Diversity and Inclusion the Immigrant way

Big brawls you may not see on your cable news. American immigrants fighting from Maryland to California with Antifa and schoolboards about LGBTQ agenda in schools. Armenian-Americans and American Muslims seem to be less passive than all those white supremacists. This is real diversity and inclusion,

Protests and Violence as Immigrants, Muslims Kick Back Against #PRIDE LGBTQI2+ to Kids - NewsRescue.com

Fights Break Out at School Board Meeting Between Antifa and Parents (dailysignal.com)

Happy Birthday America (July 4, 2022)

I saw this on her Facebook page. I think she's from Brazil.

By Sybele Capezzutti

Happy Birthday America!
When I came to America 36 years ago a few things caught my attention….
The streets were clean and well paved
There was a sense of order
There weren’t any beggars on the street corners
People didn’t lock their doors during the day or lock their cars
Americans could criticize anyone and anything freely
Americans could open a small business and make a decent living
Cops were respected
Each State was different with different laws that served its population
Voting wasn’t mandatory but Americans took it serious
Americans were proud, a good proud!

I was travelling by bus from St. Louis, MO to Peoria, IL listening to my walkman (you can laugh now!) in total awe with the beautiful road, and as we crossed the Mississippi River I saw a group of bikers, there were twenty or so, they all had jackets with the American Flag on it and the leader had a big Flag flying from his bike….it gave me chills!
I cried, I was in America! The land of the Free!
I knew then I wanted to be part of it, I wanted to be Free also.
It wasn’t the kind of freedom that removes physical chains, it was freedom of the soul.
The visa process was a lengthy and expensive one, but to me it was so worthy! I was glad that this wonderful Country was so demanding and scrutinized its immigrants, after all, the reason it was so wonderful was because of its citizenry and the pride they carry in their hearts, the love they had for this land.

Becoming a US Citizen in those days was a privilege, one that I was very grateful for.
To all of you that were blessed with being born in this amazing Country….
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being selective about who you are willing to accept into your family, that’s called self preservation.

Read the beginning of this post again and ask yourself why have things changed so much in 36 years.
As we celebrate America’s 246th Birthday let’s remember that this Nation was made by immigrants who embraced it, loved it, fought for it, and died for it….and not by immigrants who refused to assimilate.
I wish all of you could feel what I felt that day when I crossed the Mississippi River….

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people” ~ Ronald Reagan.
"The price of liberty is eternal vigilance" - Thomas Jefferson

Sadly, we haven't been vigilant, but I'll always hold dear to my heart the memories of a country that made me who I am today.

 
Happy Birthday America! And thank you for having me.

Katie Hopkins from UK warning America.

https://youtu.be/ToDsfkwvikw

Do-gooders think they are helping migrants when in fact they are helping traffickers and criminals organized to make money from people's misfortune.  She has interviewed them.  All the old conflicts emigrate with the refugees. Charities aren't always charities. Media mocked Trump for "Sweden has fallen."  But she was in Sweden where she was the only white person.

Democrats endanger lives of illegal immigrants and cheat the legal ones

Based on Census data (ACS) there are about 44.5 million immigrants in the U.S., or about 13.7% of the population. (That number doesn't include foreign born here for other reasons.) Unlike Ilhan Omar, immigrants and children of immigrants are usually among the most patriotic of all Americans--especially if the stories of WWII or the Gulag or the Disappeared have been passed down. By far, immigrants are the most eager to take advantage of our property rights and free markets--something they probably weren't allowed in their country of birth.

Recently, the terms immigrant and "illegal immigrant" have been deliberately morphed although they are very different. Even finding unbiased statistical data is difficult because of slanted meanings of words. But that number gives you an idea why Democrats are rewarding illegal immigrants at the expense of the legal ones waiting and paying high legal fees and the refugees already given numbers to enter (45,000 a year). It's a numbers game for federal money, political power and electoral votes.
They are also putting the illegal immigrants at risk for trafficking, health, employment and education problems, plus 5-10 years down the road they still won't be legal but their children will be causing great stress in families. True refugees are required to apply for a green card to become a permanent resident after one year in the United States. After five years of residency, they become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. That is not the case for the catch and release, reward the coyotes system for those who fade into the general population.

