William McKenzie commentary: Assimilation is part of our American heritage

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2013/07/04/assimilation-is-part-of-our-american-heritage.html

This piece talks about the things immigrants are constantly adding to our society and culture.   - - Donna Poisl

by William McKenzie

What does it mean to be an American today? That question is at the heart of America’s ongoing struggle to modernize its immigration laws. For some, it’s more than a rhetorical question.

The issue is a deep-seated worry. Some opponents of liberalized immigration laws fear that allowing in more immigrants, especially illegal immigrants, will change what it means to be an American.

This anxiety is actually a healthy one. We should be thinking about how the possible legalization of 11 million illegal immigrants may affect our country’s identity. The same is true for the legal immigrants who would be coming to our towns, cities and states through a revised system.
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