The original caption from the photo (above), dated August 13, 1925 reads:
“Above is a striking photo showing a little immigrant family on the dock at Ellis Island, N.Y., just having passed the rigid examination for entry into the “land of promise” looking hopefully at New York’s skyline while awaiting the government ferry to carry them on to the land of the free.”
If Donald Trump were doing the captioning, it would probably read:
“Disgusting people arriving from shithole countries here to take American jobs.”
I wasn’t offended by President Trump’s depiction of countries as “shitholes.”
It’s part and parcel of his own personal feelings about “undesirables” and his belief that he is better than others. And to be honest, people like Donald Trump have been part of the American psyche for centuries.
In the early 1900s, they may not have been called “shitholes”. Rats and rodents were used more often, especially in the early 1900s. Eventually as immigration waves changed and war and famine spread elsewhere, the name-calling did too.
The vast majority of us are here today because our parents, grandparents and great grandparents — whether we are Greek or German, Syrian or Slovenian, Italian or Iranian — left because at that time, their countries were, well, shitholes.
Ireland was once a shithole country. The great potato famine forced millions to flee to America and the country was imploding and couldn’t feed its own people.
China too, in the late 1800s. What a shithole that place was after the Opium Wars and that country’s own Civil War that left millions dead or starving.
And poor Italy. Today, Americans of Italian ancestry are the fifth largest ethnic group in the U.S. — because in the late 1800s, Italy was a shithole. People were starving, especially in the south.
And in the 1970s, what a shithole Slovenia was, in the grips of the totalitarian communism of the Soviet Union, so much so that a young woman named Melanija Knavs did all she could to get out. Things were so bad she even violated immigration laws in the U.S. because she was so determined to leave her shithole of a country.
The Greeks have an interesting history too — waves of Greek immigrants arrived not from only one shithole (Greece) but also another shithole — the Ottoman Empire, which itself was a mess of war, genocide and poverty.
The vast majority of today’s prominent, successful and educated Greek Americans are descendants of immigrants who landed here because of famine in the Peloponnese in the late 1890s and early 1900s, or were war refugees who were left homeless after fleeing a genocidal campaign against them by Ataturk in Turkey.
The second wave of immigrants — including my father — came here after World War II. What a shithole Greece was then — thanks to the Nazi Germans and their devastating occupation.
So no. I wasn’t offended that Donald Trump used the word “shithole” when he questioned why we should accept people from certain countries.
America’s history, for anyone who has studied it, has been filled with vile, vicious and racist attacks against immigrants and the places they came from. This is nothing new.
Donald Trump is merely echoing the nativist Americans who have, throughout history referred to people as gooks, degos, wops, monkeys, greasy Greeks and chinks.
And their nations were referred to as jungles, cesspools of filth, disease zones and mud-puddles. In 2018 the new term amongst this un-American gang is “shitholes.”
What has offended me much more is that we have a President sitting in the Oval Office who was born and raised in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island who doesn’t understand, realize or acknowledge the history of this country and the fact that it was built on the backs of immigrants from shithole countries.
The very essence of America is that it was ALWAYS welcomed people from shithole countries.
In fact, that is the beauty of America and its very soul.
And the fact that this is lost upon the man representing me in the White House — well, this offends me more than his use of the word “shithole.”
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26 comments
Great article. Just one correction. Slovenia was not subject to Soviet totalitarianism in 1970. Tito removed Yugoslavia from Soviet influence many years prior.
Immigrants years ago came here legally. President Trump is talking about illegal migration!!! Simple as that.
Dear Mrs Joanne …….I am so sorry but there is not legal or illegal Immigration or Immigrant. Can’t be judged legal or illegal humans when are forced to leave their homes land and Family…….That is just a cosy chewingum in the lips of ignorants and Manipulators I think. Law Comes in, only for the matter of helping and handling immigrants. There is already international law (UN) for how every Country should handle and facilitate immigrants.
Illegal are not the immigrants, but the Goverments who dont even allow you to think that all These People are on your doorstep now due to their policies of corruption and unnecessary wars all over the globe. Sorry but i cant make it more simple
Life may have been hard in the countries you mention but to describe them in that way is stupid and crass, like Donald Trump.
Exactly my point, Ron! To show the world how stupid and crass our President’s comments were. The descriptive repetition was intentional. I’m glad you got it.
Gregory,
It is obvious you are not familiar of past or current events as to what is taking place in the world today, and most specifically, in our beloved country. This is because the first thing you did in your comments was to blame our President based on what the fake news fed you / reported. This President, for your information, has created almost seven (7) TRILLIONS wealth in this country just in his first year alone and you have not seen anything as yet. You are terribly overlooking his successes, but bothers you his language.
I am a naturalized US citizen of Greek origin. Like many other immigrants that came in this country, and still coming in the tune of more that 1,000,000 people / year from all over the world LEGALLY, I was one of them. I worked very hard having frequently two jobs at a time, earned a university degree, and worked through US companies in three different continents as well as domestically.
