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Commenter David refers us to this speech given by Former Colorado governor, Richard Lamm, on multiculturalism in 2005. If you haven't yet seen it, it's well worth reading. An excerpt:
I have a secret plan to destroy America. If you believe, as many do, that america is too smug, too white bread, too self-satisfied, too rich, lets destroy America. It is not that hard to do. History shows that nations are more fragile than their citizens think. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and they all fall, and that "an autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide." Here is my plan:
I. We must first make america a bilingual-bicultural country. History shows, in my opinion, that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. One scholar, Seymour Martin Lipset, put it this way:
The histories of bilingual and bicultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy. Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, Lebanon-all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with its Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans.II. I would then invent "multiculturalism" and encourage immigrants to maintain their own culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal: that there are no cultural differences that are important. I would declare it an article of faith that the black and hispanic dropout rate is only due to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out-of-bounds.
Read the whole thing.
#1
#2Thanks for this great post, David. I've just quoted from it extensively in a new article.
Thanks Vik for your consideration in posting this on your site.
I personally found the views and information expressed in that speech to be timely to the immigration non-integration issues that are figuratively pulling at the seams of this nations flag.
Cuturally my family and my wife's family are as American as anyone could be with ancestral immigrants from England, Germany, Scotland, Italy, Ireland, and other lines that fade into the histories of the Choctaw, Cherokee, and Peoria peoples.
Our children are generation number five from the last immigrant in either of our families. We have documented ancestors that fought in the Revolution against England and every war since including our war against terror.
With that background I unashamedly assert to the world that the United States was built primarily through immigration into the single most powerful nation in the world.
Also I assert that the United States will only remain this powerful if it demands that new immigrants lay down their previous citizenship, patriotism, and the flags of their countries of origin upon earning American citizenship. That includes having a respectable command of the English language whether that language is used in their home or not.
This is exactly what all of our family immigrant ancestors expected to do when they arrived here to become American and I expect nothing less of anyone arriving here today that wants to become American.
In speaking to new immigrants I say: Do not expect a reception from my family if you immigrate here illegally as a criminal or expect to legally and indefinitely borrow OUR nations jobs or want only to nurse the finances of our humans services system until it collapses. Seek to become a legal citizen, an American, and respect MY nation! I will respect you for it and gladly offer my hand in help and friendship.