GOP Congressman Argues Against Multiculturalism: ‘There’s Only One Race Here, It’s The American Race
EL DORADO HILLS, California - Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) took a strong stand against multiculturalism at a town hall meeting, arguing that immigrants need to shed their culture, become “the American race,” and if they’re unwilling to do so, “reevaluate” whether they want to be in this country in the first place.
Fielding questions about immigration reform, McClintock told the audience on Tuesday evening that he worries current generations of immigrants aren’t assimilating like in the past but instead retaining the culture from their native land. “There’s only one race here, it’s the American race,” he implored to constituents.
McCLINTOCK: Interestingly, that provision for patriotic integration is missing from the Senate legislation. The motto of this country is e pluribus unum, and one of its meanings is “from many nations, one nation, the American nation.” There’s only one race here, it’s the American race. And the only way you accomplish that is through assimilation. That is what our immigration laws are designed to promote, and that is precisely what illegal immigration undermines.
Watch it:
After the event, Emmanuel Perez, a Latino man from nearby Auburn, questioned McClintock directly about what it means to be American. “People bring their cultures and their personalities with them,” which makes this country stronger, Perez argued.
McClintock vehemntly disagreed, accusing proponents of multiculturalism of wanting to “divide America into warring factions separated by culture, by language, by attitude.” If immigrants aren’t willing to shed their past culture, said McClintock, “then perhaps that is nature’s way of telling you that, maybe, you should reevaluate your options.”
ThinkProgress spoke with Perez after the event, who was disappointed in the congressman’s remarks. “We’re not all the same,” Perez said. “I believe in the American dream, but his view isn’t my vision of the American dream.”
[Source]
_______________________________
So... Wow. I had always that that the motto, e pluribus unum, meant "one from many." Meaning we are all one nation full of many different people who can offer us the knowledge of other cultures and languages. Is that just my interpretation, or did anyone else feel that way when they learned about it in seventh grade civics class?
EDIT: Fixed a formatting issue.
Fielding questions about immigration reform, McClintock told the audience on Tuesday evening that he worries current generations of immigrants aren’t assimilating like in the past but instead retaining the culture from their native land. “There’s only one race here, it’s the American race,” he implored to constituents.
McCLINTOCK: Interestingly, that provision for patriotic integration is missing from the Senate legislation. The motto of this country is e pluribus unum, and one of its meanings is “from many nations, one nation, the American nation.” There’s only one race here, it’s the American race. And the only way you accomplish that is through assimilation. That is what our immigration laws are designed to promote, and that is precisely what illegal immigration undermines.
Watch it:
Click to viewAfter the event, Emmanuel Perez, a Latino man from nearby Auburn, questioned McClintock directly about what it means to be American. “People bring their cultures and their personalities with them,” which makes this country stronger, Perez argued.
McClintock vehemntly disagreed, accusing proponents of multiculturalism of wanting to “divide America into warring factions separated by culture, by language, by attitude.” If immigrants aren’t willing to shed their past culture, said McClintock, “then perhaps that is nature’s way of telling you that, maybe, you should reevaluate your options.”
ThinkProgress spoke with Perez after the event, who was disappointed in the congressman’s remarks. “We’re not all the same,” Perez said. “I believe in the American dream, but his view isn’t my vision of the American dream.”
[Source]
_______________________________
So... Wow. I had always that that the motto, e pluribus unum, meant "one from many." Meaning we are all one nation full of many different people who can offer us the knowledge of other cultures and languages. Is that just my interpretation, or did anyone else feel that way when they learned about it in seventh grade civics class?
EDIT: Fixed a formatting issue.