Becoming American is less a function of birth or blood and more a function of embracing a set of ideas.

Dinesh D'Souza in

"What's So Great About America?"

Last week, Eric Mathison missed the mark in his reply to my July 5 column about immigration, our national heritage and the English language.

Illegal immigration and border security, and the assimilation into American society of those who come here legally, comprise the most critical domestic issue facing the United States.

Therefore, a sequel is in order.

Despite Eric's skepticism, illegal immigration and the lack of assimilation by some immigrant communities create problems that reach well beyond "border states and a few urban areas."

The financial drain of illegal immigration on the national and state economies is staggering. Washington is not spared. Local taxpayers help pay the tab for medical, education and heath services these immigrants receive-with no requirement for proof of citizenship or legal residency.

A single health clinic in south Seattle that serves this area treats an estimated 16,000 illegal immigrants a year.

Meanwhile, dozens of foreign languages are accomodated in Highline public schools.

Our local legislators have failed to support a common-sense requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote.

And Washington's U.S. senators and the congressmen who represent Highline favor legislation that would grant de facto amensty to illegal aliens rather than making security and enforcement the top priority.

A refreshing counterbalance to Eric Mathison's rebuttal of my commentary came from a reader who called to thank me for taking a firm stand.

What made her call special is the fact she is Hispanic. This Texas-born American, who speaks English fluently, agreed that we need strict enforcement of immigration laws.

I also noted that legal immigrants must assimilate into American society - including the speaking and reading of English when they attend school, conduct business with both government and the private sector, and vote.

Eric demurred, calling this cacophony "the sweet sounds of America's diversity."

As a nation of immigrants, America's strength comes from our diversity. But in the great melting pot of American society, we live our national motto generation after generation - e pluribus unum, "out of many one."

This includes a common form of communication-English-which is not an unreasonable expectation.

Immigrants, after all, are required by law to speak, understand, read and write simple English prior to becoming United States citizens.

Those who speak Spanish and other languages should not abandon their native tongues, but should adopt English as their primary language in their new country.

A century and more ago, Germans and Scandanavians, then Italians and East Europeans, did just that after stepping off boats at Ellis Island.

Eric also glossed over the historic underpinnings of my column - that our common heritage as Americans lies in our "Englishness," regardless of our national and ethnic origins.

This diminishes not the national origin of his grandparents, nor of Germans who led the second great wave of immigrantion to America, nor of today's immigrants from Latin America and Southeast Asia who come here legally.

Rather, it recognizes that England gave us, through the Founding Fathers and their fellow colonists, our continuing traditions of politics, common law and social customs.

This occurred because England, more than any other European country, established and developed these traditions on the foundation of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and Judeo-Christian teachings.

That's why, from the beginning, the vast majority of immigrants entering America have embraced and expanded these traditions, regardless of their native heritage.

In so doing, they continue to make their new country stronger as they become Americans. E pluribus unum.

The views of Ralph Nichols are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Robinson Newspapers. He can be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1857.