October 24, 1918, Neenah Daily Times
June 8, 1917, Menasha Record
A while back, I lamented that I hadn't kept us up to date with what Menasha was experiencing during our involvement in World War I as we commemorate 100 years since the war ended. I first touched upon this particular issue in 2013 after I had located an article about renaming Berlin Street as Paris Street in the midst of World War I. Evidently, anti-German sentiment had run high enough at the time, despite Menasha's extensive German heritage, to cause this change to be passed by the city council: https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/07/95-years-ago.html In that blog post, I detailed and showed the identity papers my grandfather had to carry around for the rest of the war, despite having gained his own American citizenship in 1906.
In researching the war year of 1918, I came across an evolution of the alien registration act, now requiring women to be registered, as evidenced by the first news article. Of course, one can argue that special times dictate special circumstances and we were at war. America took its xenophobia to a higher level when it imprisoned Japanese-Americans and their families during World War II. I'll get off my soapbox now, but I shudder when I see the anti-foreigner biases in this country today and the potential for that. History often repeats itself.
There is much less anti-foreigner bias in this country now than probably at any other time in our history. You would understand if you could spot the mainstream media talking points that are dictated to them. I bet way over 90% of the population is all for legal immigration. It's the globalist media that tries to paint a different picture. The truth is right there if you can sort out the lies and understand that people with a lot of money are trying to divide the people. The people aren't having it. That's why the globalists are so furious. People are waking up and their manipulation no longer works.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to say that I have been a loyal reader of this blog for years. Thank you for all of your efforts to preserve the history of this fine city, which is my hometown, and for all of the interesting items which you post. You have a great knack for bringing the past to life, both the mundane and the momentous.
I agree completely with your concern about the rise of xenophobia in our current political climate. The slanderous broadsides which have been leveled against the undocumented immigrants by some of our political leaders are very similar to the misinformation and prejudices which were leveled against the German Americans during World War I and the Japanese Americans during World War II. The recent family separations which occurred at our southern border is a sign that we may have entered an era where the huge mistakes of the past may be committed again, unless we speak up.
The presence of undocumented immigrants in the United States is the result of many complex trends, including grinding poverty, oppression and fear in their home countries, and the need of agricultural and other employers in the United States for cheap labor to perform difficult work. The solutions are no less complex, and will need to take into account every aspect of the problem.
We are also re-learning that tariffs hurt American companies and consumers as much, if not more, than foreign companies and consumers. If the Chinese or European economies fall into a recession, it will be that much more difficult for the American economy to thrive. In a world of the internet, mass communication, easy worldwide travel, and international corporations, economic and political engagement with the rest of the world is an economic and political necessity. What we learned in the 1930s is much more true today.
Thank you for all of your great work, David. History gives us a sense of perspective. However, it is also interesting and entertaining in its own right. You do us all an invaluable service in your efforts to preserve, and to bring to life, Menasha's history. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
Tom Rohe