Eh, we've had 1st generation Americans since there has been an America. I'm not sure what "forced assimilation" you're referring to, but it didn't seem to help them much, back in the day.
Chinese were hated in the 1800s. I think one of the first immigrantion laws were made specifically to prevent Chinese immigrants.
And look how the Irish immigrants were treated during and after the potato blight in Ireland.
And the Italians weren't treated any better.
So all this is nothing new. Ever seen Gangs of New York?
The only thing that changes is which country/ethnicity/religion the immigrants are from.
Gangs of New York was a Hollywood production just like Once Upon A Time In America.
Immigrants of that era had it very difficult and weren't given any handouts, unlike today, dear lord today the benefits are over the top for everyone who ISN'T a natural born citizen who works hard, pays taxes, and owns property. The system is actively rigged against those who are top producers (yet not elite status.) No society does that unless it's purposeful destruction within.
The difference you're talking about is financial. I was speaking of the discrimination they faced by society at large, and the idea they couldn't be patriotic, which is what the person I was responding to was talking about.
I am interested in what benefits an immigrant gets, that poor/homeless born Americans couldn't get as well, though.
PS, although the movie was fiction (durrrr), the xenophobia, conflict between Catholics and Protestants, rival gangs, and the beginning of the "Know Nothing" party was based on history of the time and region.
Assimilation may be wrong word-- I'm older and recall mandatory pledge of allegiance every morning; English as a 2nd language classes being mandatory for parents of students in US schools- driving tests issued in English only (yup, that was a thing back then)
This was California in the LA county area- 1970s
We were also allowed to work ahead in school- when we moved to WA me and siblings tested a min of 3 grades above--
I was a SoCal kid with red white and blue running thru my veins-- I had Mexican patriot frens, native patriot frens, black patriot frens and cracker ass white patriot frens-- 1 thing we had I common? USA
Eh, we've had 1st generation Americans since there has been an America. I'm not sure what "forced assimilation" you're referring to, but it didn't seem to help them much, back in the day.
Chinese were hated in the 1800s. I think one of the first immigrantion laws were made specifically to prevent Chinese immigrants.
And look how the Irish immigrants were treated during and after the potato blight in Ireland.
And the Italians weren't treated any better.
So all this is nothing new. Ever seen Gangs of New York?
The only thing that changes is which country/ethnicity/religion the immigrants are from.
Gangs of New York was a Hollywood production just like Once Upon A Time In America.
Immigrants of that era had it very difficult and weren't given any handouts, unlike today, dear lord today the benefits are over the top for everyone who ISN'T a natural born citizen who works hard, pays taxes, and owns property. The system is actively rigged against those who are top producers (yet not elite status.) No society does that unless it's purposeful destruction within.
The difference you're talking about is financial. I was speaking of the discrimination they faced by society at large, and the idea they couldn't be patriotic, which is what the person I was responding to was talking about.
I am interested in what benefits an immigrant gets, that poor/homeless born Americans couldn't get as well, though.
PS, although the movie was fiction (durrrr), the xenophobia, conflict between Catholics and Protestants, rival gangs, and the beginning of the "Know Nothing" party was based on history of the time and region.
Assimilation may be wrong word-- I'm older and recall mandatory pledge of allegiance every morning; English as a 2nd language classes being mandatory for parents of students in US schools- driving tests issued in English only (yup, that was a thing back then) This was California in the LA county area- 1970s We were also allowed to work ahead in school- when we moved to WA me and siblings tested a min of 3 grades above-- I was a SoCal kid with red white and blue running thru my veins-- I had Mexican patriot frens, native patriot frens, black patriot frens and cracker ass white patriot frens-- 1 thing we had I common? USA