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It is very funny, I've always thought of America as the melting pot and the part of our issue here in Canada with our identity stems from the fact that we are a mosaic (i.e. a nation made up of other cultures rather than a nation that imposes a culture upon an immigrant). I say it is funny because I didn't realize that this was much of an issue in the US.
That said, immigrants are the life blood of both of our nations. We have been experiencing declining birth rates and immigrants represent a process of stemming that tide. However, the benefit of the immigrant to our societies is really to be found in the second or third generations.
The children of immigrants are often hard-working, fluently English-speaking, money spending, county loving, tax paying citizens.
While I can sense the frustration of having to deal with immigrants that don't fit in, I see it as a small price to pay for the future.
As for the opinion expressed on Christianity... can't agree less. Following the Christian faith may have been important to the founders of the USA (and Canada) but it is clear that church and state have been seperated within our constitutions... keep religion out of it.
Finally the love of "uncle sam" and the "stars and stripes"... I've always seen patriotism as a double edged sword. One one hand it is a unifying principle (one of the aspects of the melting pot) on the other it can lead to a form of Nationalism that is quite odious.
With specific regards to the driver's license... I don't know enough about the circumstances to be able to judge one way or the other...
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
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