Will the guiding principles of America's Founding Fathers be reinforced by an influx of immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America? If the immigrants interviewed in Al Santoli's New Americans are a representative cross section, we have every reason to be optimistic. The subjects of Santoli's most recent oral history are movingly patriotic. They are religious and, like the founders, they have more than an academic commitment to freedom.
In the past, Europe served as the major provider of new Americans. As of 1985, however, Hispanics and Asians accounted for 85 percent of America's legal immigrants. If illegal immigrants from Latin America are included in this total, Asians and Latin Americans account for approximately 95 percent of the recent immigrant population.
From America's earliest years, each wave of immigrants has affected our nation socially and culturally. It is a linguistic principle that whenever two languages interact in a culture, one or the other will eventually become the lingua franca, but not without being sharply influenced by the other language. Undoubtedly, one reason that the American accent differs so much from the British, New Zealand, or Australian accent is that in America the English language was influenced by many foreign tongues. In all respects, our Founding Fathers were inspired when they chose the motto "E pluribus unum," for America's continued greatness always dependent upon the many becoming one. Santoli helps us understand why America's newest immigrants can contribute to the unifying endeavor the founders bequeathed us.
The New Americans Are Religious
References to God and to Divine Providence are prevalent throughout early American historic documents including the Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the Declaration of Independence and George Washington's First Inaugural Address, which repeatedly calls upon Divine Providence to guide America in her first steps as a nation. America's founders were opposed to an official state religion, yet they strongly encouraged the teaching of moral principles. As article 3 or the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 stated: "Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
Perhaps because coming to America involved a step of faith, many of the immigrants Santoli interviewed view religion as playing a central role in their lives. Immigrants from Laos explain to Santoli how they attempt to pass on their indigenous religious traditions to the next generation. Polish immigrants indicate that they continue their prayers to the Madonna and to Saint Barbara. And Afghan refugee Mohammad Daud Nassery seems to feel that to understand America, one must understand the Judeo-Christian faith: "Even though we are Muslims, I let the kids go to church with their friends. It gives them the opportunity to be in touch with other kids and learn about American culture and beliefs."
The New Americans and The Value Of Freedom
For many Americans, the value of freedom is learned in the classroom. Many of America's new immigrants, however, endured dehumanizing experiences before coming here. Soviet-born Oleg Jankovic, now a U.S.
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