Do native born Americans use more welfare at a higher rate than illegal immigrants?

Have you ever wondered where some anti-Trumpers and Leftists come up with their "native born Americans use more welfare than illegals" memes and mottoes? Just read such an article today by a very sound research organization, Cato, which is libertarian. "Immigration and the welfare state: immigrant and native use rates and benefit levels for means-tested welfare and entitlement programs." Alex Nowrasteh and Robert Orr, May 10, 2018.

Here's the reasoning. First of all, toss in Social Security, SSI and Medicare into the pot and call that welfare. I know more than a few Americans who would object to calling the retirement plan and insurance they paid for "welfare."

Second, don't distinguish among green card holders, permanent residents, temporary workers, students (F-1, F-2, F-3 visas) refugees and naturalized citizens and illegal border crashers from 84 countries pouring through our southern border. It wouldn't shock me too much if green card computer employees of Google, Amazon and Microsoft from India and China earning 3x the wage of the average American don't use welfare. Just chatted with a 20-something recent OSU graduate (probably Indian, but could be Pakistani) on my walk yesterday, ready to take off for Seattle to work. From student visa to work visa (H1b).

Third, neglect to point out that virtually all the in-kind benefits that come from the 50 states, originate at the federal level--the National School Lunch Program, WIC, Head Start. Since those are available to all regardless of immigration status, that's also on the wrong side of the ledger.

Fourth, ignore that no one actually has a figure on how many illegals are living among us, working 2-3 jobs, being paid under the table, and sending remittances home to Ecuador or Honduras or Kenya. The churches and non-profits who receive government grants do not ask questions--they serve all.

Table 1 in the article disproves Cato's thesis by using what most Americans would define as federal "welfare." Percentage using Cash assistance, 0.7 by natives, 0.8 by noncitizens; SNAP 9.6 by natives, 14.6 by non-citizens; Medicaid 12.3 by natives, 18.9 by non-citizens.

The article is really loosey-goosey when it comes to the children. It has a category for "child immigrants" (which could be children of green card holders, work visa holders, naturalized citizens, temporary workers) and for "citizen children of noncitizen parents." Duh! I'm not too shocked if the immigrant child of a Filipino computer programmer working for Google is less likely to be using welfare than the child of a coal miner in West Virginia whose parents lost their jobs because of a clean air regulation.

It's not fake news, just government statistics with no agreement on terms.

Brazilian immigrant attacks man in MAGA hat in Mexican restaurant

President Donald Trump is not a racist, sexist, homophobic xenophobe. That’s the media’s narrative.  He’s protecting our borders, and not ignoring lines in the sand that his predecessor did.    But we have a lot of strung out, on the edge, crazy people in this country.

A Brazilian immigrant attacked a man in a Mexican restaurant who was wearing a MAGA hat and after the police were called, she tried it again.  Admitting she’d had a little to drink, she claimed she was the victim.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/woman-assaults-man-maga-hat?

Guest blogger Yusnaiberth explains how socialism really works in the 21st century

I was born and used to live in a very rich country, where anything you planted grew, where any small or big business used to succeed, where people used to leave the country ONLY for two reasons: 1. to study (Post-Grades or Masters) or, 2. for tourism, but they used to come back to keep growing and to keep living happy with everything...with their family and friends to be in an eternal party and comfort.

Since the 50’s, that country used to be the destiny of thousands of immigrants, most of them from Europe. That Country, blessed with beautiful lands, forests, rivers, desert, mountains and beaches; where the Angel Falls is!. . . that country where the most beautiful women used to be . . . that country, that was a paradise WAS my Venezuela, UNTIL Socialism=Communism put its hands on her in 1998. 

