[snowrip]

amnesty am-nes-ty -n 1. a general pardon for offenses against a government

Ours is a history and a spirit of sacrifice and of self-determination. It is a tradition of independence, of self-reliance, of hard work, of courage and of responsibility. We are a civilization, built on principles, a legacy of freedom and a society of laws. THIS IS OUR CULTURE, and it is as unique and as deserving of respect as any other. To become an American means to stand up in unwavering support and in reverence of these essential things, to belong to something that is larger and more powerful than any individual, and to accept this culture as your own. It means not a surrender of your heritage, but an integration of your way of life into that which is American.

If you choose to not subscribe to these ideals... get out of our country.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Succinctly on point. You pointed out that no one demands immigrants to totally abandon their culture, ethnicity or beliefs - merely hold more loyalty for the nation that took them in than the one they left while making an effort to adapt to the norms and language millions of others have.

The majority of illegals here have arrived during a time when diversity and cultural identity have achieved near-religious regard among the unelected government bureaucracy that's supposed to eject them for the sake of the people paying their salaries - US! Our elected officials can correct this trend if they can muster up the courage to. I regard Tancredo's growing coalition as the agent to eventually accomplish that necessary task.

But it's a race against time.