05-09-2010, 03:55 PM
You are bring up a good point, kanesa. I have wondered about it too. Why is it that people call themselves "Irish", wear Irish attire and even wave Irish flag and no one is bothered by it? Here are the reasons as I see them,
- The Irish(Germans, Italians, etc)wholeheartedly embraced this country. The fled their homeland. They had no designs on their newly adopted home. I do not recall Germans or Italians demand signs in their languages. When they left their country, they knew what they were leaving behind. They were leaving where they grew up, family, friends, language, customs etc. So much so that they would not think twice about picking up a rifle and fight a war in their homeland. And they did. I can relate to that. This is unthinkable for the current generation of Mexican immigrants. Going to war with Mexico? At the same time that they desperately seek citizenship, they wave the Mexican flag. Among certain circles you hear claims on the land, that it was unjustly taken from them and that they will get it back, if not by force but by cultural transformation and politics.
Let me hasten to add that I am not at all convinced that the majority of Mexican immigrants feel that way. It is just that what is orchestrated on TV by activists makes it appear that way. Few years ago there were demonstrations against bilingual education in the California public schools. Who were the demonstrators? The parents themselves. I think it was Ronald Reagan who once said that Hispanics are conservatives, they just don't know it. The message of the Republican party is extremely attractive to all immigrants, those who often packed up couple of bags and headed to a future of complete uncertainty. Find one Democrat who champions that kind of life story.
- The Irish(Germans, Italians, etc)wholeheartedly embraced this country. The fled their homeland. They had no designs on their newly adopted home. I do not recall Germans or Italians demand signs in their languages. When they left their country, they knew what they were leaving behind. They were leaving where they grew up, family, friends, language, customs etc. So much so that they would not think twice about picking up a rifle and fight a war in their homeland. And they did. I can relate to that. This is unthinkable for the current generation of Mexican immigrants. Going to war with Mexico? At the same time that they desperately seek citizenship, they wave the Mexican flag. Among certain circles you hear claims on the land, that it was unjustly taken from them and that they will get it back, if not by force but by cultural transformation and politics.
Let me hasten to add that I am not at all convinced that the majority of Mexican immigrants feel that way. It is just that what is orchestrated on TV by activists makes it appear that way. Few years ago there were demonstrations against bilingual education in the California public schools. Who were the demonstrators? The parents themselves. I think it was Ronald Reagan who once said that Hispanics are conservatives, they just don't know it. The message of the Republican party is extremely attractive to all immigrants, those who often packed up couple of bags and headed to a future of complete uncertainty. Find one Democrat who champions that kind of life story.