I'm a firm believer in assimilating to whatever culture or country in which you take up residence. However, sometimes I cross paths with people whose hardcore solutions to this problem simply boggle the mind.

For instance, a few days ago I read a post on a message board that defied logic, not to mention displayed a complete lack of of an understanding of US history. This idiot basically suggested that anyone caught speaking a language other than English in the US should be immediately deported, unless they are visitors. Yikes! I pointed out to this genetic wonder that we weren't exactly the first inhabitants of this continent, and we didn't do such a wonderful job of assimilating to the existing culture, ourselves. That only inspired him to take his stupidity up another notch.

He is now blabbering on about how the Indians only had themselves to blame for their plight. The ones that did try to "assimilate" into white culture were well received and given help. Double yikes! Talk about the epitome of arrogance and ignorance. I pointed out to him that he was in dire need of some serious education on this topic. The Cherokee nation tried to "assimilate" to white ways, but in the end, they were still perceived as "savages." The Indian Removal Act of 1830 saw to it that they were rounded up, and forced to embark on a death march from the east, to Indian territory in the west. Yep, we treated them marvelously for their efforts to "assimilate."

How arrogant is it to suggest that they had to give up their culture and ways, anyway? When you stand on a soapbox and cry for the deportation of all immigrants who don't speak our language, and try to hold onto their own culture as much as possible, it's stand as a monument to your hypocrisy.

Someone else also pointed out to this incredible cretin that that a great number of the people who died defending the Alamo were of Latino decent, who were fighting for their independence right along Colonel Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett.

Too many Americans have a very poor understanding of history, unfortunately. Scratch "Americans", make that US citizens. You see, I'm guilty of a little arrogance myself, at time. The US is not the only country on the North American continent, after all.