![\"20150703_121740\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/20150703_121740-e1435963001338-169x300.jpg?resize=169%2C300&ssl=1\")
Tomorrow\u00a0marks the 240th Birthday of this great land. \u00a0It is a day of picnics, parades and celebration of being here, in this great melting pot known as America. \u00a0In Church, as I’m sure it is across this great land, we sung “America the Beautiful.” The song itself is beautiful, and I hate to say this, but I do not know all four verses by heart. \u00a0We can all sing the first verse by heart, but in Church; the verse that got my attention was the second verse:<\/p>\n
\nO beautiful for pilgrim feet
\nWhose stern impassioned stress
\nA thoroughfare for freedom beat
\nAcross the wilderness.
\nAmerica! America!
\nGod mend thine ev’ry flaw,
\nConfirm thy soul in self-control,
\nThy liberty in law.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nThe lyrics to America The Beautiful were written by Katharine Lee Bates, in 1895. \u00a0This served as a good reminder to me, that, in our current political season; maybe we all need to take a step back and take a deep breath. \u00a0I, for one, do not think that Muslims coming into America to resettle are as big an issue as the political class (i.e. the Republicans in this case) are trying to make it. \u00a0I don’t particularly care for this type of rhetoric, I myself do not understand the finer points of the Muslim faith. \u00a0But I do know they are not alone when it comes to religious persecution. Think of it this way, why did the Pilgrims come here? \u00a0Religious persecution. \u00a0Why did the Muslims come? To practice their religion according to their views, not their government’s interpretation. \u00a0They too are seeking refuge from religious persecution, much like the Pilgrims 400 years earlier. \u00a0This “less than smooth” transition is not the first time immigrants to this land have been seen as the undoing of America…<\/p>\n
\n
- Catholic migration; mid-19th century<\/a>. \u00a0At the time, the prominent religion was Protestant. \u00a0They (Protestant leadership) felt threatened by the Catholic religion, with its hierarchies and traditions. In the early 1920, immigration laws placed quotas on the number of people allowed from each foreign country. \u00a0Quotas for Catholic countries were so low that immigration of Catholics was practically halted by 1924. \u00a0One big culprit of the mass immigration was the potato famine<\/a> in Ireland.<\/li>\n
- Chinese migration; 19th century<\/a>. \u00a0The Chinese also had a rough go during their assimilation into American\u00a0culture. Much like the Mexican “mules” who extract high fees to bring people across the border, the Chinese who made it here were forced to take, and work for whatever they could. \u00a0They were also the first to be accused of “stealing” jobs from other Americans. \u00a0Some argued that allowing the Chinese into America would lower the cultural and moral standards of American society. In 1882 the “Chinese Exclusion act” became law. \u00a0This law suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years. \u00a0In 1892 the act was renewed, also including peoples from Hawaii and Philippines. \u00a0Later, the requirement for the law to be reviewed in 10 year cycles was removed, and the law was put in place indefinitely until it was repealed in 1943.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are just two of many groups. \u00a0You see; change is never easy. \u00a0I know I prefer to keep my ways when possible; but the times are a changing. \u00a0America is a melting pot, as the great lady says, “Give me your tired, your poor…” For over 200 years, our country has struggled with new groups<\/a> coming to our shores. \u00a0I think we’ll be just fine; we don’t need to over think this.<\/p>\n
I think the community of Hamtramck, MI<\/a> has the opportunity before them to prove to the rest of the country, and the world, that poeple can co-exist. \u00a0This is not new for Hamtramck though. 100 years ago it was the Polish who were invading the\u00a0 original German town. \u00a0Now it is the Muslims moving into the Polish town. Saad Almasmari, the new head of the towns city council says, he found himself an American, now he has to serve this country, as an American. \u00a0His rules are the US Constitution and city law. \u00a0Can Saad serve in both rolls, as a Muslim and an American? \u00a0Yeah, I think he can. One of the great foundations of America is religious freedom, how about we put our beliefs into action.<\/p>\n
Our overall generosity as a nation, our caring for one another, despite our backgrounds and heritage. \u00a0That’s what makes us strong; let’s not give in to the pettiness. \u00a0How about if we try and live up to our own ideals…<\/p>\n
The land of the free; yes we have some flaws, but I think we’re still the best game in town! \u00a0As Johnny Cash sings in the Ragged Old Flag: “She’s been burned, dishonored, denied an’ refused…But she’s in good shape, for the shape she’s in. \u00a0Cause she’s been through the fire before, and I believe she can take a whole lot more.”<\/p>\n
What say you? \u00a0Here’s a card to celebrate<\/a> the day!<\/p>\n
\nSome pretty neat (NOT all inclusive) information regarding our nation’s laws and immigration policy.<\/p>\n
\n
- Naturalization Act of 1870<\/a>. \u00a0Revised the Naturalization Act of 1790 to include those of African descent. \u00a0Asians were not included. \u00a0The link provided here is a good read in general regarding immigration law.<\/li>\n
