I was talking with a man on this forum earlier today about some disturbing things I have noticed in regards to immigration and American history. I wonder if you all might help me flush this idea out.

I like American history. I am intrigued and captivated by it. It is my passion. I believe "if we do not learn from our history we are destined to repeat it." I believe this saying is cliché' because it is true.

There was a big difference between our Founding Fathers in Williamsburg and in Boston. They were very different people from very different cultures. Colonial Virginia was founded by descendants of English Aristocrats for the purposes of exploiting natural resources and making a profit. Colonial Massachusetts was founded by religious dissenters fleeing oppression from the Church of England. They were very different people.

What did they have in common? The King of England and the English Aristocracy. Political and Religious Tyranny. Taxation without Representation. All of those things enumerated in the Declaration of Independence.

Did you know that Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, freed and armed black African slaves to fight against the rebels? The King's men used the threat of black African slaves to coerce our Founding Fathers into submission. Did you know that Cornwallis did the same thing before Yorktown? Between 350 and 500 black African slaves responded to his call and ran off from their homes to dig trenches and fortifications for British Redcoats. When the French blockaded the Port of Yorktown and Washington and Rochambeau surrounded him, Cornwallis cut 'em loose into the "no man's land" between the opposing forces. He used 'em and then threw 'em away.

Lincoln did a similar thing with black contraband in the South, but before that, the New England Immigrant Aid Society brought boatloads upon boatloads of new comers into the heartland of America. Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska were all populated by immigrants from Europe. Do any of you all ever wonder where all of them Yankee soldiers came from in the first place? Do any of you all ever wonder why the Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor and faces east towards Europe? She sure doesn't face west towards Asia or south towards Latin America. She sure doesn't face towards Africa.

This is very frustrating to me because I am able to trace my paternal ancestors back to the 1600's and Colonial Virginia. My people were Piedmont Virginians. Yeoman and Freeholders. Religious Dissenters. Baptists. They served in the Virginia Militia and helped form this Republic.

I ain't saying I'm any "better" of an American because of it, but I am proud of it.

I think they're doing it again. With Illegal Aliens and Third World Immigrants that are Comin' to America in droves. At the very same time that Europe is uniting under the European Union and they're talking about creating a North American Union..... At the very same time that they are exporting all of the high technology, manufacturing and production jobs out of the US and bringing low skilled uneducated guest workers into the country to do the jobs we the American People won't do for less than a living wage.....

Does this make any sense to you all?

I don't know. I'll be the first to admit it. But as my favorite ancestor and one of the Grandfathers of this Republic is quite noted for saying, "I smell a rat!"

I might be a Conspiracy Theorist Lunatic Nutjob, but that ain't up for debate.

My proposition is that I believe there are stark similarities between the African Slave Trade prior to the American Revolution, activities of entities like the New England Immigrant Aid Society prior to the American Civil War and what's going on now with regards to Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Question for Debate:

What similarities exist between the African Slave Trade prior to the American Revolution, activities of entities like the New England Immigrant Aid Society prior to the American Civil War and what's going on now with regards to Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

What similarities exist between the African Slave Trade prior to the American Revolution, activities of entities like the New England Immigrant Aid Society prior to the American Civil War and what's going on now with regards to Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

This question seems to be pounding a series of similar things (demographic trends) and wedge them together into something that doesn't seem to be there. That combined with a dangerous sounding opener. Just to get this straight... are you are you you not asserting that the United States has prospered mainly because of its European white immigration and that the slave trade has brought on a dangerous disloyal element to American society ready to erode, atttack, or damage "American" culture?

I sure hope that this isn't the case.

If it is, don't forget that the Southern breed of American democracy and liberty and equality was made only because a human underclass provided the labor and a second class status on which the egalitarian democratic society could rest. The more representative society of Virginia in the 18th century was partly consciously created after Bacon's rebellion so that indentures would stop getting released from their contract and pressing against the established social order for opportunity. To avoid the steady growth of a white underclass and permanent non-citizen population was imported and increasingly dehumanized.

Perhaps this is what Patrick Henry was referring to when he said the thing about the mouse? Oh, I know, it was the development of the present federal government. But he could as effectively have been questioning the nature of his society.