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Survey: Americans Think US Decent, Immigrants Should Assimilate

That's the word according to a popular polling firm

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by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

Image: Flickr

Americans can't be accused of being long in the face, observes polling outfit Rasmussen, but they can perhaps be accused of being a bit short on sympathy for immigrants compared to their progressive peers.

A collection of recent data from the right-leaning survey firm finds, among other things, that 56% of American voters think the US is a fundamentally "fair and decent" society. Furthermore, most Americans think that "those who move here need to adopt the prevailing culture." While 59% of the 1,000 likely voters reached support a "welcoming" immigration policy, 53% also favor automatic verification of immigration status during routine traffic stops.

"Over half of voters still think police officers should automatically check someone's immigration status if they pull them over," writes Rasmussen, which notes that this figure is actually the lowest to date.

Via Rasmussen Reports.
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Should immigrants to the US "adopt the prevailing culture"?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • kirbstomp1
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    @Zazziness -your absolutely right. Our founding fathers welcomed immigration. Like the Irish, and French, German, and Chinese. All had movements here. And all cultures melded together to have diversity in America. I say bring on your culture, just adapt to our enough to not cause friction on society.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    Actually you'd be surprized went to nicaragua at height of cia contra war and sandanistas were very welcoming. They make a big distinction belween govt and citizens. Understand from friend cuba is the same way (unless you land on Bay of Pigs with weapons); heard Vietnam nam very forgiving and welcoming. Apparently that os not so in iraq, afganistan, where u.s. troops are greeted in the same manner they greeted the inhabitants of those countries.

  • View all 40 replies >

  • Fishbone345
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    If they want to succeed they should learn English and work as a translator for their native tongue. Translators are making bank in almost every area, not to mention working for the Pentagon or CIA.
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  • UnCommonBoston
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    @MBernard Yup. English is my second language, German my first. We celebrated the holidays differently, ate differently, our house was different and my parents friends all spoke German. We were diverse.

    When my parents came here nobody offered them the driver's test in German or Czech. Nobody at either of their schools translated anything or gave them special help. I had speech problems because I did not learn English until I was 3. Speech problems were address in public schools in the early 1960's. So I busted butt fixing that.

    We spoke English. My father and mother were successful in corporate America. They worked internationally and used their languages. They had assimilated, but remained true to their heritage.

    My mother spends six months a year in Germany. Her extended family has always vacationed in a small town and she stays there with them. She works with her European customers while there. She was born in Germany but getting her German citizenship back is extremely difficult.
  • Fishbone345
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    @UnCommonBoston "Studies show that children do better in schools if English is spoken at home."
    You should probably clarify what schools and where. Because I'm pretty sure these studies aren't saying the same of schools globally. The US ranks well below other countries in education and test scores reflect it.