- Immigration Acts of 1882 & 1891<\/a>. First set of comprehensive immigration laws.\u00a0Created guidelines of exclusion through the creation of inadmissible aliens (convicts, polygamists, lunatics, idiost [??], or any person able to take care of themselves).<\/li>\n
- Naturalization Act of 1906. \u00a0Standardize procedures and made knowledge of English a requirement of citizenship [I did not know this and found it very interesting!].<\/li>\n
- Immigration Act of 1907 & 1917. \u00a0Restricted immigration for certain diseased\/disabled people and those from an Asiatic Barred Zone<\/a> comprising of the Middle East, India and SE and S Asia. China was already barred. This act was initially vetoed by President Wilson, but congress overturned the veto.<\/li>\n
- Emergency Quota Act. \u00a0Restricted the number of immigrants admitted from any country annually to 3% of the number of residents from that same country already living in the United States (as of the 1910 census). \u00a0Those countries already blacklisted, remained so. \u00a0This act was primarily a response to the number of refugees after W.W.I. \u00a0I encourage you to read “American Would Lose Its Soul<\/a>” A very good paper regarding immigration between 1920 – 24. \u00a0An unintended consequence of this law was increased immigration to Canada and Mexico. \u00a0After which they slipped into the United States (sound familiar?).<\/li>\n
- Immigration & Naturalization Act 1952. \u00a0This act abolished racial restrictions. \u00a0Created three classes of immigrants: those with special skills, average, and refugee. \u00a0The ban on Asians is lifted.\u00a0The act started a quota system, which was repealed in 1965.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kind of off the topic I wanted to focus on today, but for our Country’s birthday, what the hell. \u00a0The following poem was also written by Ms. Bates, and I found it pretty good, its about our national ensign, OUR flag. \u00a0 \u00a0She wrote many other poems, including this one about our flag. The poem is\u00a0from the Book “America the Beautiful and other poems<\/a>” by Katharine Lee Bates (1911).\u00a0It’s titled THE FLAG:<\/p>\n
It is not fair to see, our starry banner? \u00a0You, as an artist, who have pledged allegiance only to beauty, find it crude in color, stiff in design, void of romantic symbol, unvenerable? \u00a0England’s golden lions, Japan’s chrysanthemum, imperial flower blooming in red as on a field of battle, the holy cross of Switzerland, out-value to all impartial, pure, aesthetic judgment the flag our patriot folly terms Old Glory?<\/strong><\/p>\n
I cannot tell. \u00a0Perchance I never saw it. \u00a0When on the seas or in some foreign city, nay, here at home above a country school-house, I find it floating on the wind, it beckons my heart into my eyes. \u00a0It is not bunting, mere red and white and blue, — that starry cluster, those gleaming folds; it is the faith of childhood, the unison of strong, rejoicing millions, the splendor of a vision men have died for, the passion of a people vowed to freedom.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Speaking of our flag, there is a pretty good song by Johnny Cash entitled “Ragged Old Flag<\/a>” which I encourage you to listen too, make sure your speakers are on when you click the link.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some more interesting links I stumbled across while preparing this article:<\/p>\n
![Asiatic Barred Zone<\/a> comprising of the Middle East, India and SE and S Asia. China was already barred. This act was initially vetoed by President Wilson, but congress overturned the veto.<\/li>\nEmergency Quota Act. \u00a0Restricted the number of immigrants admitted from any country annually to 3% of the number of residents from that same country already living in the United States (as of the 1910 census). \u00a0Those countries already blacklisted, remained so. \u00a0This act was primarily a response to the number of refugees after W.W.I. \u00a0I encourage you to read “American Would Lose Its Soul<\/a>” A very good paper regarding immigration between 1920 – 24. \u00a0An unintended consequence of this law was increased immigration to Canada and Mexico. \u00a0After which they slipped into the United States (sound familiar?).<\/li>\nImmigration & Naturalization Act 1952. \u00a0This act abolished racial restrictions. \u00a0Created three classes of immigrants: those with special skills, average, and refugee. \u00a0The ban on Asians is lifted.\u00a0The act started a quota system, which was repealed in 1965.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nKind of off the topic I wanted to focus on today, but for our Country’s birthday, what the hell. \u00a0The following poem was also written by Ms. Bates, and I found it pretty good, its about our national ensign, OUR flag. \u00a0 \u00a0She wrote many other poems, including this one about our flag. The poem is\u00a0from the Book “America the Beautiful and other poems<\/a>” by Katharine Lee Bates (1911).\u00a0It’s titled THE FLAG:<\/p>\nIt is not fair to see, our starry banner? \u00a0You, as an artist, who have pledged allegiance only to beauty, find it crude in color, stiff in design, void of romantic symbol, unvenerable? \u00a0England’s golden lions, Japan’s chrysanthemum, imperial flower blooming in red as on a field of battle, the holy cross of Switzerland, out-value to all impartial, pure, aesthetic judgment the flag our patriot folly terms Old Glory?