be English, it's not.

[Stanley Burrell]

I wonder if by "faith" he meant Christianity, but otherwise, TDR was spot on about many things :)

I think George W. Bush should mimic Roosevelt's South American fun-filled malaria and "let's-dodge-the-headhunters" expedition, seeing such words of encouragement in this thread by the reich wing :thumbup:

[Warriorbird]

"Theodore Roosevelt was a warmongering asshole, so please find someone better."

Uhh...he also rose to power on busting up monopolies, made the National Parks, and fixed our language of a bunch of nonsensical Britishness.

Back the fuck off my TR.

[Artha]

TR was the man.

[Skirmisher]

"Theodore Roosevelt was a warmongering asshole, so please find someone better."

Uhh...he also rose to power on busting up monopolies, made the National Parks, and fixed our language of a bunch of nonsensical Britishness.

Back the fuck off my TR.

Anyone who did his damned best to push the US into a completely unneeded war against a lesser power and against the orders of his immediate superiors AND the President just because he thought it would be a glorious exercise is a loser no matter what else he may have done.

[Artha]

Remember the Maine!

[Warriorbird]

"Anyone who did his damned best to push the US into a completely unneeded war against a lesser power and against the orders of his immediate superiors AND the President just because he thought it would be a glorious exercise is a loser no matter what else he may have done."

So...what about FDR and Nicaragua 1?

[DrZaius]

So...what about FDR and Nicaragua 1?


You're going to have an uphill battle if you're going to side with Nazis ;)

[Parkbandit]

Anyone who did his damned best to push the US into a completely unneeded war against a lesser power and against the orders of his immediate superiors AND the President just because he thought it would be a glorious exercise is a loser no matter what else he may have done.


:yawn: