At least where I came from, the post WWII refugees settled in our part of the world were called Poles (or Polacks, even by my half Polish grandmother!), Russians or whatever. But then, my part of the U.S. was homesteaded only in last decade or two of the 19th century and the first one of the 20th century. And it was homesteaded by Poles, Bohemians (Czechs), Russians, Germans, Swedes, and Norwegians, primarily. So far away from the mainstream of the U.S. geographically and so on, it retained a pioneering outlook and lifestyle right into the 1960's, and still does for that matter among the oldest residents.
It was the 1960's "Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud," and the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors discovering their heritage, is where this began. Whereas their parents wanted assimilation, the next generation wanted to be Israelis -- and more and more Jewish heritage Americans got duel citizenship then, and far more have duel citizenship now. Duel citizenship also encourages hyphenization and divided loyalties. Now we've got loads of hyphenated citizens: from Asia to the Middle East, to South America and Mexico, with duel citizenship and passports. Which also means when I get tired of it here I can always go 'home.'
This doesn't help matters for our country at all, I feel. I don't like dual citizenship, because it prevents real investment in the country. One example are the million of so white, middle-calss Cuban 'refugees' from communism that came here in the 60's and 70's. and got the most incredible help and assistance. I know so many of them with U.S. citizenships, but they've also managed to buy Mexican citizenship, and when their pensions and all the rest kick in, they take all that investment that they received via our tax dollars at work, and take it to Mexico. "I spit on this country when I leave,' they say, because we didn't blow up ourselves and world by dropping atom bombs on Fidel.
no subject
We didn't start hearing this until the 1960's.
At least where I came from, the post WWII refugees settled in our part of the world were called Poles (or Polacks, even by my half Polish grandmother!), Russians or whatever. But then, my part of the U.S. was homesteaded only in last decade or two of the 19th century and the first one of the 20th century. And it was homesteaded by Poles, Bohemians (Czechs), Russians, Germans, Swedes, and Norwegians, primarily. So far away from the mainstream of the U.S. geographically and so on, it retained a pioneering outlook and lifestyle right into the 1960's, and still does for that matter among the oldest residents.
It was the 1960's "Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud," and the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors discovering their heritage, is where this began. Whereas their parents wanted assimilation, the next generation wanted to be Israelis -- and more and more Jewish heritage Americans got duel citizenship then, and far more have duel citizenship now. Duel citizenship also encourages hyphenization and divided loyalties. Now we've got loads of hyphenated citizens: from Asia to the Middle East, to South America and Mexico, with duel citizenship and passports. Which also means when I get tired of it here I can always go 'home.'
This doesn't help matters for our country at all, I feel. I don't like dual citizenship, because it prevents real investment in the country. One example are the million of so white, middle-calss Cuban 'refugees' from communism that came here in the 60's and 70's. and got the most incredible help and assistance. I know so many of them with U.S. citizenships, but they've also managed to buy Mexican citizenship, and when their pensions and all the rest kick in, they take all that investment that they received via our tax dollars at work, and take it to Mexico. "I spit on this country when I leave,' they say, because we didn't blow up ourselves and world by dropping atom bombs on Fidel.
Love, C.