That was when Hugo Chavez Frías took the power (a military ex-convict for trying to take the power by force in 1989 and 1992, but then got amnesty from the left party in power).  Everything else I tell you about this story you can find in YouTube or Google.  This man convinced people to vote for him to get rid of the two main parties (AD & Copey) and their corruption, based on Socialism, but at the end it came out to be something worse . . . that “XXI ‘s Century Socialism” was just Pure Communism.

That government became a Dictatorship regime, my country went from a wealthy status to just ruins today.  Chavez destroyed the national production, he closed and/or expropriated any business which disagreed with his ideology: all free, high taxes, exchange control, price control,  etc. Electrical, Communication, Transport and Water companies went from private to public.  Money destined for technology, improvement and maintenance of all those services were stolen . . . disappeared!

He made indefinite re-election, made the presidential period longer . . . anybody in the public administration or system who disagreed or wasn’t registered in his party was fired.

Venezuela was destroyed economically and socially in less than 14 years and once Chavez died, he left as his successor, Nicolas Maduro and this one made things worse, radicalizing the “revolution” and receiving orders and instructions direct from Castro’s Brothers.

Venezuela became a partner with Iran, Russia and China and it is confirmed those countries already have cells and colonies residing there, making Venezuela a huge threat for United States.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died fighting against this regime or due to the insecurity, food and medicine being scarce.

I used to work for +14 years in a big American Company (Procter&Gamble), which during +50 years had its Latin American Division settled in Caracas-Venezuela. We used to be +2000 employees between offices and industrial plants.  Now there are no more than 30 employees, I’m not exaggerating.  Company had to move all its operations due to the insecurity and exchange and price control and the has same happened with all the industries.

Ruins...just ruins is what you can see today...

I came here legally, running away from the regime and insecurity, that was 11 years ago (2007), after I fought against the regime, I protested, voted, signed, ran and almost was killed in a march in 2002.

I finally gave up and realized there was nothing to do anymore if I wanted a future . . . alive. In the last two years I’ve lost 4  members of my family due to lack of medicine or medical attention. People are dying for human rights violation during protests in 2014, then in 2017 . . . Do you know what Obama did or said? NOTHING! He looked to other side!

It’s hard to summarize so many things my country has lived, but what I wanted to say you in one phrase is: “I know the monster and I know what’s inside his guts”...and during 8 years of Obama’s Presidency I could detect so many signals of the same socialism Chavez sold to us. A socialism fed with populism, hate, resent and envy.

I used to give him the benefit of doubt, until in 2013 when I personally participated in a movement to ask Obama for sanctions for the Human Rights violators and Narco-Cartel Military Leaders. Obama ignored us for 7 months, he ignored the +400 students killed or disappeared plus hundreds of political prisoners. HE DID OR SAID ANYTHING! Approved the first sanctions because the pressure of the Republicans Marco Rubio and Diaz Balart and because 2016 election was coming.

Donald Trump, well I didn’t like him that much at first, but I knew that anything against Hillary would be much better...but, something happened, he has not only done everything he promised the USA, he approved not once but 6 rounds of sanctions against Venezuela’s regime corrupt and military cartel members AS HE PROMISED.

Other things made me so convinced about Trump and the RED Wave: the daily cry and attacks of the lefties, everyday posts in Facebook promoting hate and spitting resent and an eternal victimization for the past. . .people who didn’t forgive and move on. . .parents like me supporting things like abortion or early years gender change (I wondered what about if is your own kid?). . .the always “poor illegal immigrant” but God forgive you! if you tell them to open their homes to strangers and pay all their expenses even their visas, medical and school expenses! I’m tired of hearing people who take all for granted and believe a government is responsible for each of their failures and wrong decisions.

And the last drop in the glass...Venezuelans who came here running away of socialism voting for Democrats just to obtain personal benefits.

I’ve been pretty active not only here but in Spain (my husband’s country) where socialism is already destroying that country economy and safety stability. The violent immigrants coming from Africa are being supported and protected by the left-socialist government. I see that  if Democrats win, the same is gonna happen with the violent invasion called “caravan”.

I’m sorry! I tried to summarize too many stuff...I could be writing and writing hundreds of reasons why USA is in danger.  My only purpose is to open the eyes of those who have never been out of USA and don’t really know what socialism is.

