It appears to be acceptable, and even expected that immigrants to the United States will maintain fast adherence to the culture of their country of origin. Enclaves of immigrants form an attractive atmosphere for newly- arrived individuals. The new people continue to dress as they did back home. They have access to the same foods as they ate before their arrival. The only things that change for them are the weather and the absence of draconian measures of State and police.

What the United States creates by the lowered expectation of assimilation is a condition that is an anathema to the “melting pot” that we had in imperfect form since the early days of the Union. The growth of the Spanish language as a second (in some cases the primary) language portended what has transpired since.

Immigrants who remain (dare I say, shackled) trapped in their own ghetto are encapsulated in that community with the predictable commercial limitations for financial, social and political growth. Limited markets, focus on micro businesses, lower participation in corporate employment are by products of the isolation of the life in many ethnic communities. Acceptable social behavior may include a kind of ethnic version of “glass ceiling” on individual aspirations. People who have access to mainstream only through their television (in a language with which they are not fluent), or dependence on a native language newspaper or ex- USA- based satellite channel have only a limited view of what may be possible for them individually or for their family. Is it any wonder that immigrants who have not been required to learn the rudiments of our language, our history or our laws and traditions are able to maintain a hatred for this country and its citizens?

This is not a trivial matter for the average U.S. citizen. Not only are we deprived of the intelligence and the diversity that these people possess, but we are forced to pay for their upkeep in many ways. Police and fire protection are provided in a more expensive way than for the rest of the population. Dual language professionals must attend to these people. There continues to be an expectation that schooling will be provided in the native language. Some ethnic enclaves have above average rates of crime

Single culture communities also offer anonymity to those with motives beyond seeking a new and better life than they had before. Immigrant enclaves, protected by the current P.C. mentality of the more liberal-leaning in the general population, are an attractive hiding place for those who would do us in. The enclaves are often little-scrutinized by law enforcement. Police are inhibited by spoken and unspoken prohibitions as racial or ethnic profiling, a practice looked upon as vicious and unfair rather than being similar to the proverbial “fishing in a stocked pond.”

To a thinking person, the ethnic enclaves seem a ready-made safe-house for an individual terrorist. It would also permit locating several of these enemies in each of many, linked and geographically dispersed ethnic communities. How unreasonable is that?

With our borders as open as they are, a patient adversary would not be thwarted by threat of capture at any location along our coast or border. With the number of people who are available to do harm to U.S. interest, attrition of a few foot soldiers at border crossings would be small price to pay for the installation of a network of evil-doers, safely housed in suburbs of major cities and coordinated by people taking residence in a remote area of our country. Even a single arrest on suspicion of an evil plan would not disrupt the larger scheme.

In a market where supply is inadequate for current demand, the wise merchant would begin raising prices. There is an insatiable demand for the opportunity to come and live in America. The price that needs to be demanded is one that may be represented by a phrase, “Show us why we should be pleased that you want to come here to stay.”