georgejc Loc: discovery bay, california

The Statue of Liberty. This was written by Rosemary LaBonte to the editors of a California newspaper in response to an article written by Ernie Lujan who suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the immigrants of today aren’t being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. The paper never printed this response, so her husband sent it out via internet.

“Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented.
Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved goodbye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the sk**ls and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

The first of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought alongside men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people.

When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French American, the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one f**g that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's f**g and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country f**gs. (And certainly to see anyone burn the USA f**g!!)

Suggesting taking down the Statue of Liberty, is behavior exemplified by ISIS and other terrorists in the Middle East who are destroying all symbols of history.
Semper Fidelis

Winona Whyner Loc: aspen, co

A lack of "free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them" does not speak well of America. But I get your point: They were both desperate for a new life and believed in America as well as willing to suffer anything for the opportunity, which did not mean making them suffer was right. Have you researched how many died in abject poverty in the tenements of New York from hunger, poor diet, lack of basic care, disease from poor sanitation, needless work injuries, exhaustion, and other unnecessary problems? How many thousand and thousand workers died every year from the craven capitalism of the "Robber Barons" who blocked labor laws to protect their employees for larger profit margins? They were both desperate for a new life and believed in America. We took full advantage of their state and used them almost like s***es. Read some history. The Statue of Liberty said to them "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” and we will exploit them. Which we did. Facts are facts. And, yes, many did very well and all the things you said about them, looking to assimilate and not expecting any favors. But are you saying and can you prove that today's immigrants are not the same as yesteryear? Aren't they also "yearning to be free" and willing to work for that?

A Revisionist glance back at our past to compare the immigrants to this country is disturbingly biased and uncalled for. Your point is obvious: today's immigrants do not deserve to be here. But it is wrong.

jeff smith

yep just look at the muslime communities. as in Europe they will start to regulate their own under sharia law and our laws will mean NOTHING. they do NOT want to become Americans. they want all the freebees they can get until they must start working in the majority of cases. the muslime nation no matter what division they are from is at war with every religion on earth. it is their teachings. take over and dominate. I do not care what comes out of their mouth , it is no not one bit of a sin for a muslime to lie to an infidel. it is a sin for a musi to lie to another musi. but not to any one out side of the muslime cult. I have said this before . Lebanon at one time was a Christian country . there was conflict in surrounding muslime countries, as good Christians , the [eople of Lebanon , let the refugees into their country. when the conflicts wound down all the muslimes stayed in Lebanon. they breed like rabbits became involved in local politics. then in time became involved in regional poilitics then national politics. then had little laws passed about insulting I-slam or mohamerhead their so called profit. then they just took over and made sharia law the law of the land and became a muslime country. and what are they doing right here in America? they are already into local politics, possibly regional. who are you to think that the muslimes are a peaceful group? they are back handed , speaking lie after lie until people like you and the liberal bleeding hearts are convienced that they are so friendly and peaceful and just want a safe place to raise their families. IF they were such a pieceful group of people WHY are they always k*****g each other? they have the same profit mohamer and pray to the same demon alla. so WHY keep k*****g each other? they have NO RIGHTS TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY! just libtards twisting the constitution to help destroy this country. you can't have your new world order if America has the rights that they have. they must be removed for the progress of the elitist to get their way.

dtucker300 Loc: Vista, CA

The real war is within Islam itself. Christianity went through a reformation 5 centuries ago. Now it is Islam's turn. Ultimately they will have to come up with a solution to dictators and sharia loving radicals who really are reactionaries. Yes the h**e us, but they h**e each other. Iraq can only become a function nation when it defends ISIS. We can't do it for them. We can help, but they need to decide whether they want to live free with dignity or under the thumb of theocrats. Most people in Iran do not support their government and the revolutionary guard, but what can they do. Wait for the winds of change to shift so they cast off the chains of servitude to the religious fanatics who have a hold on their religion. I'm not making excuses for them but if you haven't walked in their shoes... I'm just saying that we take our freedoms for granted whereas they have live without freedom for centuries.

Rivers

Immigration was shut down from 1921 to 1965 so the current immigrants could assimilate. Immigrants today, are not assimilating and that is the problem. As for the Muslims, if you know anything about Islam, and if you have ever read the Koran, there is no such thing as a 'peaceful Muslim.' Don't believe me? Read the Koran. When a countries Muslim population reaches around 2.5% is when the r**ts and violence really starts....just look at Europe. We should stop ALL immigration for the next twenty years or so, so the ones here now can assimilate. You ever wonder why Japan has such a low crime rate? Because they don't have immigration. Think about it.

As for your 'feel good' liberal comment "A lack of "free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them" does not speak well of America", the free lunch program, welfare, and food stamps are out of control and need to be cut back and reformed dramatically...for one, put the work requirement back on welfare and food stamps. I was brought up poor, and they didn't have a 'free lunch' program when I was a kid, I never ate a hot meal in the school cafeteria, I carried a sack lunch. The 'free lunch' program is just another government handout bilking more of us taxpayers. When are you liberals going to learn how to stand on your own two feet without the governments help? Huh?

badbob85037

America isn't the same nation it was 100 years ago. We use to mind our own business now we have our noses in everything We have been in 50 wars since WWII. We spy on our allies. We have a media that h**es this nation and t*****rs running it. 100 years ago obama and hillary wouldn't be around but would have been hung for treason Not just one or two times but repetitive assaults on America. No they don't make no big deal about treason Neither Obama and Hillary have never done a single thing for this nation unless you count the times they stabbed it in the back. Just how worthless are the people of this nation today? They are a total waste. A v**e for hillary the b***h should have been an automatic expulsion from this nation As she ask not what she can do for the country but what she can do the country for. The only thing Hillary ever earned is a short rope for a long dance and nothing more.

It's called treason, high treason. If I had my way a v**e for this B***h would have earned you a ticket out of this country.

boatbob2

Im thinking that the statue of liberty,should have one hand raised,while showing the middle (the F U ) finger,To the rest of the world,no immigration,from anywhere.