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  • MRMacrum
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    What is wrong with our current set up? "Little" ethnic communities can and do have their own old country feel, but when these folks venture out, they are expected to be able to Handle the change. And when say I go into China Town in oh I don't know, say New York City, I do not get pissy if the menu is only in Chinese as long as the dollar amounts are in US dollars. We have been a successful multicultural country since we became colonized. You get with the program when in public. Do anything you want when in your own neighborhood or home.
  • MongoAPillager
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    that sounds pretty reasonable ,but the way it works is when they get here and find their own ethnic group they start loosing their fluency in english and just about anything standard here,i know this because i am married to an naturalized immigrant,she is now in the medical profession as are many,her fluency in english was good upon arrival,now not so much.poor english skills can cost lives and money in a lot of professions
  • stepped_in_it
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    That I can live with. What happens in your home/neighborhood is you/your neighbors responsibility. What I can't stand is the need to have (too) many translations in public buildings....why? Move here....learn! I can guarantee back in their home country those things don't happen.
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    PoliticalSpice
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    @Penn1699 Honest commentary does not mean I am unhappy. At the mment I'm quiet happy, considering how I would be feeling if mitt were elected...
  • o
    NO-BAMA
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    Plus, of they want to come here they better have the means of supporting themselves, instead of getting their "entitled" life,(welfare, healthcare) that is paid for by people who have been here and worked all their lives and still struggle day to day.
  • u
    tomincali
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    doesn't work like that, a huge # of new legal immigrants got right on the dole,yet congress refuses to cut back on the million + a year. no longer do we only bring what is needed as it was supposed to be.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    Bunch of xenophobic nonesense. Most immigrants i have met are decent, hard working folks. They do jobs lazy americans would never do, harvesting crops, butchering, packing meat and poultry, washing dishes, etc. If it weren't food them the price you pay for food would at least double, maybe triple. Show some gratitude.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @Deb2me No, but if come across it I will. I saw you arguing constitution recently, you got a good grasp on it, unlike some that can not shut up about it, yet don't have a clue. Impressive. Keep up the good work.
  • TheJimmy
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    I work with a Pakistani gentleman who treats our female coworkers as if they are completely beneath him. They often complain about him to me but I always tell them to just respect his culture and to be more open and tolerant.
  • stepped_in_it
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    Opening yourself up to a nice sexual harassment there (even if he doesn't "sexual" harass). And if you're in charge, you will be involved!
  • PoliticalSpice
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    Your ripe for a lawsuit for creating a hostile work environment, unless they are literally beneath him, in which case I'd say your jealousy explains some of the right xeniphobia I've seen on here...
  • TheJimmy
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    @PoliticalSpice
    Jealousy? Xeniphobia? I'm not friends with this Pakistani gentleman but we talk everyday and get along just fine in our work environment. Sure, he's clearly a sexist but he's still cool with me regardless.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @TheJimmy perhaps i jumped to wrong conclusions, made incorrect assumptions due to your other right leaning comments. My bad. Seriously though, you are risking a sex discrim case due to hostile environment. This is not an "attack" or comment on you, just an objective legal reality. I suggest you take steps to address this...

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  • Zazziness
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    What "prevailing culture?" Is this one of those fundamentalist code phrases that really means: "Become a baptist or else, you godless heathen" because the only united culture I think this nation shares are the stories we see on TV and at the movies. And nowadays, I suppose Twitter.
  • o
    NO-BAMA
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    This is what they pass of as "news" while the unions are getting violent in Michigan. When will this liberal website post the violent OWS style protests that are going on there?
  • jhsrvs
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    our debt costs us 9.5 billon dollars a day in interest.the way we are going we are not going to be here in 50yrs.remember rome was the greatest empire ever and it fell and so can we.
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    Sonny
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    Doesn't matter whether or not we are here 50 years from now...Insisting that others "adopt" someone's "culture" is just plain silly & selfish...Why can't all of your "freedom-loving" Americans...allow other people to enjoy their own "freedoms" ---just like you do...
  • jhsrvs
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    @Sonny i am all with you as long as they come here legally. i know a couple that came from peru legally and its costing them by the time they are done,about $15000 for their citizenships. now u tell me it is fair to them that they have to pay and other illegals get to walk in for nothing and we still have to give them benefits they never earned.
  • DogLady_1
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    There is very little American culture that wasn't adopted from cultures of past immigrants... And even the "American" culture varies from region to region... should New Yorkers who move to Texas start wearing goat-roping gear and driving pick-ups in the city? Should Nebraskans learn how to surf if they move to California? Would Mississipians have to train themselves to talk like Minnesotans if they move there? Culture is what makes us unique... it is our identity as a people... having immigrants among us who do not adopt to our culture would not weaken our own culture, especially since some elements of it most likely came from their culture. In fact, it enhances and strengthens our culture...
  • mudpike
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    Immigrants who came here in the late 1800's & early 1900's were documented & were proud to become US citizens. They came here to work & slave for about 9 cents a day in the mills & the mines. They worked to help build a nation & become Americans.

