
Granddad and his family spent three days at Ellis Island being poked and prodded, checked, physically and mentally, and he had to have evidence of either an American citizen sponsor or a job awaiting. Only then were they allowed to process into their new country, then they were sent to the train for what was then the long ride to Newport News. And the shipyard sent wired money for their tickets.
Granddad was overwhelmed with joy and spent the entire rest of his life teaching his three boys to love America and be good citizens as he truly was. He loved this country and had no regrets for making the long and arduous journey with a family in tow.
It's amazing that today we have no checks and no examinations of immigrants and we provide everything that people need with no obligation on their part when they show up illegally. Sadly, we even treat them better than we do our own military veterans who have given so much for this country and have to fight for everything and then some. And then our newcomers demand special privileges and riot in the streets and burn our flag and wave theirs in our faces. Some gratitude, and you wonder why so many Americans are fed up? I include myself in that number.
President Teddy Roosevelt was right when he said we should welcome people who want to assimilate and become good American citizens living by our rules, working hard to pay their way while learning our language. Otherwise they have no business coming here. If agreeing with the Rough Rider makes me cold or not welcoming, so be it. Living in America is a privilege for those who want to be Americans; it is and never will be a right for those who come here to take and not give anything in return.
I used this as the baseline for today's North Florida Writer Live BlogTalkRadio program. The show is about Election 2016 and how immigration is a major factor in the upcoming election, a main reason for the surge of Donald Trump with Americans. Here's the link to the show:
tobtr.com/s/8945461