America in the Balance

FRANCE IN TURMOIL II

by

Ken Eliasberg

Last week we provided an overview of the causes of France’s downward spiral; let’s take a closer look at her problems (and, in doing so, I want to remind you that her problems could become our problems if we yield to the demands of the left; indeed, they are already becoming our problems).

MULTICULTURISM - THE REASON FOR POOR IMMIGRANT ASSIMILATION (PLUS MANY MUSLIMS DON’T WANT TO ASSIMILATE). What’s the real problem? A failure to absorb legal immigrants, i.e. assimilation. This point is advanced clearly and succinctly by one of my favorite history professors (and a Democrat), Victor Davis Hanson, in his March 30^th column (check his website for a treasure trove of incisive and stimulating commentary on where we are in the world today). In connection with our immigration problem—i.e. illegal immigration - Hanson observes: “But there is still a solution to the immigration problem: It involves supporting any practice that leads to the assimilation of legal Mexican immigrants into the American mainstream—and opposing everything that does not.” Here Hanson notes the various factors that greatly reduce the chances of an illegal Mexican immigrant (and his descendants) to achieve the American dream.

Elsewhere, Hanson, and numerous others point out the role that multiculturism plays in the decline of a society, and this has been a critical factor in France’s decline. As I have observed in a previous column, in our case, muliticulturism + illegality is calculated to be a cancer on the body of our national identity. While this seems almost self evident to any reasonably enlightened observer, it apparently escaped the understanding of our considerably less than brilliant local history luminary, Ralph Shaffer, who erroneously (and, in my opinion, disgracefully) compared the circumstances of our current illegal immigrants with those who came here legally at the turn of the 20^th century, e.g.. the Irish, the Italians, and the Jews. These immigrants (among whom were my grandparents) sought legal status and wanted nothing more than to be an American citizen. They wanted in, not out. Multiculturism, one of the left’s mainstays, has a balkanizing effect on a populace by exalting an immigrant’s old culture over the American culture—ergo, the hyphenated American. Multiculturism is thus anti-assimilation and divisive (it also feeds into the concept of moral relativism, which is currently so popular on the left). In short, multiculturism is not merely the acceptance of many cultures—in our Democracy that goes without saying; it is equating or elevating the culture of one’s country of origin with or above that of his current status as an American citizen, thereby draining patriotism of much of its vital juices. According to this view, there is no American or majority culture; all cultures are equal. This is absurd, not to mention inimical to the e pluribus unum concept, and is, quite simply, suicidal“ there is a majority American culture, and that is what you accede to when you come to this country. You do not abandon the culture of your country of origin; you do, however, accede, to the proposition that it plays a subordinate role in your life as an American citizen. And this is how it should be if America is to survive.

And please, make no mistake, I greatly respect one’s culture; as noted, my grandparents were immigrants, my wife is an immigrant, and she and her family honor their country of origin. But they have left that country behind, and, while respecting their country of origin, they love being Americans. And, frankly, no one appreciates America more than its legal immigrants. Why? Because they know why they came here and, as a consequence, have a basis for comparison, and, unlike many native Americans, they do not take this great country for granted.

With respect to assimilation, Teddy Roosevelt summed up my sentiments in a statement that he made in 1907:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant

who comes here in good faith becomes an American and

assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact

equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate

against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.

But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every

facet an American, and nothing but an American