<\/strong><\/p>\nI cannot tell. \u00a0Perchance I never saw it. \u00a0When on the seas or in some foreign city, nay, here at home above a country school-house, I find it floating on the wind, it beckons my heart into my eyes. \u00a0It is not bunting, mere red and white and blue, — that starry cluster, those gleaming folds; it is the faith of childhood, the unison of strong, rejoicing millions, the splendor of a vision men have died for, the passion of a people vowed to freedom.<\/strong><\/p>\nSpeaking of our flag, there is a pretty good song by Johnny Cash entitled “Ragged Old Flag<\/a>” which I encourage you to listen too, make sure your speakers are on when you click the link.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nSome more interesting links I stumbled across while preparing this article:<\/p>\n\n5 Facts about illegal immigration in the US<\/a><\/li>\nThe Reality anti-Muslim rhetoric ignores<\/a><\/li>\nUS Immigration Legislation – Online<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tomorrow\u00a0marks the 240th Birthday of this great land. \u00a0It is a day of picnics, parades and celebration of being here, in this great melting pot known as America. \u00a0In Church, as I’m sure it is across this great land, we … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Happy Birthday America!! Our Nation's 240th Birthday","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,16],"tags":[50,54,64,93],"class_list":["post-2485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","category-rants-raves","tag-america","tag-foreign-policy","tag-holiday","tag-us-constitution"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1102,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1102","url_meta":{"origin":2485,"position":0},"title":"Happy 237th Birthday America!!","author":"DR D","date":"July 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Good morning.\u00a0 Yesterday was a great birthday party!\u00a0 Had burgers and dogs on the grill all day, good friends; talked politics...it's what the fourth is all about. What did you all do yesterday?\u00a0 How did you celebrate our nations independence? What do you think 'ol George would think of America\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1004,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1004","url_meta":{"origin":2485,"position":1},"title":"Memorial Day 2013","author":"DR D","date":"May 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Tonight I watched the National Memorial Day concert on PBS. It was really good and touching. There was a very moving story about two brothers, one who lost a leg, and his brother; who took his own life due to PTSD. There was alos a tribute to Charles Durning. It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/life"},"img":{"alt_text":"Holding the National Ensign","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/holdingTheColors-2005-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":825,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/825","url_meta":{"origin":2485,"position":2},"title":"Mail Bag – Freedom and Liberty Hijacked","author":"DR D","date":"December 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Good morning Boys and Girls.\u00a0 This is the first reader who has written using the \"What's on you mind\" link.\u00a0 Here's what he(she?) had to say: Our Freedoms and Liberty have been Hijacked. I'm tired the fruits of my labor are being stolen by \"the state\". When being robbed by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2592,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/2592","url_meta":{"origin":2485,"position":3},"title":"The circle of life","author":"DR D","date":"November 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This weekend found the boss-lady and I down in Pensacola, FL again. \u00a0This time we traveled south to say goodbye to a good friend. \u00a0Remember Shirley? \u00a0We traveled down here to join her and her family in saying goodbye to their father, a long time friend of the boss-lady and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/life"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/danielgordis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/exile5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2555,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/2555","url_meta":{"origin":2485,"position":4},"title":"Rest in Peace Swift","author":"DR D","date":"October 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"On October 1, 2016 the HSV-2 Swift, a proof of concept ship, was severely damaged in a missile attack off the coast of Mokha, Yemen. \u00a0A friend of mine served on her while the ship was under the\u00a0US Navy. \u00a0He said she was a fine ship and a delight to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/life"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1159,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1159","url_meta":{"origin":2485,"position":5},"title":"Voting day 2013","author":"DR D","date":"November 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Voting took place nationwide today.\u00a0 My race was pretty small, only our Governor, LT. Governor, Attorney General, and local races.\u00a0 After I voted, I was chit-chatting with one of the persons pounding the pavement in front of the poll places, and they stated that there were no major lines to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"I_Voted.__Did_You.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2013-11-05_08-28-25_109-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2485"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2506,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485\/revisions\/2506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Immigration_Act_of_1917#\/media\/File:Asiatic_Barred_Zone.png\"){kind=link}