Speech #980157044

Mr. President. I am introducing legislation today to designate the week preceding October 28. 1984 as "National Immigration Week." October 28 is the anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. which has stood in New York harbor since 1886 as a greeting to the .millions of immigrants who have entered our country through the Port of New York. It is commonplace to say that this is a nation built by immigrants. But it is nonetheless correct. It is true. too. that the heritage of immigration remains with usdetermines. in fact. much of the character of our policy. In 1963. in "Beyond the Melting Pot." a book I coauthored with my distinguished colleague. Nathan Glazer. we stated a thesis that I believe still to be valid: It is true that immigrants to this country were rapidly transformed. in comparison with immigrants to other countries. that they lost their language and altered their culture. It was reasonable to believe that a new American type would emerge. a new nationality in which it would be a matter of indifference whether a man was of AngloSaxon or German or Italian or Jewish origin. and in which indeed ... it would be impossible to make such distinctions. This may still be the most likely result in the long run .... Yet it is also true that it is forty years since the end of mass immigration. and new processes. scarcely visible when our chief concern was with the great masses of immigrants and the problems of their "Americanization." now merge to surprise us. The initial notion of an American melting pot did not. it seems. quite grasp what would happen in America.... As the groups were transformed by influences in American society. stripped of their original attributes. they were recreated as something new. but still as identifiable groups. Concretely. persons think of themselves as members of that group. with that name. they are thought of by others as members of that group. with that name. and most significantly. they are linked to other members of the group by new attributes that the original immigrants would never have recognized as identifying their group. but which nevertheless serve to mark them off. by more than simply name and association. in the third generation and even beyond. In other words. immigration is not simply another historical event in Americas past. It is a fact that influences our behavior as individuals and as a nation still. The Statue of Liberty and its neighbor in New York harbor. the Ellis Island Immigration Station. are the tangible symbols of immigration to America. Both symbols are in urgent need of rehabilitation. I might add. A Presidentiallyappointed commission is attempting to raise private funds to complete their renovation by the date of the Statues centennial in 1986. It is the purpose of my legislation to set aside the week preceding October 28. 1984. in which we would especially contemplate the unique development of this Nation through immigration 1nd celebrate the freedom and opportunity which attractedso many millions of talented. courageous. and enterprising souls to our shores. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the legislation be printed in the RECORD following my remarks. and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.