American  Identity    
 
What  does  it  mean  to  be  an  American?  Most  sovereign  nation-­‐states  in  the  world  are  
drawn  on  ethnic  boundaries,  France  for  the  French,  Japan  for  the  Japanese,  ect.  Our  
Republic  is  different  in  that  regard.  We  started  as  a  homogenous  British  colony,  but  
successive  waves  of  immigrants  from  other  parts  of  the  world  have  been  able  to  
come  here,  assimilate  and  prosper.  
 
 They  may  have  started  as  something  else  but  through  hard  work,  and  love  of  shared  
values  they  became  productive  citizens  of  our  nation.  So  if  we  are  not  a  nation  of  
blood,  then  we  must  be  a  nation  of  laws.    
 
Two  values  stand  out  the  most  when  considering  the  practicality  of  foreigners  
assimilating  into  American  culture,  ingenuity  and  integrity.    
 
They  must  have  integrity  to  uphold  the  enlightened  ideals  of  freedom  and  liberty.  
These  virtues  form  the  impetus  of  self-­‐determination,  the  very  bedrock  of  our  
democratic-­‐republic.  Any  foreign  national  that  champions  this  trait,  combined  with  
ambition  for  a  better  life  as  an  American  and  a  drive  to  deliver  a  net  benefit  to  our  
country  should  surely  be  welcome  on  our  shores.  
 
 
They  must  also  possess  ingenuity.  Such  as  the  self-­‐starter  attitude  that  enabled  the  
early  American  pioneers  to  push  back  the  wild  frontier  and  tame  a  continent.  Our  
collective  manifest  destiny  as  Americans  is  still  alive  and  well  today,  as  we  push  
back  the  wild  frontiers  of  science  and  industry.  Aspiring  Americans  will  surely  also  
need  to  be  capable  of  great  adaptability  in  the  face  of  adversity,  personal  and  
professional.  
 
This;  in  fact,  was  the  prevailing  ethos  of  our  immigration  policy  in  the  post  war  
years  of  1945-­‐1965.  Many  a  war  weary  individual  sought  out  a  new  start  on  our  
shores,  fleeing  the  wanton  destruction  caused  by  the  twin  horrors  of  Bolshevism  
and  Marxism  taking  root  in  the  world.  
 
This  was  to  prove  a  prosperous  approach.  In  fact,  as  long  as  these  émigrés  had  
something  valuable  to  offer  fair  Columbia  they  were  admitted  with  open  arms.  Most  
of  these  newly  minted  citizens  built  a  quality  of  life  in  their  new  nation  that  they  
could  not  dream  of  back  home.  The  key  factor  in  our  immigration  policy  then  was  of  
course,  one  very  clear  requirement.    
 
Value.  To.  America.    
 
This  however  would  not  last.  The  Immigration  and  nationality  act  of  1965  changed  
forever  the  way  our  country  screens  and  selects  those  who  will  immigrate  to  our  
country.  Where  before  these  judgments  were  made  on  the  basis  of  merit  of  the  
individual,  overall  benefit  to  the  nation  and  overall  rate  of  successful  assimilation,  
they  now  select  candidates  based  on  a  large  number  of  superfluous  qualities,  
primarily,  the  need  of  the  immigrant.  
 
This  marks  a  fundamental  shift  in  the  attitude  of  our  immigration  policy  from  that  
day  in  1965,  to  the  present  in  2017.  We  have  gone  from  asking  the  question  “What  is  
best  for  our  country,”  to  asking,  “What  is  best  for  the  immigrant.”  
 
So  I  query  you,  dear  reader.  Which  question  are  you  asking?