I became a Citizen Last May 2018 and I couldn’t be more proud to give my first vote in this country to fight against what I ran away of. I will defend this Country, the country which opened its arms to me, my kids’ country, because they were born here and now my Country, My Sweet Home.

I’m sorry if my English grammar isn’t good, I’m doing my best to speak and write better English every day as part of my obligation of INTEGRATION as immigrant.

Thanks!

Lena Raman who Walked Away

There is a growing movement in the U.S. called hashtag Walk Away, and primarily it is former Democrats/Progressives/RINOs and why they’ve left the party that oppressed them.  Lena Raman writes:

“While I was volunteering for an organization in San Francisco, a group of women in hijab came to talk to us about how “America is oppressing them.” I sat in the back row silently listening. When the time came and the girl asked if we had any questions, I raised my hand.

I said, “I am an ex Muslim woman who is half Iranian and half Indian. I’ve lived in Iran for 5 years with little to no rights. Forget having the opportunity to stand before a group of Americans, bashing America. . .I couldn’t even stand before a group of Iranians without a guardian. Today, you stand before me bashing the country which has given me the right your country didn’t. When the Iranians found out that my father was Indian, they would double tax his products. My mother couldn’t leave the house without being harassed. Not saying every Muslim is this way, but why don’t you talk about the extreme oppression which goes on in your country. You are standing on the land of the free. Though the government might not be perfect, but I’d be damned if you said my country oppressed me.”

I didn’t walk away necessarily, but I was asked to leave.

I am a PROUD LEGAL IMMIGRANT. My family fought long and hard to be part of this country. Never will I forget the nightmare I’ve escaped from. It is so easy to point fingers and bash a country which gives you the right to do so. You can’t speak oppression if you can freely practice your religion here. You can’t possibly be oppressed if you can stand in front of a group of Americans, bashing America. You can’t possibly be oppressed if you can leave the house wearing what you want. These are the rights America has given me and trust me when I say. . .
I WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR BEING AMERICAN. “

Is Trump a racist?

For the umpteenth time today I read that Trump is a racist. It's said constantly by Democrats, progressives and socialists. Let's find something he's said that is as racist as what Biden said about Obama back in 2007 ( "first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy"). Maybe you just call that patronizing, but really, the FIRST ARTICULATE African-American--where does that leave the rest of successful, educated black men? Has Trump said negative sexual things about Obama the way Jesse Jackson did? He said he'd like to cut his nuts off, accused him of talking down to blacks, and used the N-word about Obama.

And what about Mexicans? Folks, Trump wasn't in office when the wall was approved and money set aside. He wasn't in office when Clinton removed a record number of illegal immigrants, presumably not because he didn't like Mexicans, but because it was a criminal act and hurt American workers.
Although Muslims like Christians can be any race, he's still called a racist for pointing out the obvious. Trump wasn't in office during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars--that was 6 years of Bush and 8 of Obama. It wasn't Trump who designated Muslim countries in a bill signed by Obama in 2015--the Visa Waiver program for 38 countries. And it was Obama supporters who decided Trump needed to be stopped at any cost and stopped him with a court order.

I'm sure Trump had many shady real estate deals and not-so-nice encounters as a TV star and producer, but don't you think it's odd that in his success as a businessman and entertainer he had excellent relationships with blacks? Agreed he's a completely unconventional President undoing Obama's "legacies" while draining the swamp, he's a wealthy man who supports the little guy and average American, rare for a politician who seem to chase after the rich and powerful. Trump won't need or want a Netflix deal in exchange for an ambassador position. He's also been spied on and lied about in the media and he fights back. Due to the victim mentality Democrats have built their political house on, the worst charges they can think of are "racism" and I've even heard "homophobe" although I've never seen anything to corroborate that one either. With his marriage track record he probably doesn't care who is sleeping with whom. But both Clinton and Obama up to the 2012 election declared marriage was not for gays.