    Today we have disease ridden illegals running across the border like thieves in the night. Women dropping anchor babies that become huge deficits to working tax-payers. They come here not to work to help , but to take advantage of the Socialist-Democrats free handouts. They refuse to acclimate into the American culture or even respect our flag. If they weren't leeches looking for freebies , why did they come here if they love Mexico ? We have freedoms - you don't like American ways , call me , I'll buy you a one way bus ticket home.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    Most folks from mexico are hard working people who take jobs lazy amerivans wouldn't want. Laboring in the fields to pick crops, butchering and packaging poultry and beef, washing dishes. The only reason you have money to buy anyone a ticket home
    is because you are paying one half to one third less for you food then would be if americans were doing those jobs. True, not 9 pennies a day, but still quiet a bargain.

    With a greeting and attitudes like yours why would they want to acclimate to s
    The hostile culture people like you have created toward immigrants, and why should they respect our flag?
  • DogLady_1
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    "Immigrants who came here in the late 1800's & early 1900's were documented" That's because immigrants from Mexico and Canada were not counted at all as immigrants during that era... And before the 20th century, no immigrant was documented because there were no immigration laws... after WWII, almost all Chinese immigrants were illegal.
  • mudpike
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    @PoliticalSpice Hogwash . These people have no right to mine or my children's social security. They've paid nothing into it , they deserve nothing. Look at the huge medical & criminal expense they impose on border states. Get Americans off of welfare & tell them they have to work to eat. It's pure Socialism, support leeches for doing nothing & import more illegal breeders & give them free benefits ! Why should the rest of us work ? Just give in to the Socialist- Gov't. entitlement agenda & now we have the Middle-Age Feudal mentality. The Elitists Lords (like obama) & the working peasants. Wake up , please .
  • u
    Middleman
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    @mudpike You are my hero!!! Could not have said it any better. My mothers family all came here from the old country and made something of themselves... They learned to read and write in English ... No one made special forms in their native language ... I would mandate English only for offical purposes and stop pandering to those who have little interest in coming here other than to get a free ride.... You do not like it here.... Run, walk, crawl or swim home... Your not welcome. If you come here legally work hard, contribute your fair share and are willing to merge and assimilate then I welcome you with open arms... We have a family friend who is from Taiwan ... She recently became a citizen and she is so very proud of the document that proclaims her a naturalized citizen.. She works hard and supports her children! She loves our country ( maybe more than some of those are born here and take it for granted)... On my dads side we go back pre revolutionary war... I have several relatives who faught in the war! and every one since!!! I love this country and it is a travesty to see what the far left/progressives has allowed to happen... Welcome to the Socialist states of America... But I digress!
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @mudpike You have no clue what socialism is, nor do you inderstand how social security works. Social security gives benefits on retirement based on the amount you paid into it, and that you paid into it for a certian period of time. So what you were saying is nonsense, as to your racist commentary calling others leeches, rasict

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  • PoliticalSpice
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    Immigrants add value to this nation. Value in the form of doing work lazy americans won't do. Value in terms of making our food affordable, value in terms of contributing wonderful restaurants with different ethnic foods that we otherwise would not experiance. One of the things I like best about an urban environment is the opportunity to enjoy ethic foods I don't know how, or don't want to be bothered preparing in my home. Frankly, I prefer illegal immigrants to a lot of the racist/xenophobic/right wing americans who I see posting on this site.
  • Mia
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    Immigrants who arrive here legally are welcomed. However they do need to learn the language and adapt.
  • UnCommonBoston
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    Everyone in this country should speak and read English. Do what you want in your community, seriously ethnic communities are one of our country's treasures. However, when you leave your neighborhood you need to be able to navigate. All our signage is in English. Those big message boards over the highway that warn you of problems ahead -- like fog -- are only in English.

    Press one for Spanish only helps one of our many immigrant communities. In New England we have large Portuguese populations. They don't have a choice since there is no "press 3 for Portuguese" so they speak English too. It does not make them less Portuguese.

    Bi-lingual in Boston is not Spanish/English. It can Chinese, Russian, Portuguese or other languages. I have friends in Rhode Island that speak French. We have deiversity, but we also have a common language.

    Speaking English does not make me less German. It does dramatically improve my ability to be self-sufficient.
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