After the Revolution, when the newly formed United States was in operation, it is quite obvious that we were formed by refugees from foreign lands. When the Founders fought Mother England, it was because of heavy taxation and rules which became intolerable. A similar situation happened when the UK voted to leave the European Union. Rules by the thousands, and stuffy bureaucratic regulations, which became virtually impossible to obey, made the E.U. undesirable. The UK wanted to control its own borders and decide who was to be admitted, and not by E.U. proclamations.
I don’t believe that American refugees a hundred years ago, came here because of impossible domination by their nation of origin, but to seek a better life and the thrill of exploring and settling in a new land with seemingly unlimited possibilities. True, many of the Irish came because of starvation in their native land, but when the Germans came and brought their beer making abilities with them, and the Norwegians, Swiss, Italians, Greeks, Poles, and the like, it was to start a new life fraught with visions of all that goes with a totally new life in new surroundings, and even a new language. The places from which they came, did not harm or make their life miserable. When they came by the hundreds of thousands, they were totally vetted. They had to have a sponsor, job, and be healthy. The Ellis Island series of buildings, opposite the Statue of Liberty, (recently restored beautifully), was staffed with officials who sent thousands home if they were not healthy, had no sponsor or job, or were suspicious in any way. It must have been heart wrenching to be sent back.
America took to their new arrivals with a gusto. The ‘paddy wagon’ name came from the fact that so many Irish were guilty of infractions, and their most common name seemed to be “Paddy.” Italians got the nick name of ‘Wop’ because they were often accused of being ‘without papers,’ especially 2nd generation Italians. Another common refugee identifying appearance, was being ‘white.’ The new arrivals tried to learn English and did, but never lost their native accent. They raised their kids bilingually, and often today, 3rd and 4th generation descendents from refugees still speak some of their forefather’s tongues.
“Birds of a feather, fly together,” is the old saying, so the new refugees from Europe, Ireland, of the like, which is where most came from, easily inculcated themselves into America. They were ‘white,’ and their appearance cause no suspicion or problems. When slaves were imported from Africa, beginning shortly after the Revolution, their dark skin color kept them from being accepted into American society. In 1808, it became illegal to import any more slaves from Africa, and today, even after the 1965 Civil Rights act, whites and blacks still do not meld well. The point is that, to me anyway, we all identify with those of like color, accent, intelligence, social standing, religion, neighborhood, college, education, or what have you.
Last Saturday, my wife and her family had breakfast at a local restaurant we like. In the next table were a family who appeared to be from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or similar. How did we know? By their skin color and hair color. We couldn’t hear what language they spoke, but a teen with us said, “They’re probably terrorists.” He was informed that was not a nice thing to say. I hope they were no threat to anyone, but were maybe trying to travel or inculcate themselves into America. I am sure that by their physical appearance, they have had trouble, and that’s really too bad, but I can understand why. Refugees today have not been vetted in any way, and people of olive skin, speaking a foreign language which does not sound European, Scotch, Irish, or what have you, are automatically regarded as suspicious by Americans. We know they have not gone through Ellis Island’s severe vetting process. We worry that they are here, and no one knows anything about them, because government has failed to protect us from harm, as a thorough vetting process would do.
Donald Trump’s executive order was shot down by a Hawaiian judge who was appointed by Obama, and who had passed the bar exam a year before. Not a good qualification for a judge. Trump wants to stop visitors and refugees for a limited time, so that a vetting process can be formed to screen out undesirables. What is wrong with that? Refugees from anywhere will be accepted into America if they mean us no harm. They will still settle in neighborhoods of like dependency I am sure. “Germantowns” have been around for 200 years, as have “Chinatowns,” “Koreatowns,” and others indicating a desire for refugees to settle with their own kind. That’s only human, and not a racist thing. Americans thrive on foreign foods from refugees, and are not against refugees who have been properly screened.
Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Mexicans, and the like, have been warmly welcomed into our nation…when they came legally, and they still are welcomed. We want refugees who have something to offer to us, and not suck us dry, not working, receiving welfare, illegal, irresponsible, and never learning our language. I heard a Mexican lady being interviewed last week, who had been here 14 years, and still could not speak a word of English. Do we think she is living off our welfare system, and certainly not of the ilk we need?
The unsettling thing since Trump has been elected, is that there has been a wholesale division in America, formed by Democrats who have lost, and cannot accept the fact, but are trying in every possible way to thwart and interfere with why Trump won, and that is reformation of government, balancing the budget, protecting America, and eliminating the runaway bureaucracy, which neither Republicans nor Democrats in the past have seen fit to accomplish. Trump is not a ‘conservative,’ nor a typical Republican. He is a ‘populist,’ whatever that is, but he is certainly keeping his campaign promises! I love it!
My books, “Consequences,” or “I Hold These Truths,” can be had by sending a check for $9.95 for each, to Don Stott, 222 S. 5th St, Montrose CO. 81401.