Trump said to black voters, "What have you got to lose?" Democrats have a lot to lose--and that's why they keep repeating these phony charges.

The left powers up the smear campaign against Trump-Pence

Someone about 18  months ago decided that because Donald Trump wasn't brown, black, female or gay, he must be a white supremacist, and that's all it took for the alt-right (used to be a valid term for people who disagreed with conservatives--the alternative right) accusers and hate mongers to run with it. Was that ever said about him before June 2015? He used to be a flamboyant celebrity who hung with all kinds of people--mainly rich celebrities. But Washington is a private club whether the Bushes or Clintons are in power.

Upon throwing his hat in the ring he became a target of both Republicans and Democrats. For almost 30 years he'd been saying this was a great country that wasn't being run well (I saw one clip from the Oprah show in 1988 where she asked him if he would ever run for president).  But in 2015, "make America great again" became a dog whistle according to the alt-left. Trump didn't say ALL immigrants from Muslim countries should be excluded, only that the process needed to be put on hold until the government could figure out how to vet them. Now there are memes on the internet showing arms with prison tattoos, poor Joseph and Mary facing a wall and Japanese American children looking through barbed wire.  He never said all Mexicans were drug dealers and rapists, and the CRS has reported almost exactly his assessment of the border problems.  (Heroin Trafficking in the United States, Congressional Research Service, Aug. 23, 2016.)

If the Broadway cast of Hamilton are so worried now, did they fear for their lives and careers in 2008-2012 when Obama lied about his support for traditional marriage, or when people who can't afford a night out on the town in New York were slandered as deplorables?  Did they interrupt their audience's pleasure after they'd paid $800 a ticket with calls for closing the gender pay gap at the Clinton Foundation? Would they have asked their audience to stop aborting disabled babies? Who but the 1% can afford a ticket to pay their salaries and build their careers? The Hamilton cast has very odd values and even worse manners. For the pleasure of lecturing one group of theater goers out for a pleasant event, they spoiled the evening for everyone else.

An immigrant addresses Colin Kaepernick and buddies

An immigrant addresses the disrespect of some of our athletes and celebrities:

"I am a first generation Naturalized American who was born in India. I am neither white (without white privilege), nor black or Hispanic (not a victim either), I am just a person who came to a land of opportunity with a dream. I have traveled some in this world and to the best of my knowledge I have not known of any other country where some of the people desecrate their flag, disavow their National Anthem or tear down their own country. If I am wrong please straighten me out. BUT if I am right, then please address how do we expect any other country to respect ours when we (under the “excuse” of freedom of speech) do not respect it ourselves."

When I became a U.S. citizen, I took an oath denouncing my allegiance to my old country and even agreed to take up arms against my former country if asked to by the USA. Please check the verbiage of the oath these days, but do oaths mean nothing anymore?

Just like family, we may not always agree with our parents or siblings but we do not insult or degrade them in public (at least I don’t think they should).

I have three comments for your consideration:
1) If they (the desecrators) dislike our country so much then by the same freedoms that are granted to us through our constitution and bill of rights they are free to denounce their citizenship and go embrace and live in a country that they think is better than ours. They are free to run and embrace that country’s flag and anthem, but I am sorry I would appreciate them not doing it on our soil. In America fly the American flag with pride and no other!!!

2) Every immigrant like myself that came here to this wonderful land of opportunity seeking a better future, should leave the policies, laws, traditions and attitudes of their former countries behind and assimilate into our culture, traditions, language, laws and attitudes. After all if their old country’s ideas, policies, traditions and laws were so good then why did they leave and come here in the first place? Go home!

3) I believe immigrants come here either because they admire us and the opportunities we offer or to rape and abuse our country for all that they can pillage. I am sorry but we must block the latter kind. I believe that Mr. Trump has the right idea. As for those who were born in this country, wow, what can I say? They were blessed to be born into opportunity but many unfortunately could not admire the beauty of the forest because they were blinded by the tree in front of them.

