Former Gov. Lamm--America Should Continue To Be "Melting Pot"

Lamm calls for assimilative diversity and an end to "victimology" in dealing with immigration problems:

In a speech that has circulated widely on the Internet, Lamm argrees with Arnold Toynbee who observed "An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide."

In a recent interview, Lamm listed the ways he believes the United States has embarked on a path of self-destruction when it comes to immigration.

Number one, Lamm says we will destroy America if we allow it to become a bilingual country.

"History shows us that language is one of the great dividers. When our grandfathers and great-grandfathers came, the only way my grandfather could speak to your grandfather was to speak his common language. Now you can live in west Denver your entire life without ever learning English."

Lamm argues that a country that celebrates diversity rather than unity is on its way to destruction.

"I believe in diversity. I believe that we should become a Joseph's coat of many colors -- but we're one people. If you really want to see how diversity works go to Yugoslavia and see how it's working there."

Lamm maintains that our fastest growing demographic group is the least educated group -- and that will destroy America.

"We see these bright little Hispanic boys. Then they turn 12 years old and all of a sudden there are other cultural influences that make them want to become auto mechanics instead of going to college. We have to solve our drop-out problem."

Finally, Lamm says we will destroy America if we establish a cult of what he calls "victimology."

"If you call people victims even if they are victims it's not doing them any favors. I feel if you're going to solve America's problems you have to crawl out there in no man's land where everybody's firing at you. And that's where truth lies."

There is no doubt that Lamm's strong opinions may put him in the cross-hairs of his critics. But ultimately he argues that to save America, the country must continue to be what it started out to be -- a melting pot -- a place where different cultures, languages, religions continue to meld into one country.

Here are many elements of a good assimilation policy that welcomes legal immigrants into the fold of American culture, asking only for the acceptance of a common language. The opposition believes that common language should be Spanish, that any demand to assimilate is cultural oppression, racism or worse. And putting an end to "victimology", multiculturalism, and political correctness are hardly on the agenda of the open-borders crowd or in the interest of the millions of illegal immigrants here "to do jobs Americans won't do".