Coaster, great post and a good topic for discussion or, at the very least, consideration. It seems to me that in years gone by, people immigrated to America to become American. So many say, we're all, in a sense, immigrants ... and this is true. Us, or our forefathers, came to this land from other places. The difference is, that most came to become Americans and to be part of the American dream. Not sure that's as true anymore. It seems now that people come here for money, or benefits, or to 'use' America, but actually have little or no inclination to become Americans. And, American didn't just take anyone. Most were checked to assure they were healthy; that they had at least a tiny understanding of the English language, and, a general understanding of our form of government. I exclude here, of course, those that were forced to come here because of the evil of slavery. But, even there, the civil rights movement as spoken of by the likes of Martin Luther King, looked forward to the day when we wouldn't look at color but at character. That we would all truly share in the American dream. Somehow, I fear, his views have gotten a bit corrupted and that's a shame.