Compare early immigrants to recent immigrants?

Lawrence Louis

There are numerous differences between the immigrants of yesteryear and those that currently flock to this country, especially those form Mexico. However, the most flagrant disparity is the level to which immigrants of prior generations, even ones from Mexico, where willing to assimilate to the cultural landscape of America, and immigrants of today are not willing to do the same. Immigrants of the past wanted to learn our language and our mores. Immigrants currently, especially those coming from Latin America countries, feel that they donâ€™t have to learn the language of our land or merge in with the culture. We have allowed them to form virtual ghettos in our nation, where they can shack up with their own kind and never truly interact with society. They can use our social services without contributing to the taxation system that makes those services possible. They can learn from our schools, receive welfare, and utilize our hospitals; without having to learn the language of what normally is used in those places of service. Immigrants of the past conformed to the United States, and allowed the United States to change them. Now the immigrants want the United States to conform to them, allowing them to change it.

The more revealing question to ask is what caused this change in the immigrant mindset? Though I am not a sociologist, I surmise it has something to do with our politically correct outlook, which dares not offend the cultural sensitivities of others. So since we donâ€™t expect immigrants to abide by our rules, out of a misguided notion that we are protecting their feelings, we are slowly being transformed into the very nations that these immigrants fled from; a nation where corruption and crime become rampant.

Duffman

People come to the USA looking for a better life and more opportunity. In that regard it's the same now as it was 200 years ago. The difference is now, thanks to globalization and faster communication, it's easier to stay in contact with the people and you left behind and hold on to your culture.

FRAGINAL-NOYPI

Immigrants whether early or recent are the same. The only difference is that when the early immigrants came, the Native Americans did not require them to present passports and visas. Instead, they were driven to the hinterlands. For present day immigrants, they were examined and are required to present necessary travel documents. Those that are not properly documented are denied entry.

jazzyjd5

I will tell you a HUGE difference. My ancestors came here from England and Scotland in the late 1600's. They fought for this land in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, th Spanish American War, at The Alamo, WW1 , WW2, Desert Storm, and Now Iraq.
I believe my family has EARNED the right to be here. Illegal immigrants are nothing more than squatters, stealing from AMERICANS. American taxpayers should reap the benifits of AMERICAN LABOR. But NO! The IDIOT government of ours gives OUR MONEY to FOREIGNERS! THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE!

miss mazie

Early immigrants came over legitimately and worked hard to make new lives for themselves . Most recent immigrants today do the same thing . It's the illegals who sneak into the country illegally ; and those who aren't bringing in drugs or storing them in underground bunkers to sell here , or otherwise committing crimes - are ringing up other debts in the U.S.

J.Z.

It is pretty hypocritical, I think.

It is all based on racism. Because most of the "early" immigrants were Anglo, it was okay by them that they were here --- b/c there wasn't anything preventing them from being here. They duped Native people into trusting them and then reneged on the treaties.

Now, since it is "brown" people from Mexico trying to come to this country, the majority (i.e., Anglo-Americans) don't want "their" country to become over run so they want to shut down the borders, build a wall, station the National Guard there, etc.

famRaa

Most of early immigrants were good,they worked hard to support themselves, they respect the rules, culture,customs,their crusade was to succeed
what about recent immigrants most of them ask if the govern give them welfair , they wont to do nothing

godzilla62_2003

If you are talking about the US, early immigrants came here legally, learned English, and became citizens right away. Immigrants to the US now (mostly hispanic) come here illegally, refuse to learn English, and openly despise our culture. They are not here to contibute to the US, only to take what they can get and send it back to the third world dumps they call home.

greg j.

Early immigrants ( Asian, European, South American, etc. )were proud to become an American, and learned the English language, adapted to American culture, and started off with squat. They worked hard, made sure their children were educated, so they would be better off. Nowadays, immigrants come here, sign up for Welfare, Food Stamps, and want to make this country like their Third world country that they just left.
Early immigrants didn't have Welfare, etc, and had to work hard to improve their lot in life, as well as their children. Todays immigrants expect the Taxpayers to foot their bill!!!

Lynn K

Early immigrants came here with great expectations, little money and no hope of assistance when they got here. There was a very really possibility that they and their families could starve and freeze to death because there was no social safety net and no soup kitchen or food bank down the street. When immigrants arrive today, most have some form of government assistance or help. Some are immediately put on welfare, health benefits, can apply for financed ESL classes and other schooling and can even apply to get extra money if they are willing to move into isolated communities. That's a bit different than arriving at a dock in the east, buying a covered wagon and driving it for weeks to the Midwest, then building a sod house in the hope that you survive the winter so you can start planting crops next year.

