No. 1048 - A HERITAGE OF ASSIMILATION!

No. 1048

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

A HERITAGE OF ASSIMILATION!

The United States of America has a heritage of assimilation. This word comes from the Latin “assimilationem,” which means “likeness” or “similarity.” People of different backgrounds and beliefs undergo assimilation when, through living together, they come to see themselves as part of a larger community. This can also happen when a small group is absorbed and made part of a larger group, such as the Irish immigrants in America in the 19th Century. Save for the Native Americans who were already here, we are all immigrants. This is to say, our ancestors came from some other place on Earth.
If you know much about American history, you know that our mother country is England, the cornerstone of the British Empire, a collection of people groups from across the globe. By 1922, the British Empire held sway over one-fifth of the world’s population and almost a quarter of the earth’s land area. Great Britain used to brag that the sun never set on her empire.
It was from this large empire, and the nation of England, that the fledgling 13 colonies located on the North American continent declared Independence on July 4, 1776. This ragtag bunch of patriots, led by Gen. George Washington, declared victory in 1783, with the United States Constitution signed in 1787 and ratified in 1788. It has been amended 26 times since it was adopted, but is still in effect today.
In time, people from all over the earth would come to America, seeking religious freedom and a better life. In the early days most passed through Ellis Island, a wonderful processing center that opened in January 1892. From the opening of this center until 1954, more than 12 million people came to our shores. Today, Ellis Island along with the Statute of Liberty, located in the harbor of New York City, serves as a tremendous tourist attraction. There is a terrific inscription on the base of the Statute of Liberty, and if you don’t know what it says, I would encourage you to look it up and read it, as this is a very important part of our nation’s history.
You might be interested to know that Emory University in Atlanta teaches a course on Citizenship and U.S. Immigration. People born in the United States are automatically citizens. If you are a citizen, have you ever thought about what it means from an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen? This course analyzes the historical origins of citizenship and immigration in the United States and provides an overview of modern U.S. law. Beyond traditional notions of “law,” the course also includes significant elements of immigration policy, social science, history, political theory and ethics. One goal of the course is to provide a basic knowledge base for students to make and influence law and policy in immigration and citizenship. Just think, as citizens, most of us take all that for granted.
Up to this point I have done my best to make a case that our great country does have a heritage of assimilation, with people coming here from all over the world. Through the process of legal immigration, and after a time, regardless of where they came from, they become Americans. To have a country where everyone wants to come and contribute is what has made us such a great nation. However, because of illegal immigration and the rise of Islamic terrorism in our world, this has begun to change.
The problem is that these people do not want to assimilate, but rather their stated goal is to conquer and destroy us. Our leaders must take steps to keep these people from entering our nation, as we have all seen what they are capable of doing. We have faced challenges before and prevailed. I am trusting God for His blessings on America.
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(EDITOR’S NOTE: THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY – Begin your day on a positive note – 365 days for $12. This will benefit the Bookcase for Every Child project. Go to www.apositivemomentwithjim.com to subscribe.)