First of all, we haven't always welcomed immigrants.

Well, I think the United States first of all has to recognize the world for what it is.

Immigrants are people who leave one country, one society, and move to another society. But there has to be a recipient society to which the immigrants move.

It was this society and culture that among other things - including economic opportunities here and repression in Europe - attracted subsequent generations of immigrants to this country.

The other aspect of American identity worth focusing on is the concept of America as a nation of immigrants. That certainly is a partial truth. But it is often assumed to be the total truth.

Finally, in my critique of the immigration image of America, it is also important to know that we're not only a nation of immigrants, but we are in some part a nation of emigrants, which often gets neglected.