Our father said, if the ocean catches up to your car stuck in the sand, you might as well just give it up, it's all over!
I love Portugal, but on the immigration issue, the countries that succeed in the 21st century will be those who successfully deal with immigration, because it's coming, you cannot box it out forever.
Yeah, I could imagine our dad saying that. And he’s probably totally correct.
About immigration, the countries that will succeed are those that stop thinking of it in a black-and-white way. Although it’s probably unintentional, your comment illustrates this false way of thinking.
It’s not about immigration or no immigration. It is about what kind of immigration, and how much of it. You can have four or five different kinds of immigration and in different quantities and with different rules. It’s never just immigration or no immigration. Even though people fall into this false way of thinking and talking about it.
I do agree. In the USA our Congressional system is so broken that the parties cannot agree on what those immigration controls are, or even what the goals are.
Also, the USA has an enviable tradition of accepting immigrants, the American Dream has less to do with ethnicity. Although I love Europe, most European countries in 2025 economically struggle with the identities based on mostly language and culture.
You aren't to quick to judge at all. You have thought it through. As much as Indians had a right to their own country during the British era, so do the Portuguese, and us Americans. Those who go to a foreign place to live have a duty to assimilate, learn the local culture, and appreciate what was before, and build on it.
The other thing is also basic for the sake of their countries' cultures; they have to stay and fix things. We had the destruction of the Civil War, and had to work things out in the USA.
Thank you for your comment, Garland. I agree with you.
Another way to look at it is that a country needs a glue to hold it together. Multiculturalism as a governing philosophy does not work. You need to have a dominant language and a dominant culture and history to hold people together. That’s why most countries require people to learn their language and basic history and culture before becoming citizens. I agree with this.
Our father said, if the ocean catches up to your car stuck in the sand, you might as well just give it up, it's all over!
I love Portugal, but on the immigration issue, the countries that succeed in the 21st century will be those who successfully deal with immigration, because it's coming, you cannot box it out forever.
Yeah, I could imagine our dad saying that. And he’s probably totally correct.
About immigration, the countries that will succeed are those that stop thinking of it in a black-and-white way. Although it’s probably unintentional, your comment illustrates this false way of thinking.
It’s not about immigration or no immigration. It is about what kind of immigration, and how much of it. You can have four or five different kinds of immigration and in different quantities and with different rules. It’s never just immigration or no immigration. Even though people fall into this false way of thinking and talking about it.
Wouldn’t you agree, Paco?
I do agree. In the USA our Congressional system is so broken that the parties cannot agree on what those immigration controls are, or even what the goals are.
True. Government in USA tends to be a blunt instrument, not a scalpel or erector set.
Also, the USA has an enviable tradition of accepting immigrants, the American Dream has less to do with ethnicity. Although I love Europe, most European countries in 2025 economically struggle with the identities based on mostly language and culture.
Your summary is misplaced on several points in my humble opinion.
You aren't to quick to judge at all. You have thought it through. As much as Indians had a right to their own country during the British era, so do the Portuguese, and us Americans. Those who go to a foreign place to live have a duty to assimilate, learn the local culture, and appreciate what was before, and build on it.
The other thing is also basic for the sake of their countries' cultures; they have to stay and fix things. We had the destruction of the Civil War, and had to work things out in the USA.
Thank you for your comment, Garland. I agree with you.
Another way to look at it is that a country needs a glue to hold it together. Multiculturalism as a governing philosophy does not work. You need to have a dominant language and a dominant culture and history to hold people together. That’s why most countries require people to learn their language and basic history and culture before becoming citizens. I agree with this.