Being an American citizen: How it was and now is

Radio host Michael Savage is among the most abrasive conservative personalities, but his motto is a hard reality Americans need to hear:  Without borders, a common language and a shared culture, a nation will fail. Look back throughout the centuries, and you’ll find it’s true. 

During the great Ellis Island immigration era, all three were in play:  People entered legally across our border; they made it a top priority to learn English and disciplined children who did not; finally, and perhaps most importantly, they became proud Americans overnight. Period.  

Yes, they kept some “Old World” traditions, but everyone in the family focused on Americanizing themselves, such as the early Greek community that lived on AMERICA STREET in Charleston. They proudly flew an American flag — flying the flag of their native country would be a grave insult to the nation that offered them a chance at new life. 

Baby Boomers, for the past 40 years, have looked the other way as tens of millions of illegal aliens poured into America. In an epic blunder, Ronald Reagan pardoned 2.9 million illegals in 1986, with a promise to start cracking down on illegal entry to the country. He didn’t, of course, and our borders have been essentially open until January 6 of this year. 

It is, quite literally, impossible to even guess how many illegals have entered the United States in the past 40 years. It’s certainly north of 25 million. Although bad actors make up only a small percentage, there’s no doubt those open borders have allowed in violent criminals, gang and cartel members, Islamic terrorists and individuals using America’s generous “benefits” system as their means of income. 

If all these illegals behaved like Ellis Island arrivals, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Recently, the mayor of New York announced with great excitement that “180 languages are being spoken in the New York City School system.” In 1950, there would’ve been one:  Learn it, or leave. 

The ridiculous notion that “diversity is our greatest strength” goes back to Vice President Dan Quayle and the Rodney King riots of 1992. He was in Japan at the time, and the Japanese saw the riots as a sign of a failing nation. After all, Japan was and is a nation of borders, language, and culture, and as a result cannot conceive of riots.  

Sheer diversity is not a strength; however, diversity of ideas and perspectives can be a strength, provided they are aimed a unified goal — and in America, that goal should be personal success, adding value to society and making our nation stronger. 

“What is American culture?” Leftists love to whine. “I’ll bet you think it’s white European culture.” 

Initially, yes — as America was founded by Europeans. In recent decades, however, American and European cultures have diverged. We the people strive to lead the world and make life better for our children — Europe has become a semi-productive, lazy group of nation states, no longer able to even defend themselves. Most recently, their white guilt has allowed for the mass migration of Muslims, who very much DO have their own culture, and that culture has all but overwhelmed the continent. 

American culture is grounded in the dogged belief that everyone can make something of themselves; that parents will toil to ensure their children have more than they did; and that dreams can come true, as each person pursues what makes them happy. 

There is a little-known columnist named Fred Reed, who’s fearless in his commentary about race and culture, which is probably why he’s not well known. If one was to sum up his perspective, it could probably be best stated as this:  People like to hang around people like themselves. 

This isn’t about race, and it isn’t a negative thing. Like most facts, it just is. Human nature isn’t lived out with animosity. We have a variety of “tribes” to which we belong, and they are based on common experiences and interests. Many of those on our team have no desire to spend a weekend in Manhattan with a group of modern art critics … and they have no desire to spend a weekend hunting with some of us. 

Today those loose-and-harmless tribes are showing a much sharper edge. If you can’t speak English, you’re going to gravitate to those who speak your language. If you have no interest in education or your future, you’ll fall in with your fellow losers-to-be. If you believe America is an oppressive society, you’ll hang with the other children who refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Sadly, America’s failure to maintain borders, language and culture has resulted in an angry hyper-tribalism. Us versus them.  

It is a fact that Presidents Obama and Biden made the mass migration situation so bad that the American people voted for President Trump to begin mass deportations. Lots of fine hardworking people will be expelled from the country. 

However, we must remember, the American flag waves for Americans, and Americans alone — Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, and Biden forgot that, and wanted America to serve as the world’s babysitter, benefits bank, war machine and arms dealer. They were globalists and put America second. It is noble and worthy that non-Americans are inspired by our flag and what it represents; that does not mean they are citizens of this great country. 

We do think there is a compromise that could allow hard working illegals to return promptly to the U.S. Those self-deporting may receive $1,000 and apply for citizenship; the best of the bunch need priority attention. However, the left poisoned the well of goodwill and left us with cringe-worthy policies such as:  Third-trimester abortions, drag queen story hours, secretly sterilizing and mutilating children without parental consent, forcing an experimental drug on Americans of all ages, rewriting history, allowing BLM riots … it seems they’ll never learn. 

Imagine how differently we’d have viewed the L.A. riots if they were peaceful, and everyone was waving the American flag, asking that a compromise be developed for working illegals. The left simply couldn’t do that, because the left destroys everything it touches. Their latest victim is the Democratic Party.