[Magdalen] Immigration and Naturalization Laws 1965 - 1966 USA.

[Scott Knitter]

Very well said, David! Embracing a multicultural society for real will mean
being open to changing some values, and that's very difficult for many (I
feel like it wouldn't be difficult for me, but I'm sure that's giving
myself too much credit!). I grew up in a basically all-white suburb, and
part of my decision to go to Michigan State University was to experience a
much more diverse atmosphere. I think it's time I had that sort of learning
experience again; this time, seeking out people and their stories and
understanding their struggles. I hope we're having or will soon have a
national learn-in about systemic racism and how we might eradicate it.

On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 2:51 PM cantor03--- via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

>
>
> It seems to me that these very important changes  in the laws in 1965 and
> 1966have had enormous impact on the USA, and they were quietly signed with
> theirshift away from emphasis on European immigrants with a liberalization
> ofimmigration from Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The laws got little
> generaldiscussion and were not thoroughly vetted.  Some of the reading I've
> done onthis subject implies that those who put the laws and regulations
> together
> didn't themselves fully understanding what they were doing.
>
> This has had the effect of an earthquake on the makeup of this USA, and
> itstrikes me that these changes  were not well vetted, and though some
> ofthe USA, is in agreement with the changes (including myself), a great
> dealof the USA, especially those in the hinterlands simply have never fully
> understoodwhat these laws accomplished and think of the USA in terms of how
> it was pre-1965-1966.
>
> If anyone had asked me what I thought the "purpose" of the USA was in,
> say,1964, I would have said we were an extension of European (includes
> UK)culture in the New World.  I certainly wouldn't say that now, but I
> suspect themajority of, for instance, Midwesterners, would answer what I
> would havesaid in 1964. So we have those USA citizens who still think it is
> 1964 andothers who have, for better or worse, moved on and embraced the
> changes.This dichotomy has some relationship to what is currently going on
> streets ofUSA cities.
>
> It takes a little getting used to, this polyglot nation we have built.  Am
> I completelyoff base with these thoughts?
>
> David S.
>


-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA