# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 361
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7591 "2026-07-10T03:37:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > America was once welcoming to immigrants. You might want to talk to the Italians and Irish about that. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7592 "2026-07-10T11:23:44Z")
Italians and Irish faced discrimination from bigoted nativists, but unlike Chinese at one point, they weren’t excluded from immigration and arrived in large numbers in the 19th and early 20th century. Italians formed entire ethnic communities like Little Italy in NYC, and the Irish at one point in the 1850s accounted for nearly half of all immigrants to the US. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7593 "2026-07-10T13:47:51Z")
Thing is: We were all immigrants. Unless you are from a indigenous tribe you come from an immigrant. (I’m not sure about _You_, you might’ve been dropped here by Martians 😁 ). Heck, we didn’t welcome ourselves. Or something like that. 🫣 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7594 "2026-07-10T14:22:24Z")
The general immigration rule is _long_ said to always pull the ladder up behind you. Heck it was Hamilton the “bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by Providence, impoverished, in squalor” who argued strongly against native born Jefferson’s more open immigration positions. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7595 "2026-07-10T14:51:05Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Italians and Irish faced discrimination from bigoted nativists, but unlike Chinese at one point, they weren’t excluded from immigration and arrived in large numbers in the 19th and early 20th century. And [as a result](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Italian_sentiment): > In reaction to the large-scale immigration from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe, the [United States Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress "United States Congress") passed legislation ([Emergency Quota Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Quota_Act "Emergency Quota Act") of 1921 and [Immigration Act of 1924](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Act_of_1924 "Immigration Act of 1924")) severely restricting immigration from those regions, but putting comparatively fewer restrictions on immigration from Northern European countries. That doesn’t sound all that welcoming to me. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7596 "2026-07-10T14:53:10Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The general immigration rule is _long_ said to always pull the ladder up behind you. And yet some people were shocked that Trump got so much of the Latino vote. When he said “they don’t send their best” they knew he couldn’t possibly be talking about _them._ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7597 "2026-07-10T15:44:08Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > > In reaction to the large-scale immigration from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe, the [United States Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress "United States Congress") passed legislation ([Emergency Quota Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Quota_Act "Emergency Quota Act") of 1921 and [Immigration Act of 1924](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Act_of_1924 "Immigration Act of 1924")) severely restricting immigration from those regions, but putting comparatively fewer restrictions on immigration from Northern European countries. > > That doesn’t sound all that welcoming to me. I was specifically addressing your comment about the Italians and Irish. The US has unfortunately often discriminated against those wishing to immigrate from certain regions and those of certain ethnicities, but the concept of being “welcoming” is always relative. During the 19th and early 20th century the US had effectively open borders for many millions of immigrants, as reflected in the famous inscription on the Statue of Liberty by American poet Emma Lazarus. Today Trumpist America is regressing to the unenlightened period of post-immigration backlash, except even worse, because immigrants are being hunted by federal agents for deportation. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7598 "2026-07-10T16:07:50Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > During the 19th and early 20th century the US had effectively open borders for many millions of immigrants Which does not mean – at all – that immigrants were welcome. Seriously, there’s _always_ been objections to “different” people coming in. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7599 "2026-07-10T16:25:57Z")
There seems to be some pushback against my use of the word “welcoming”, despite the fact that the Statue of Liberty stands as an icon of precisely that sentiment. At least in theory, and we know that theory often differs from practice. The welcoming sentiment is certainly far from true in Trumpist America. So let me phrase it differently. During the 19th and early 20th century, millions of immigrants were admitted to the US who would not be admitted today. Many Americans in fact are probably unaware of how difficult – in fact, next to impossible – it is for the average foreign person to immigrate to the US today as a legal resident and with a path to citizenship, without some specific extenuating circumstance. It’s often at the behest of an employer anxious to acquire a scarce and valuable skill, or someone who’s achieved fame in science, entertainment, or in some other field, and sometimes – at least in more enlightened times – a limited number of refugee applicants. But for the ordinary Joe, in most cases, fuggetaboutit. Canada is a little better, but only a little. Would-be immigrants are assessed on a points system, and may be admitted if their score is high enough. Canada is also generally more liberal about admitting refugees, in some cases (like the Syrian refugees recently) admitting not only far more per capita than the US, but actually more in absolute numbers. But still, the restrictions are generally pretty tight. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7600 "2026-07-10T16:28:10Z")
There’s a difference between welcoming immigrants as a matter of policy, and actually acting in a welcoming manner towards them. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7601 "2026-07-10T16:33:57Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Unless you are from a indigenous tribe you come from an immigrant. If you _did_ come from an indigenous tribe you came from an immigrant. Humans are indigenous to Africa. Everywhere else they are immigrants. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7602 "2026-07-10T16:36:22Z")
Quit being a fucking dick ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7603 "2026-07-10T16:43:09Z")
I’m stating facts. “Native Americans” are descendants of Asian immigrants from some point more than 12,000 years ago. I’m a descendant of European immigrants from more than 200 years ago. Do you have a specific cutoff point for the number of generations that makes someone “native” to the land that their ancestors immigrated to? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7604 "2026-07-10T16:58:11Z")
Stating facts does not rule out being a fucking dick. Everyone knows where Native Americans originally came from, and you know very well what the conversation is about. You’re not adding to the discussion, you’re being a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7605 "2026-07-10T17:14:27Z")
I knew there was a Martian immigrant.😄 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7606 "2026-07-10T17:15:50Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m shocked to hear that! OK, I lol’d. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7607 "2026-07-10T18:03:32Z")
Meh. More pedantry than prickishness. It sort of raises the question - how long does it take for a sub population to no longer be the immigrant group, to not be alien (let alone “invasive”)? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7608 "2026-07-10T18:11:04Z")
It’s an interesting question in a different thread. Here, it was just trolling. But this entire conversation about immigration is kind of dumb, so I guess it’s somewhat fitting. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7609 "2026-07-10T18:33:53Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I’m stating facts. “Native Americans” are descendants of Asian immigrants from some point more than 12,000 years ago. I’m a descendant of European immigrants from more than 200 years ago. Do you have a specific cutoff point for the number of generations that makes someone “native” to the land that their ancestors immigrated to? Nah, go fuck yourself, troll. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/7610 "2026-07-10T18:37:43Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Nah, go fuck yourself, troll. You are having a very odd over-reaction to a minor point I made (and stand by). “Trolling” is making a post attempting to get a strong reaction, but I’m actually baffled by your fury over a simple observation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=360) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=362)