Anonymous wrote:

You somehow think, wrongly, like every other generation that the specific set of current immigrants is different than those that came before. Our ancestors were wrong and so are you.

How many in the past immediately went on welfare and had their kids go on free lunch--and, for the record, I do believe we need to feed the children.

Well, the same programs were not in effect. And, the "welfare" that was wasn't particularly kind to all. But, the same biased crap was said about the Irish and Italians (and others) at the turn of the century. They had accents, ate funny food, they all lived together and didn't assimilate (Little Italy anyone?). Where do you think slurs like "Greasy Degos" came from (my family is Italian on one side and those were slurs I even remember as a child in the 80's)? Immigrants have been reviled since they started coming here. You think your observations are novel (much less correct)? They're not.

My great-grandparents spoke barely a lick of English and maintained close ties to "the old country." My Grandparents, more English and less ties. My parents and cousins speak little/no Italian and some have never been to Italy. It will be the same with the current wave.

You somehow think, wrongly, like every other generation that the specific set of current immigrants is different than those that came before. Our ancestors were wrong and so are you.

How many in the past immediately went on welfare and had their kids go on free lunch--and, for the record, I do believe we need to feed the children.

Anonymous wrote:Do you know how many Americans are living in poverty, unemployed and aren't getting jobs due to illegals. Increasing minimum wage doesn't help us. It helps the illegals because more companies will outsource to them for cheaper labor than ever before.

I don't know. The same number who supposedly screwed by the Chinese in the 1800s? The supposed non-assimilating Chinese who only came here to make money to go home? Nothing new under the sun, asshole.

http://www.usd116.org/ProfDev/AHTC/lessons/Barbour06/GGC12031879.pdf

Do you know how many Americans are living in poverty, unemployed and aren't getting jobs due to illegals. Increasing minimum wage doesn't help us. It helps the illegals because more companies will outsource to them for cheaper labor than ever before.

We are overcrowded now and there is a system in place to come to this country.

Breaking federal law, demanding and receiving government handouts while not paying your own share in taxes is not the American way. Popping out as many babies as you can for increased help/money isn't either.

Anonymous wrote:And, each of those groups have assimilated. The current groups are maintaining much closer ties with their home countries and importing leagues of family members who become dependent on our government. This did not happen in the past.

You re entirely missing the PP's point. Every generation believes this...the exact same thing. The same was said about every group that came over here and started a Little Italy or a Chinatown. But you don't see that or refuse to acknowledge it. You somehow think, wrongly, like every other generation that the specific set of current immigrants is different than those that came before. Our ancestors were wrong and so are you.

And, each of those groups have assimilated. The current groups are maintaining much closer ties with their home countries and importing leagues of family members who become dependent on our government. This did not happen in the past.

Anonymous wrote:I am not religious at all and I wasn't hugely upset by the commercial but I was very taken back it was sung in other languages. The different cultures do not bother me but let's sing our songs in the language they are meant to be sung. If you want to be part of this country, then learn the language and communicate with us. Or continue to speak in your language and complain for translations which is what appears to be the norm lately.

French Canadians do not like nor get along with their fellow English Canadians. It was a country divided from the start. We have always been a melting pot with one main language/communication and government. I hope our country doesn't turn into an eventual civil war.

If you all knew your history, you would realize how ridiculous this is. There have always been anti-immigrant bigots. They have the same gripes that they did in the 1700's and the 1800's and the turn of the century. Despite each generation's claim that their immigrants would ruin the country, it didn't happen.

The only difference between them and you is that they did not have the benefit of history to educate themselves. You do. You should know better because you already know how it turned out for the Germans, the Italians, the Irish, the Polish. You know how it turned out for the Swedes and the Finns and the Russians, the Chinese and the Japanese. Have any of these groups failed us? No. They have become the backbone of our country. So will the next generation.

I am not religious at all and I wasn't hugely upset by the commercial but I was very taken back it was sung in other languages. The different cultures do not bother me but let's sing our songs in the language they are meant to be sung. If you want to be part of this country, then learn the language and communicate with us. Or continue to speak in your language and complain for translations which is what appears to be the norm lately.

French Canadians do not like nor get along with their fellow English Canadians. It was a country divided from the start. We have always been a melting pot with one main language/communication and government. I hope our country doesn't turn into an eventual civil war.

Here's what I took away from the Superbowl ads: Huge corporations like Coke and Budweiser pander to people's patriotic sentiments to get them to buy products that are gross and/or horrible for you. I throw Bud in there with their flag-waving "welcome home, soldier" ad, and Coke was also angling for the multicultural buyers as well.

It's best not to read too much into corporate advertising.

If you don't like it OP switch to Pepsi...problem solved.

Pp, even though religion divides people into believers and non believers, it is not nationalism. By definition a lot of non believers are members of the congregation.
Nationalism includes all people living in the land, the rest of mankind is shut out.
In religion the rest of mankind is what God cares about. You are not the center or belly of the universe

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Religion and patriotism do not mix. Patriotism creates 'us' and that philosophy excludes the rest of mankind.
Religion is for all of mankind (or at least supposed to be).

That's so cute and wonderfully naïve. Religion has always been about "us" vs. "them," from the polytheistic times to modern day.

Have you actually read the Old Testament to read about what the Israelites did to Caananites allegedly on orders from God? And then there were the Crusades to "drive the Infidels

Well, it is the God of all people, not tribal divinity, so in His eyes we are equal

I'm not really sure what your point is.
The divisive nature of religion stems from the fact that, like you, everyone views "their God" as the "God of all people" and their way of worshipping their God as the only correct way that the "God of all people" wants to be worshipped.

Thus, you get each group believing with religious fervor that all other groups who believe anything different are wrong.

no
Faith is universal. America is not mentioned in the bible. America is just one country that God created. All the countries he created are beautiful. Canadians and French and Mexicans and illegals and royals are all his creatures

I didn't mention America. It would be shocking (and either evidence of a God or time travel) if America were mentioned in a book of stories created more than a millennia before America was discovered by the Europeans, let alone turned into the United States, Canada, etc.

The point is that even if faith is universal (a point I'm pretty sure a number of atheists would disagree with), each religion has claimed to have a monopoly on "Truth" and has divided the world into their believers and all others. At its most basic, you disagree with atheists and believe that your religion is correct and they are wrong. Odds are you would also consider Hinduism and Buddhism wrong, because they do not conform to your concept of God. Thus, even within the same county you have religion serving as a divisive element.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Religion and patriotism do not mix. Patriotism creates 'us' and that philosophy excludes the rest of mankind.
Religion is for all of mankind (or at least supposed to be).

That's so cute and wonderfully naïve. Religion has always been about "us" vs. "them," from the polytheistic times to modern day.

Have you actually read the Old Testament to read about what the Israelites did to Caananites allegedly on orders from God? And then there were the Crusades to "drive the Infidels

Well, it is the God of all people, not tribal divinity, so in His eyes we are equal

I'm not really sure what your point is.
The divisive nature of religion stems from the fact that, like you, everyone views "their God" as the "God of all people" and their way of worshipping their God as the only correct way that the "God of all people" wants to be worshipped.

Thus, you get each group believing with religious fervor that all other groups who believe anything different are wrong.

no
Faith is universal. America is not mentioned in the bible. America is just one country that God created. All the countries he created are beautiful. Canadians and French and Mexicans and illegals and royals are all his creatures

+1000 for Buddy Jesus!