This article is not to engage in our illegal immigrant controversy. Our purpose is to investigate what is happening to our American heritage by the influx of such a variety of nationalities with their varying cultures, religions and traditions. Let us first see what some of the statistics are as compared to our total population.
As of today, October 20, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. CDT, the total U.S. population reached 303,169,039 by the official population clock estimate. They estimate it will reach 308,936,000 by the year 2010. These figures do not include the estimated 11.6 million unauthorized immigrants as of January 2006. It is unknown how many have entered the U.S. since that time. Legal immigrants are becoming naturalized citizens at the rate of close to three-fourths million per year. Most residents who become naturalized citizens are those who are already Legal Permanent Residents.
Legal permanent residents are those people who have been granted this status by application for such from foreign countries as immigrants, family members of U.S. citizens, those granted political asylum and such like. There were 1,266,264 who became LPR’s during 2006. These figures can only give us a general idea of what is happening statistically. But let us say that our granting permanent residence to foreigners and the illegal entry of others amounts to about two million per year, which is ultra conservative I believe, and if it remains stable at that rate, that gives twenty million in ten years or roughly 6% of our total, not counting those who are here already. I have no argument with various nationalities coming aboard. There are, however some causes for concern with our present approach to our new residents. Let’s look at some generalizations, some of which prompted the writing of this article.
This morning’s daily paper which I normally read thoroughly, stated that now the State of Alabama Department of Public Safety offers people the opportunity to apply for and take tests for a driver’s license in fourteen languages! Arabic, English, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, and American sign language. Good Lord have mercy upon us! And I can assure you, that is only the beginning. This was begun because of a lawsuit by a Spanish speaking resident which our courts sided with. And with continued influx of various sections of different countries, don’t you know there will be other lawsuits because of the different languages and dialects?
I firmly believe that law abiding immigrants have a right to drive on our highways, but isn’t there some better way? Could we not offer those who apply for citizenship, or residency, free school courses so they could learn English? And make that a requisite? How much simpler than trying to do everything in multiple languages. Every appliance or electronic item you purchase now has both English and Spanish instructions. Can you imagine rambling through fourteen or more different languages to try and find the English version? It is my humble opinion that those who want to move and live here should be overjoyed to learn the language as a requirement. I know that if I moved to a foreign country, learning their language would be my first project.
And language is only one of the problems. There are those whose religion and culture are incompatible with that of ours. Any resident, of any nation should have to give an oath that they would be tolerant of any religion already established there. And by tolerance, I am speaking of those who would force their religion on others. To speak against a false religion or sinful practice is part of a Christian’s duty and our nation’s freedom of speech. May it ever be so, but to try and force one to accept your belief is definitely wrong. Here is a header from a FoxNews article dated October 19, 2007 Greg Simmons:
WASHINGTON — A congressionally mandated panel that promotes religious freedom is recommending the Bush administration close a Virginia-based Islamic school run by the Saudi government if school officials don't comply with demands to turn over textbooks that may include lessons on jihad and intolerance toward other religions.
This sort of thing should never be tolerated regardless of whoever is found to be teaching anything opposed to our constitution or religious freedom. If it is their religious conviction that they must teach such, they should be denied residency in this nation. This is not the first such problem found with the followers of Islam. Our constitution guarantees us a number of freedoms which are precious and vital to this nation. It becomes a sad day when certain people attempt to use those freedoms in order to destroy them. The Saudi’s are currently friendly with the U.S. but never the less, try going to their country and take your Bible with you. One Islamic woman in Florida was denied a drivers license because she refused to remove her face covering for a photograph. She was ultimately allowed to have her picture made with it on. I wonder if they would accept me if I wore a ski-mask. It would be an improvement in appearance.
The title of this article asks a question and I leave you without answering the question. I really don’t know where it will lead us. But I am pessimistic.
