A False Distinction
To the Editor:
Frank Cernosek’s letter draws a false distinction between settlers and immigrants, misrepresenting both history and language. The Oxford English Dictionary defines an immigrant as “a person who comes to live permanently in a different country from the one they were born in.” That includes the very settlers who arrived in North America from Europe to establish colonies. They were immigrants by definition.
The claim that immigrants merely “come here to eat the fruits” of an established country ignores centuries of labor and innovation. Immigrants built railroads, cities, and industries. Chinese immigrants comprised up to 90% of the workforce that constructed the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad, enduring brutal conditions to complete a national infrastructure project. Irish immigrants laid tracks across the Midwest and Northeast. Immigrant labor shaped cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, contributing to construction, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
Modern immigrants continue this legacy. According to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, “Immigrants played a leading role in building what has become the most prosperous nation in the history of the world”. Nearly 45% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children including Google, Tesla, and Levi Strauss. According to Congress (HHRG-118-JU0120240111-SD012), immigrants added $2 trillion to US GDP in 2016 and contributed over $450 billion in taxes in 2018.
Scripture may offer moral guidance, but it does not validate historical claims. Proverbs 29:2 is not a substitute for evidence. Nor do vague references to “political polls” support the assertion that current leadership is divinely endorsed. According to Nate Silver’s latest presidential approval polling average, The President sits at a 43.3% approval rating showing a downward trend and a 52.7% disapproval rating. Does that sound like people rejoicing?
America was, and remains, a nation built by immigrants. Settlers were immigrants. Today’s immigrants are builders, not beneficiaries. To deny this is to ignore the facts.
Eric Green La Grange