NiftyNiblick
1960s Chick Magnet
My father, who was first generation right-off-the-boat, always told me that new immigrants were the backbone of America, and typically the most patriotic citizens. Because they could appreciate America in a way native born citizens couldn't.
To him there was absolutely no conflict between being aware and pround of your ancestry, and being a rock solid American citizen.
Off the boat isn't first generation. First generation is first generation born here. Just a minor point.
People expatriate from worse conditions to come here. So here looks good for now.
People from much better conditions--which is most of post WWII Western Europe--wouldn't like it here unless they were very wealthy.
America is a fairly decent place for the top 1/100th of one percent, but the rest of us are just extras from central casting. We're socially regressive, plain and simple.
