Theory posting

So here is the reality of this issue: America is made up of immigrants. The only people who are not immigrants to this land are the Native Americans and even they came over to America from across a land bridge back in time. So the assumption that illegal immigrants cannot become American is bull crap. I used to think that way. I thought that we should kick all of them out for breaking the law and entering our country illegally. But we as a nation have made it too hard to become a legal citizen in this day and age.
The first basic force behind this issue would have to be the election. Both candidates have laid claim to this issue but have really backed off of the proverbial gas pedal in the past couple of months. The main contributor to this back off has been the economic crisis. So the force behind this issue has become more personal to this country. Since neither candidate can really call upon their reasoning for backing this issue the people of this nation have really made this issue their own. This personal uptake can be most clearly seen in this article about a hospital deporting immigrants who need medical care. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/us/03deport.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
There are basically two sides to this polarized issue: there are the far right anti-immigrant leaders and then those who think immigration is a foundation of our country and should be accepted. Both sides are heated and are biting at each other in an attempt to gain ground on the issue. President Bush has put many installments in place to prevent more immigrants from entering the country and in contrast those who support immigration have hidden illegal in their houses and supported them. All of this squabbling is over nothing I say. Each side has their views but what both sides fail to realize is that they share a common goal. Both sides want to better the society of America and both want to see America grow. Their own unexamined assumptions about immigrants have led to this division of polarized sides.
The anti-immigrant leaders want to preserve America society and want to get rid of those who would change it but they fail to realize that immigrants make up our colorful society and could boost our economy by paying taxes and making new jobs. The pro-immigrants want to allow more immigrants in because they think that America has forever been built on immigrant influx but what they fail to realize is that illegal immigrants drain our federal resources and jobs and fail to pay back all of the taxes that would renew those resources. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/immigration_and_refugees/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=immigration%20&st=cse
So where is there middle ground where both sides can be satisfied? Is there even a middle ground to stand on? If this topic is not addressed and fixed what will happen to our society?
The funny thing is that this issue has been raving on for centuries. I stumbled upon a New York Times article from 1922 that still holds relevance to today and may even hold the solution to our problem.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F0DE0D71539EF3ABC4B52DFB1668389639EDE
“America is intended for Americans, and every foreigner coming to these shores expecting to earn his livelihood, and probably send funds regularly to the old country, should be made not only to register but to become naturalized and a part of this Government. If he is coming over to share in the privileges and benefits of this land of promise and fulfillment he should contribute his share of the upkeep of the Government, and if he is not willing to do that, then he should immediately be sent back to the country from whence he came.”