(Photo taken on Ann Street, right here in Elgin)
Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN:
“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.” (From a letter dated January 6, 1919)
I've seen houses that have Bears or Cubs flags even with the American flag.
ReplyDeleteI've seen flags with Santa or a pumpkin or a spring flower. If such equate to your patriotism you are a shallow soul indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the Mexican flag means more than a sports team.
Then again, they DO take their soccer seriously.
All immigrants, even second, third or fourth generation have some residual pride in their origin countries. That's why we celebrate St. Patrick's day as an Irish thing and Columbus Day as an Italian thing. If you're talking about national loyalty, I don't think any American is going to be fighting for Ireland or Italy if it comes down to that.
ReplyDeleteHow many Ireland flags do you see waving year-round?
ReplyDeleteAnd we're not worried about the citizens.