The Fabric That Is America

The Fabric That Is America

By Joe Renna

The experience of being a new immigrant to this country in the early 1900's was trying, to say the least. Having uprooted their families, they traveled to live in an unfamiliar place with no jobs and few prospects. Not knowing the language was the least of their worries when discrimination was almost institutional and tolerance for their situation was in short order.

There was little help from anyone outside of those who were experiencing similar struggles. The new Americans persevered through hard work and by building communities. Neighborhoods were distinguished by where the cluster of residents originated. The city would grow as waves of immigrants arrived from their respective homelands. Each group had to find their own way, all working toward the same goal. The quality of life that their children would experience was worth the hardships they endured.

Those early struggles were a symptom of uncertainty. Just as land was the new frontier in the 1700's, social order was the new unpaved territory. First generation Americans found themselves in a multinational environment which was unprecedented. There was no reference book on how to make it work. They held onto their traditional ways of life and forged ahead. Factions acted or acted out in the only way they knew how. They were defensive and untrusting. It was the residue of the tumultuous life they left behind.

The new Americans muddled through for decades, inventing American culture on the fly. It was a combination of the best of other cultures united by the freedom, justice and equality that only this country could offer. The forced mixture of eathnic groups inspired a fellowship among people once separated by borders. The pleasant realization that eventually revealed itself was that there was not much difference between people. Sharing traditions enhanced each individual culture. The combination of traditions has brought us to where we are today. American culture is a highbred of all others.

Today second, third and fourth generation citizens are the policy makers. They grew up in a haven safe from the oppressive situations in which their grandparents lived. Free from those petty distractions, these children of immigrants are responsible for remarkable achievements in art, science and humanities.

Advancements in human services over the past 50 years have brought America closer to the utopia envisioned by the founding fathers. It was the 20th century arrivals who made it work. Not for themselves so much as for the generations who followed. Our way of life is a real tribute to those immigrants.

America's shores are still teeming with huddled masses but the problems the current new Americans face have more to do with entitlements than they do with survival. The mistakes that were made a century ago are now largely corrected. Later day arrivals are not being met with the resistance that was once prevalent. They are immediately integrated into the American fabric. And it's all for the better.