I have a question: Do you think, if the United States was attacked by an invading force, (I will disregard the illegals in this scenario) that these illegals we have been talking about would take up arms for America? Or would they just expect us to defend it for them? Would they be willing to die to defend the very freedoms we provide them?
One of the things that bothers me most about them is that when they refer to "my country" they are speaking of the their country of origin. I work with many immigrants. I suspect, and am told, that many are illegal. Most have been here for a few years. They do not accept America as "my country". For them their time here is just a way to make money. I see no loyalty to the very nation and its people that gives them their freedoms.
As you may know, just like with children, they never quite learn the value of something if it given to them as opposed to having earned it. Do you really think they value living in America the same way I do? From my discussion with them I cannot say they do.
I don't know the solution to this problem. However, handing them their freedom without their having earned it will not make them value it. We cannot give in and just let them take, take, take and not show us the respect we have earned by being good citizens. When my grandparents came here they had to work hard to become citizens. The left their country of origin behind and never looked back. We kept up some family traditions but they never celebrated national holidays from their country of origin. Why then do we accept when illegals celebrate holidays from their country of origin.
When we celebrate the 4th of July, do you think these illegals even understand what it is that gave them the day off? The pride I feel on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day I am sure is lost on the illegals. They can't possible understand what we are celebrating because they don't care about America. To them it is source of money and that's all.
Must have legal status (green card) to serve in the military. According to the WSJ, there are currently over 31,000 non-citizen foreign nationals serving in the US militay. Hispanics are the largest group. Here's a clip from April 4, 2003 WSJ:
The Marines have a number of foreign nationals in their ranks. Out of a force of 175,000, 7,331 are not yet citizens of the United States and 5,416 became citizens after enlisting. Hispanics are by far the largest group — 3,472 of the non-citizen Marines.
Defense officials estimate there are 31,000 foreign nationals serving in all the service branches, many of whom are now fighting in the Gulf. And while polls say 80% of Mexicans do not support this war, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has been swamped with hundreds of requests to enlist in the U.S. military. Even as American casualties are coming home, there are plenty of would-be Americans who'd be more than happy to join the fight for our national security if it means they'd have a chance at living better lives afterward.
Keeping in mind that these soldiers are fighting for the United States in Iraq, I would imagine that the support would be even greater if the US/the North American continent were invaded. Thousands of Mexicans crossed the border & joined the US military after Pearl Harbor. I would think that if the US was invaded, then Mexico & Canada would certainly join the US to expel the invaders from the North American continent.
To answer your question--YES, absolutely YES.
One of the things that bothers me most about them is that when they refer to "my country" they are speaking of the their country of origin.
A large community of American & Canadian expatriates are currently living in Mexico, mostly retirees. I would fully expect that when those expatriates talk about my country, they are referring to their country of origin. There is nothing at all unusual to refer to the country where you were born, of which you are a citizen, as my country. That is where their cultural identity was formed. Until they have attained legal status & until they earn their citizenship, the United States is not their country. I lived most of my life in Oklahoma; that's where my cultural identity was formed. I've lived in Wisconsin for nearly 7 years, but I still think of myself as a southwesterner; I do not identify myself to me as a Wisconsinite. Take Texans are a good illustration of a cultural identity...a Texan is always a Texan no matter how long they've been gone nor where they go.
Do you really think they value living in America the same way I do?
No one values living in America the same way you do. It's an individual thing. Example: Who has ever gone through school in the US w/o having written at least one essay about What America Means to Me? Read 20 of those essays, read 100 of those essays--they will all be different because we are individuals and we have individual beliefs & values.
Why then do we accept when illegals celebrate holidays from their country of origin.
Because it's not really any of our business, that's why. Because many of their holidays are religious holidays. Cinco de Mayo is a political holiday that celebrates whipping French forces in Mexico and ridding Mexico of an Austrian monarch--Maximillian. Wow! Sounds like a very American thing to do, doesn't it? We should join them in celebrating it.
When we celebrate the 4th of July, do you think these illegals even understand what it is that gave them the day off? The pride I feel on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day I am sure is lost on the illegals.
Do you still think that? After learning that thousands & thousands of Hispanics have served in the United States military? When Mexico has found many battles for their own independence? When untold numbers of Hispanics have died fighting for the United States/ fighting for Mexican independence? And, is not learning the significance of American holidays a very significant part of the studies to become a citizen? And do you really think that the illegals understand less about American holidays than many people living in the 'hood, or the average American teenager, who has been raised in the culture of the United States? Just how much is it reasonable to expect poor, poorly educated people to know about the world outside the pursuit of surviving from day to day?
I'm curious what your relationship is w/ these immigrants? Just a general description like if they are co-workers, etc.