Our America has changed over the years, good intentions sometimes go astray. I found this article and thought it interesting enough to post for this Memorial Day.
Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States and the youngest to ever occupy the Oval Office. He was Vice President to President William McKinley when in 1901 McKinley was assassinated the Roosevelt took over at age 42. (At age 43 President John F. Kennedy was the youngest to ever be elected President.)
The actual text from Teddy Roosevelt’s letter is below. There are a few minor differences from the original such as changing “man” to “person” but the content is virtually identical.
We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an
American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.
But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.
There are vast ethnic enclaves all over the country which which are extensions of the native country. They begin to evaporate in the second generation and dissolve in the third. In my case none of my second and me of the third generation were taught or learned Italian. In last line of your comment “soul” is probably a typo for “sole” but actually works either way.
Seems all things of heartfelt religious and patriotic value have become Valentine’s Day commercialism. I mean, what do sales promotions have to do with George Washington’s birthday ?
Even tho We the People have changed attitudes about our country, those who protect us continue to be just as brave and valorous as others before them. I think our problem is that we allow too many immigrants without giving them time to assimilate and meld into the population. We cater to their languages and customs without requiring they adopt ours. Instead of learning our history, they want us to replace it with theirs. I would love to see what this country will look like in another hundred years.
Yes, instead of assimilation we are brainwashed to celebrate multiculturalism which tends to polarize people, to categorize people into identifiable subsets of race and ethnicity. This is not meant to say that we should not celebrate our individual heritages but I am flying the American flag this weekend (only one in 4 blocks of street) not the Italian flag. On one hand, however, I’ll fly my New York Yankees baseball flag everyday. There are 2 hanging on my bedroom walls !
All the words have been spoken and how can we find new words to express our loss, respect and remembrance ? Pictures and times of silent reflection and reunions with fellow vets and families who lost loved ones seem more elegant.
Oh, how far down the path of righteousness
have we traveled from then til now
whence glory once bestowed upon the brave
yet, now dons some “sacred cow”!
Whence the honored were the fallen then
but, not just heroes lost to time
whence all who heard the bugle’s mourn
remembered all who gave their prime!
So on this day we’ll have our feasts and fests
and celebrate without real rhyme or reason
for the “Memorial Day” of years gone past
now just begins the summer season!
Unfortunately your are right. Lived in Miami 60 years and now 60% foreign born. These American traditions have no value to them and young people are too detached from history to recognize or even care. Fewer and fewer municipalities hold parades now and it does not feel like America. All public documents to public even for schools and voting ballot are in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. People don’t even know to stand when the flag is presented at various venues. Yes it does not feel like America but then who am I to define what America is ? It is different things to different people. There is some common denominators though as all people seem to pull for the Dolphins, the Marlins and the Heat.
20 responses to ““Vintage Memorial Day” by Carl D’Agostino”
duckofindeed
June 7th, 2017 at 09:23
These are pretty cool!
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Carl D'Agostino
June 9th, 2017 at 16:58
A whole different age, different and really not so long ago.
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Collect Life
May 29th, 2017 at 13:54
Great inspiring messages. Thanks for sharing🇺🇸
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Carl D'Agostino
May 29th, 2017 at 13:59
Delighted you dropped by.
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http://www.salpa58.wordpress.com
May 28th, 2017 at 23:02
Our America has changed over the years, good intentions sometimes go astray. I found this article and thought it interesting enough to post for this Memorial Day.
Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States and the youngest to ever occupy the Oval Office. He was Vice President to President William McKinley when in 1901 McKinley was assassinated the Roosevelt took over at age 42. (At age 43 President John F. Kennedy was the youngest to ever be elected President.)
The actual text from Teddy Roosevelt’s letter is below. There are a few minor differences from the original such as changing “man” to “person” but the content is virtually identical.
We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an
American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.
But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.
LikeLike
Carl D'Agostino
May 29th, 2017 at 05:46
There are vast ethnic enclaves all over the country which which are extensions of the native country. They begin to evaporate in the second generation and dissolve in the third. In my case none of my second and me of the third generation were taught or learned Italian. In last line of your comment “soul” is probably a typo for “sole” but actually works either way.
LikeLike
nildamacedopaulino
May 28th, 2017 at 19:25
Nice BLOG!!! ADD my blog too!!! Kisses ❤ ❤ ❤
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craig
May 28th, 2017 at 15:44
And The Incessant Memorial Day Sales.
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Carl D'Agostino
May 28th, 2017 at 16:41
Seems all things of heartfelt religious and patriotic value have become Valentine’s Day commercialism. I mean, what do sales promotions have to do with George Washington’s birthday ?
LikeLike
Grumpa Joe
May 28th, 2017 at 14:17
Even tho We the People have changed attitudes about our country, those who protect us continue to be just as brave and valorous as others before them. I think our problem is that we allow too many immigrants without giving them time to assimilate and meld into the population. We cater to their languages and customs without requiring they adopt ours. Instead of learning our history, they want us to replace it with theirs. I would love to see what this country will look like in another hundred years.
LikeLike
Carl D'Agostino
May 28th, 2017 at 16:48
Yes, instead of assimilation we are brainwashed to celebrate multiculturalism which tends to polarize people, to categorize people into identifiable subsets of race and ethnicity. This is not meant to say that we should not celebrate our individual heritages but I am flying the American flag this weekend (only one in 4 blocks of street) not the Italian flag. On one hand, however, I’ll fly my New York Yankees baseball flag everyday. There are 2 hanging on my bedroom walls !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grumpa Joe
May 28th, 2017 at 20:59
My flag (USA) flies everyday.
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GP Cox
May 28th, 2017 at 13:35
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Carl D'Agostino
May 28th, 2017 at 14:06
Always delighted when you add to a post !
LikeLiked by 1 person
GP Cox
May 28th, 2017 at 14:12
Having trouble talking this year, so I let the pictures say what I can not.
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Carl D'Agostino
May 28th, 2017 at 16:54
All the words have been spoken and how can we find new words to express our loss, respect and remembrance ? Pictures and times of silent reflection and reunions with fellow vets and families who lost loved ones seem more elegant.
LikeLike
poemsandponderings
May 28th, 2017 at 11:25
Memorial Day Then and Now!
Oh, how far down the path of righteousness
have we traveled from then til now
whence glory once bestowed upon the brave
yet, now dons some “sacred cow”!
Whence the honored were the fallen then
but, not just heroes lost to time
whence all who heard the bugle’s mourn
remembered all who gave their prime!
So on this day we’ll have our feasts and fests
and celebrate without real rhyme or reason
for the “Memorial Day” of years gone past
now just begins the summer season!
~Jack Downing~
May 28, 2017
LikeLike
Carl D'Agostino
May 28th, 2017 at 13:12
Unfortunately your are right. Lived in Miami 60 years and now 60% foreign born. These American traditions have no value to them and young people are too detached from history to recognize or even care. Fewer and fewer municipalities hold parades now and it does not feel like America. All public documents to public even for schools and voting ballot are in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. People don’t even know to stand when the flag is presented at various venues. Yes it does not feel like America but then who am I to define what America is ? It is different things to different people. There is some common denominators though as all people seem to pull for the Dolphins, the Marlins and the Heat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John
May 28th, 2017 at 09:51
These seem much better than today’s selection…
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Carl D'Agostino
May 28th, 2017 at 13:14
It’s a different America now. Cards and events are sponsored by Mickey Mouse, Bud or Coke or cars. More logos than flags.
LikeLiked by 1 person