Wilfrid Laurier's Supposed Ideas on Immigrants and Becoming a Canadian in 1907.

The above picture of “Wilfred Laurier"???, a former Prime Minister of Canada and member of the Liberal Party of Canada”, is currently making the rounds on the internet accompanied by HIS famous passage.

[Wilfrid Laurier's supposed ideas on immigrants and becoming a Canadian in 1907. "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes a Canadian and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet a Canadian, and nothing but an Canadian... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is a Canadian, but something else also, isn't a Canadian at all. We have room for but one flag, the Canadian flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is a loyalty to the Canadian people."

The first red flag: "We have room for but one flag." Canadians didn't have a flag of their own in 1907. It wasn't until Feb. 15, 1965, that a (new) Canadian flag was inaugurated under then Governor-General, Georges Vanier, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, cabinet members, and thousands of Canadian onlookers. Up until then The Canadian Red Ensign with Union Jack and Royal Arms of Canada represented us.

The second red flag: The remark about having only one language; this would have excluded Canada's French; and (supposed)Aboriginal, First Nation, Indiginous, Native Peoples. It's not wise to attribute words to others (even if they're dead) without careful investigation.

Both quotes appeared authentic; yet the original words were discovered in correspondence of former President Teddy Roosevelt, then passed on to the American Defence Society. Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States and youngest (42) to ever occupy the Oval Office when then president William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt being McKinley's vice-president.

The text of Roosevelt’s' speech is somewhat different from that attributed to Laurier in 1907, but basically the same. It was read publicly on Jan. 5, 1919. Roosevelt died the next day although I doubt it had anything to do with things like, "Gettin' out of Dodge before the fat hits the fire." I bet that speech, if made today, sure would hit the fire. We've so much to offer the immigrants who come to Canada. Years ago my ancestors also arrived here from elsewhere, seeking a better life. Most accepted what was offered and contributed what they could in return. It worked, and Canada today is a mosaic of peoples, all different and yet the same. But time changes everything…]

 Take a very, very, close look at the picture; reread his famous passage; then continue reading.

Teddy Roosevelt's Immigration Speech, Still Holds True Today.

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The words, of course are not; were not;  could not have been from Canadian politician, Wilfrid Laurier, circa 1907, as intimated but according to research, Theodore Roosevelt in 1917. It's about what was expected of new immigrants in the United States (back then); however, regardless to whom it's credited, most observations seem apropos today.

This text is attributed to Roosevelt:

"We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does so in good faith, become an American, and assimilates himself to us. He should then be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language (this was of course deleted from the supposed Canadian work), for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."

For a fleeting moment I thought I'd written that speech myself. And even if I didn't I might have, agreeing with much of the content. But,most new Canadians, new and old, in their citizenship, do blend together in our communes, socialist communities. Yet, I'm increasingly fed up with the expectations and demands of some SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS; expecting all of us to comply, as in replacement; of timeworn traditions, under the guise of their rights. Hey, this our country, too?