I wish to remain anonymous, but I will be glad to answer any questions if needed for clarification.
I am just a man who loves my country and all that it stands for. May God bless the USA.“

 https://patriotpost.us/opinion/45412

States with the most integrated Hispanic populations

In our society, usually assimilation and integration of immigrants and minorities are goals--at least it was until our big "diversity" and "multi-cultural" push by liberals. So how are the states doing? West Virginia has been the most successful with Hispanics who have adapted to mainstream American society relative to where they live, and Massachusetts is #51. The study uses 17 indicators, everything from English language to home ownership. Massachusetts has super majorities in both houses for Democrats, and has only voted twice since 1960 for a Republican president. Only two progressive NE states are even in the top 30. Democrats favor keeping immigrants in little cultural boxes speaking the language of their grandparents so they can be a voting block; Republicans encourage full integration of immigrants taking advantage of all this country can offer. 

 https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-most-integrated-hispanics/15591/

 

Success of black immigrants in the U.S.

I've been reading some glowing reports about foreign born black immigrants--education level, income, extending to 2nd generation. But that's not what Pew Research reports, although foreign born blacks do much better than native born, especially in marriage rate and education they don't necessarily do better than other immigrant groups. The difference may be Pew figures  include blacks from all over the world including South American and Caribbean and the other reports may be just Africa. The fact remains, many American blacks, like our President, do not have slavery in their history. And many American blacks are descended from families that did own slaves.

 

 http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/04/09/chapter-1-statistical-portrait-of-the-u-s-black-immigrant-population/

 

 http://www.atlnightspots.com/african-immigrants-have-the-highest-academic-achievement-in-the-us

 

 http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/06/26/survey-shows-black-immigrants-educated-make-money-african-americans/

 

"First- and second-generation immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, though only 13% of the nation’s blacks as a whole, represent 41% of all those of African descent at 28 selective universities and 23 % of the black population at all public universities." Their children excel at higher rates than any other American immigrant groups. This is reported in a number of publications, including Pew Research and the Census. But all the others sources mention that the marriage rate is much higher for immigrant blacks. Washington Post (this source) doesn't.
 

For my trolls and Obama supporters

I often hear that Republicans are racists because they don't like Obama. Or Republicans hate the poor.

Well, let's take them at their word if that is their gauge of morality.

• Is racism worse than killing millions of black babies with the blessings of the Democrat party? More in 4 days of abortion than 80 years of lynching, which was also a Democratic party scheme. 
• Is racism worse than letting black children flounder in failing public schools because the Democrats in the local and state government are afraid of the teachers union?
•  Is racism worse than letting many millions of black and brown third world children die of malaria because you caved to environmentalists on DDT? Would you want your children under bed nets?
•  Is racism worse than the blacks who will be robbed or murdered when you undo the 1993 crime bill and start going soft on black crime because you think the poverty pimps can turn out the vote for you?

And the poor?

• How ethical and moral is it for you to pretend you care about illegal immigrants, when they are taking jobs from low income Americans? Or overstaying their visas and taking jobs from college graduates in the tech fields? 
• Or that you say IRCA failed, when you never enforced it either for business or illegals crossing the boarder and now we have 30-40 million counting their children born here.
•  How ethical is it for you to prop up the all white Mexican government which depends on those ethnic workers to send cash home for the 2nd highest source of income in a very resource rich country? 
•  And the way you fight good jobs in the fuel industry and take them from coal miners so you can feed on fear about climate should really make you feel morally superior. 

There are worse things than what you've called Republicans.

The drivers of innovation in the United States

Who is driving innovation in the U.S.? The demographics of U.S. innovation are different from not only the demographics of the United States as a whole, but also the demographics of college-educated Americans and even those with a Ph.D. in science or engineering. . . Immigrants born in Europe or Asia are over five times more likely to have created an innovation in America than the average native-born U.S. citizen, and they are better educated in STEM. . . Women represent only 12 % of U.S. innovators. . . The average male born in the United States is nine times more likely to contribute to an innovation than the average female. . . U.S.-born minorities (including Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and other ethnicities) make up just 8% of U.S.-born innovators. However, these groups total 32% of the total U.S.-born population. Blacks make up just half a percent of U.S. innovators. The median innovator is 47 years of age and typically has years of work experience and deep knowledge in STEM fields.

