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Friday, July 29, 2005

We Are The Borg... Or We Should Be

I have explained and complained a number of times about why I am for closed borders and against illegal immigration. The possibility of terrorists launching attacks via open borders is important, but pales when compared to the main problem, that being an inability or unwillingness to assimilate good immigrants, or of immigrants to be assimilated.

I firmly believe that the lifeblood of our country has consisted, and does now consist, of a steady flow of immigrants. At one time our country was known as a melting pot, where diverse immigrants came, settled, and became Americans, culturally. Other than appearance and possibly some family/religious traditions, from the second or third generation on they were indistinguishable from the population as a whole.

Of course there were exceptions. Some groups, usually but not always self-imposed, formed their own enclaves and maintained their old world languages and cultures. Many cities have areas known for a concentration for one or more of these groups. These enclaves served as comfort zones for newly arrived immigrants, allowing them to transition into the American culture at a rate that best suited them. This process of assimilation is what we are rapidly losing, sacrificed upon the altar of diversity and multiculturism.

Charles Krauthammer, writing in the Washington Post about the recent bombings in London, and the resultant random search screening processes instituted here because of them, touches on the assimilation of immigrants. He proposes that the assimilation process has failed in Britain, but has not failed here.
[...] These numbers, attesting to a massive failure of assimilation, are inconceivable in the United States, with its centuries of successful Americanization. This does not mean that there cannot be isolated cells of American Muslims -- or others, such as McVeigh types or antiabortion nuts -- who hate their country and want to attack it. But the massive, teeming suburbs of disaffected and alienated immigrants simply do not exist here. [...]
As much as I admire Mr. Krauthammer, and agree with his views, I must disagree with this. At the same time that the isolated cells he speaks of are expanding, and "... massive, teeming suburbs of disaffected and alienated immigrants..." are rapidly becoming a reality here, we as assimilated Americans are abrogating our responsibilities to encourage... demand!... that newer immigrants do the same. The demographics of Britain are rapidly becoming the demographics of the United States. We cannot allow this, and we cannot survive it.

Eric at Classical Values has a similar take:
[...] I don't care whether it's called "diversity," "multiculturalism," "identity politics," or the old fashioned word "segregation," it's become increasingly clear that this stuff is leading the country in the wrong direction. [...]
Agreed! (and he posted first, too!)

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