All along, I paid my taxes helping this nation to overcome its obstacles been set by dubious people simply called the SWAMP.
I am sure you are aware that Greece, along with other EU countries are bankrupt. They still have not learned that there is no FREE TICKET IN LIFE.
Also, you ought to know that the last president piled up more than eight (8) TRILLION dollars to the debt of our country which was more than all previous presidents debt combined in the history of our nation. Part of this dept was illegal immigration. We all know the reasons why. Additionally, he managed to create a terrible unemployment with our black community suffering a great deal, the Latino community, young people finishing schools not been able to find work including sending thousands of our industrial factories overseas. If you expressed your outrage for all this I just missed it.
Next to your point:
The world is currently upside down not because of what our current president is doing or because of his language (if this is what the president said), but of all four or five residents before him. We CAN NOT effort any more getting millions upon millions ILLEGALS in addition to what we LEGALLY are getting every single year. No more chain migration, no more lotteries, no more not anything. Spent a little time in the internet instead to find out how many BILLIONS of dollars cost our country to feed, educate, provide free health care, and so on to these illegals. These billions of dollars should be going to our people, not to illegals. Then figure what taxes will you pay, your family, and your children, and grand children now and in the years to come.
Finally, and before you are so quick to judge our president’s language, tell your followers something about all the CORRUPTION that has taken place in our country during the last eight (8) years. Stay tune for jail sentences of all these corrupt people in our government.
And this is not be because of what the president said to the millions of illigals that can ignore our laws and our sovereignty.
Compare the good USA, AND YES THE COUNTRY OF FREE AND THE COUNTRY OF BRAVE, with Mexico, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and many others, and DARE TO CROSS THEIR BORDERS ILLIGALLY.
Gregory, I support our President none is Perfect but he is trying further more I voted for Regan,Bush senior and Junior and voted for Obama and always told people give him a chance and dont bagger him and for the second term I was luke warm about Obama and by the end of his second term I could not wait for him to leave Isis took hold thanks to Obama withdrawing the troops, You can have your Doctor and primiums would be lower another lie, Benghazy where several people were killed but could have been saved the seige took several hours, Obama and Hillary Clinton are responsible, Siria the red line proved Obama was also a coward and then the Russians moved in. Obama will go down in History along with Jimmy Carter as the worst Presidents. I also came at age 14 to go school and later a Military Academy and applied for Residency legally and waited untill I was called in and got the Residency granted and then became a U.S Citizen. I do not agree with what is going on at the border for years Millions of Illegal Imigrants have entered illegally thrugh the border.Donald Trump is the only one that is actully doing something about it. Promises Made Promises Kept. also too many Illegals committing violent crimes. buid That wall.
Shame on you. We are children of immigrants or have immigrated in the last few decades. Many people have Ben considered undesirable. Seems that Natives who had the land stolen have complained about the criminals who massacred them and took what they wanted. They were not welcomed with open arms, they were invaders. Interesting how many people have become so smug because of luck. You were raised poorly.
I don’t get it, Gregory. Your repetitive comments were vulgar. Let’s not look down on other countries. We need to remember that the United States of America has served as a beacon of aid and encouragement to those who were born in unfortunate circumstances. My father was one of those who arrived here in a shipping crate. Illegally. No papers. No money.
No as for some of your respondents, no one has the right to criticize those in whose shoes they have not walked. The Critisizer-in-Chief has done enough of that.
ne has the right to criticize what they have not experienced.
Electra, I believe you missed the gist of my piece. Happy New Year!
You should withdraw this article because your characterization of “shithole” countries has no correlation to the US President’s statement; he meant something completely different than your use of the word. You mean “fucked over by others”, but he means “intrinsically worthless”. REMOVE THIS ARTICLE – it is plain wrong.
Why can’t we focus on solving the actual problem. Most of our ancestors had enough sense to follow the proper procedure for getting a visa and then worked hard once they got here. The truth be told. They didn’t just flood in, ask for public assistance, let everyone else pay the taxes and cause crime and disrespect the country. Look at what is going on in Greece right now. It is already turning into something other than the Greece we were always proud of. Of course we want to help them but in a way that has order.
Sure, we have always welcomed immigrants from economically and socially compromised nations. But the question is do we want MORE or have we welcomed enough and should we welcome a few more from wealthier more socially and culturally advanced nations. When is enough enough or is our generosity as a nation limitless and our self-interest never appropriate? Liberals, it seems to me, rarely take into account what has already been done and always want more.
I seem to remember reading that his grandparents left a shithole country and migrated to America, oh I forgot – they were white!!! So according to tRump that’s ok.
Your article is bang on, and the responses show that many who view your article have so assimilated that they have forgotten their very humble roots to America, and the fact they were considered “ worthless, dirty, and disease ridden” – but seem to offer no empathy. Many of these shit hole countries are that way because of French and English colonial rule that used up and abused all the natural resources of the land, such as Haiti and Africa, and left the natives, ignorant and desolate.