SunGod

No difference. It is widely put out that modern immigrants are economically motivated as opposed to fleeing violent homelands.

I believe there is a percentage of migrants who are spongers and wasters, however most are just trying to get a better life for themselves and their families.

I am all for putting caps on immigration for all countries and using point scoring systems.

icheeknows

the early immigrants decide that employers were not going to get away with not sharing a reasonable share of the profits. Demanded they be treated fair. The large group of immigrants today came to a place where all that had been fought for and by being willing to work for very little and very long are because of their large numbers take away what earlier immigrants worked hard to get. Money and getting ahead are just not as valuable ambitions for the N A from the south. Raising the standard of living is something they do not grasp, i think, because they lived in poverty so long. Earlier immigrants came here specifically to get a better life and not just better than they had where they came from but better or as well as their new neighbors.

This whole idea of a whole family working for very little and being willing to do that for a very long time is a bad influence.

Previous groups of immigrants did it legally so they could and often did start a business. When they are illegal starting a bussines is not really attainable in the legal sense, There are the illegal businesses which earlier immigrants also got into but as long as they are illegal then they will just drag down the whole neighborhood.

cadaholic

early came through new york and all the legal means. climbing a fence or swimming a river with possible diseases does not make an immigrant. it makes an illegal plain and simple!

United We Stand

To me, it is insulting to compare illegal immigrants from Mexico to our forefathers who came to this country and founded the amazing democracy we enjoy today. The differences are huge:

1) The people who came here to found this country broke no pre-existing laws. The illegal immigrants are called "illegal" because they are.

2) Our founding fathers and other legal immigrants, including those from Mexico, came here to make their home here. The illegal immigrants come here to make money and send it to their home in Mexico. That is the key: Their home is not the U.S. Every dollar sent to their home in another country is a dollar not spent in our local economy.

Think about it. Our local economy is hurting right now. Every time someone hires an illegal immigrant, whether the employer is an individual or a business, a job is taken away from an American citizen.

When a contractor hires an illegal, a union employee loses out. When an individual hires an illegal for gardening or childcare, for example, an honest gardening business or day care center loses a job. What is worse, paying these illegal immigrants (or anyone for that matter) "under the table" is a punch in the gut to our economy.

We wonder why our tax base is shrinking or why our Social Security funds are in jeopardy or why there are fewer entry-level jobs for our teenagers looking for work. Could it be because the number of illegal immigrants in this community, not to mention the rest of the country, has increased dramatically over the last few years?

How can we say, "In many cases these are the only people who will take the lowest-rung work"? These entry-level jobs have been around for years, and American citizens have gladly taken them. In some job markets, these illegal immigrants are responsible for artificially holding wages down.

Maybe if we didn't allow these "lowest-rung jobs" to be taken by illegal immigrants and paid under the table, it would force the employers to pay a fair wage to an American citizen. And maybe that American citizen would spend his our her wages in our city. And maybe that would have a positive impact on our economy.

This country has a legal procedure for people who want to migrate here. Those who choose to enter illegally are not
heroes, no matter what the reason. To say they are heroes is an insult to those people who work hard and spend their time and money going through the correct, legal procedures to become American citizens (this includes learning our English language) and make their home here.

We do have compassion for any human being who undergoes suffering, loss, or lack of any kind. And we believe that America is great because of her history of open arms to those who seek freedom and love what we stand for. But we also believe it is time to stop insulting the millions of people who gave up much, including their very lives, to make this country great, by comparing them to people who come to this country with a disrespect for our laws and our culture, and come only to take, not to give.

Pia

The early ones were outlaws imposing the rules. The recent ones are imposed on

RAWR

there is more immigrants now then back then.

Chocolate_Bunny

earlier immagrants came with families...looking for a new way of life...these days they come and sell drugs....get welfare...steal...piss on our crops...I am not saying that they all do it...but a large majority does it...how many young girls are having babies for these men who say I LOVE YOU for a place to live and someone to take care of them till they get on their feet....I am from seattle...we have a lot here farm workers...most of them are to them selves...then we have the city runners...most of them end up in jail...for drug traffic.....

katie b

early immigrants inherited the usa but the later ones got nothing.

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