This information was from the summary; an interesting survey and report on an important topic.

 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION FOUNDATION | FEBRUARY 2016

Still plan to accept more Syrian refugees

By 2017, the U.S. could accept as many as 100,000 refugees from Syria, up from its current annual total of 85,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Common sense would seem to dictate caution and more planning on the part of Congress and the President who want more non-vetted immigrants, but then that is in short supply in DC. I don't see this group harvesting crops or writing software for Google and Amazon to satisfy Big Ag or Big Tech lobbyists.

http://www.investing.com/news/world-news/obama-moves-to-accelerate-syrian-refugee-plan-in-wake-of-paris-attacks-371265

Capra’s America

Frank Capra was an immigrant--he rejected the theories of progressivism, communism and socialism popular in Europe. ". . . he did not understand America, as many Americans do today, in terms of personal categories of identity such as race, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality. He understood America in terms of its political principles—the moral principles of America that can be shared by all who understand them and are willing to live up to them. . .

In his last and most personal tribute to his adopted country, Capra recalled his family’s arrival at Union Station in Los Angeles after their long journey across America in 1903. When they got off the train, his mother and father got on their knees and kissed the ground. Capra’s last words to his assembled audience were these: “For America, for just allowing me to live here, I kiss the ground.” Capra did not believe that he had a right to be a citizen of America. Rather he was grateful for the privilege of living in America."

https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/frank-capras-america-and-ours/

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/03/books/it-wasn-t-such-a-wonderful-life.html

http://rougholboy.com/capra/

January 27, 1945

70 years ago. Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by the Red Army of the Soviet Union. There aren't many survivors left--and most were children then. And there aren't a lot of us left who knew the survivors when we were growing up and listened to their stories. Some were victims of Soviet oppression in the Baltic states; others of the Nazis. Many churches were still resettling people in the 1950s. I went to college with young adults who were children rescued by American soldiers and later immigrated to the U.S. My husband's college roommate was an Italian war orphan. Mine was an escapee from Communist China.

In the early 1980s I became friends with a woman from Bexley (Columbus suburb) whose husband, although born in the U.S., was a child of his parents' second marriage. Both had been married and each had 3 or 4 children in the 1930s, but lost spouse and children in the Nazi concentration camps. After liberation they met each other in a camp and married, came as refugees to the U.S., started a second family for both, and had 4 more children. We are so fortunate to have this type of strength and faith as our foundation for American citizenship.

Who are getting the jobs? Not native born Americans

In the first quarter of this year, there were 5.7 million more immigrants with a job than in 2000. But among native-born Americans, there were 127,000 fewer with a job in 2014 than in 2000 — 114.7 million this year compared to about 114.8 m...illion in 2000. Since President Obama took office, 67 percent of employment growth has gone to immigrants (legal and illegal).
(Center for Immigration Studies)   http://www.cis.org/who-got-jobs-during-obama-presidency

The president noticed immigrants and commented

OBAMA: “ As I was getting a tour of DreamWorks, I didn't ask, but just looking at faces, I could tell there were some folks who are here not because they were born here, but because they want to be here and they bring extraordinary talents to the United States. And that's part of what makes America special. And that's part of what, by the way, makes California special, because it's always been this magnet of dreamers and strivers. And people coming from every direction saying to themselves, you know, if I work hard there I can have my piece of the American Dream.”

Of course, the immigrant workers of DreamWorks are not those who are sneaking across the borders.  Our 1996 immigration law would forbid DreamWorks from hiring them. Not even a janitor or grounds person would be hired without a green card or suitable documentation.

A few years ago I was at a birthday party, standing beside a stranger with dark skin and black hair who had a slight accent.  Not wanting to be rude, I didn't pounce and say "I see you are an immigrant here to bring us special talents," but eventually I found out he was Iranian born with a successful business that hired Mexican illegals because they were such hard workers, and wouldn't report him for fear of deportation.