Trump is shit immigrated from a shithole too. His money and power comes from a clan that killed and exploited people. He is the definition of offense. He missed his chance to atone years of shit.
The president was referring to the country not the people. The country’s are the worst with corrupt governments. Let me just say when our grandparents came to this country they came the legal way not jumping fences. These hard working Greeks took jobs and were not looking for handouts, they made something of themselves and worked hard so that there children would have better lives. You can say what you want about Daca but there parents did not come here legally, women come here pregnant to have their children here so they can stay. They get free medical care, welfare, housing, schooling and whatever else they can get for free. Then that’s not enough they have to bring more family members , this is part of the reason our country is in debt. When is enough enough?
The truth is, the US was not friendly to new immigrants. I would post some anti immigrant cartoons from the beginning of the 20th century, but I couldn’t do it. But, they are easy to find if you search anti immigrant newspaper cartoons. You will see the statue of Liberty lifting her skirts to avoid the contamination of immigrants; children on a beach being protected from Catholics (in the form of alligators/ swimming bishops with miters) many more. Alaskans put Asians to sea in small rowboats.
I understand that people didn’t like the word he used, but when people refer to that same area as a “third world country” it’s saying the exact same thing. He didn’t say anything about the people from there, he was referring to their corrupt governments (easily referenced and widely known to be true), their lack of infrastructure (also widely known) and the overall poor living conditions. You can’t have it both ways though. Either you agree with him that the areas are in terrible shape and people NEED to come here to seek asylum or it’s not as bad as everyone thinks it is and they don’t need to be granted special immigration status/priveledges. Look at what is happening in Greece right now. The people in the country aren’t to blame, but the government has sold them out and in turn they are bankrupt and falling apart. You can hate what he called those places, but the truth often hurts. He shouldn’t have used the term, he is after all the president and should have a little more decorum. But he also didn’t say that during a speech. It was said in a closed meeting in which someone had to run to the press like a child. I wonder what other things have been said behind closed doors that would make us all cringe a little. If you think he’s the first or last to utter words like that behind closed doors then I have a real nice bridge to sell you. Real cheap too.
You are 100% correct.
Those Greek American you are speaking of came here legally and worked !!! They did not demand to be allowed to enter nor did they ask for handouts… Do not subvert the reality of today’s Marxist and communist movement by academia to suit your purpose. I am one of those Legal Greeks and so in my husbands family. We helped build America We helped fight the KKK (AHEPA)… we do not burn flags nor do we disparage the armed forces that keep us safe…. We volunteered to fight both of the great wars in order for your generation to have the freedom to disparage others today and not to be speaking Japanese or German.
Many were LATHREI – illegal immigrants who took jobs from those born in the US. Interesting how so many of you on these posts are so ignorant of historical context. Many thought Ellines were filth. Look what happened to the community in Iowa. The stupidity is overwhelming.
20 years ago I thought about emigrating to America. I visited several times and met many “American Greeks”. This was only to appease my American wife, while we lived in the much more civilised European Union.
It was many of those faux American Greeks and many pro-Trump crazies on here, like “John” that turned me completely off from the idea.
America isn’t the promised land that so many extoll it to be. Anyone who has migrated to America since 2000 has found nothing but scorched earth, culturally. Pretend-Greeks, most of whom seems to be throwbacks from the junta of the 60s still unable to get over their far right ideologies. They only seem to remember they’re Greek at Orthodox Easter, where they poorly imitate what they think it is to be Greek – like feral children raised in the wild, who forgot how to speak, act and be civilised.
Not really Greeks. Just Americans with shithole ancestry.
I would contend that it is America, with its shithole infrastructure, shithole manners and oh dear God that awful shithole food that is the true shithole.
Liz Sclavos is mistaken, many Greeks jumped ship and landed in New York. Boston, New Orleans etc.
Numerous traveled west to Chicago, the Rockie Mountains and West Coast.
What is Petros smoking???
Wrong on so many levels.
1) There were no sanctuary cities/ sanctuary laws back in the day
2) People weren’t coming here to get welfare and free medical. All they wanted was to work and live in peace.
3) People came in legally and had to be healthy.
Trump is fighting against the type of immigramation we deal with today…. illegalls, illegals that are in gangs, cartels, and human trafficking, people who do not want to work so much as receive the benefits and free medical care, or go to college for free or much cheaper. People who do not plan to assimilate and learn to read and write English. Complete opposite of the immigration you have spoken about Sir. I come from a Mother who immigrated from Greece and 2 great grandparents that immigrated from Norway…plus other relatives. Not one of those immigrants were illegal or received any type of freebies. They worked hard so their children could be better off than they were. Totally different than today.
Well Put Linda…you re 200% right on!
Paul F