Am I wrong to question the loyalty of some members of the Islamic community in America, including Somalis and others, during our military response to Al Qaeda—what we call the War on Terror? I noticed that Islamic individuals made up a very small percentage of the military, far below their share of the population. It almost seemed as if they were avoiding military service, though I don’t know the reasons behind it. That made me wonder whether there might be divided loyalties, but this is only speculation on my part. I’m genuinely curious how others see it.
I also suspect that, like many immigrants, some people come to the United States not because they truly want to become Americans or embrace the American way of life, but because of economic opportunity. They come for a better material life, and sometimes that may be the only reason. If someone else offered them a better deal Like Russia or Iran, perhaps they would go with them. Maybe I’m just becoming cynical in my old age.
It’s harder now for immigrants to assimilate than it was in the early 19th century. Back then, going back home was a major operation—expensive and difficult. Today, almost anyone can afford a plane ticket, and home is only a few hours away. I think that makes assimilation more difficult. It’s easier to stay connected to one’s original culture and harder to fully adopt a new one.
I’ve always said you could tell when immigrants had truly become American: they would start giving their children Anglo‑Saxon or French first names.