On 5/18/10 13:22 , bpnjensen wrote:
On May 18, 11:01 am, "D. Peter wrote:
On 5/18/10 12:13 , bpnjensen wrote:





On May 18, 8:16 am, "D. Peter wrote:
On 5/18/10 09:21 , bpnjensen wrote:

We used to think the Irish, the Italians and the Poles were thugs
too...

Bruce Jensen

There's a reason for that.

Alphonse Capone.
Johnny Torrio
Frank Nitti
William Daddano
Sam Giancana
Paul Ricca
Tony Accardo

George Moran
William McGarigle
Michael Cassius McDonald
Mossy Enright
Roger Touhy
Southside O'Donnells
Dion O'Banion
Frank McErlane

Jake Guzik
John Factor
Paul Jaworski
Joseph Saltis
Richard Leonard Kuklinski
Hymie Weiss
Joseph Filkowski
Joseph Stazek

A tiny fraction of the millions who came and ultimately contributed
positvely to the nation in a million small ways.

And yet, each came to polarize countless millions by contributing
negatively as individuals in the name of their ethicities.

The reason we used to, and many times still do, think of the
Irish, the Italians, and the Poles as thugs is not because of the
millions who aren't, but because of the some who were.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

And such is the case with those who come today. Our experience with
the past, which you have pointed out, should enlighten us to look at
the doughnut and not the hole. I do not hold all of the Italians
accountable for the actions of a Capone, nor do I hold every Mexican
national accountable for the violence of a handful of drug lords. I
know too many people of Mexican descent who are smart, hard-working,
solid citizens who love their families and contribute to their larger
communities...In other words, good Americans...to ever make that
mistake. I am proud to call a number of them my friends. Same with
Asians and blacks - it's the doughnut and not the hole that counts.



It is often, however, the hole that defined the donut. Which was
my point.



Believe me - there are cultural mores from other lands with which I
have a lot of trouble. For that matter, our American culture has quite
a bit of it. Characteristics of cruelty, injustice, and various forms
of dishonor accompany most cultures on this planet, and the only thing
anybody can do is push forward to encourage the best and forego the
worst. No matter what, the pressure against our borders will not
diminish, and it is obvious that trying to inculcate foreign peoples
with our own POVs has proven to not be very successful even in this
age of instant internet. Experience has shown that there is a far
greater chance of immigrants assimilating once they get here rather
than trying to do it from afar. What would be the most helpful is if
we could establish a policy whereby we encourage those who come here
legally and learn to be Americans to find ways to bring the positive
aspects of our society back to their native lands. That's a very tall
order, but eventually, if population continues to explode as it now
does, there will be no other choice.

Meanwhile, it would be very helpful to get our own house in order.

Sadly, brother, also a tall order.



Bruce Jensen