What does this quote mean? “Some of us have chosen America as the land of our adoption; the rest have come from those who did the same”
Judge Learned Hand pointed out that everyone is either an immigrant or descended from immigrants.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1199
Some are the people who immigrated from another country, and "the rest" are their descendants.
Examples: My maternal great-grandparents immigrated from Germany and Ireland; their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., are descendants of those 4 people.
All of us are immigrants who have adopted America or the offspring of those immigrants. This includes even the American Indians, who migrated here hundreds or thousands of years ago.
The quote you provided is from John F. Kennedy's book "A Nation of Immigrants." In this quote, Kennedy is conveying that there are two groups of people in America: those who have chosen America as their new homeland, and those who are descendants of the earlier immigrants who made that same choice.
To understand the quote more deeply, it helps to know the context. Kennedy wrote "A Nation of Immigrants" in 1958, when immigration issues were a significant topic of discussion. The quote emphasizes the idea that America is a country built on the contributions of immigrants. It recognizes that some people willingly chose to come to America and establish their lives here, while others were born or descended from those who made that choice in the past.
Broadly speaking, this quote is highlighting the diversity and inclusiveness of America as a nation. It acknowledges the resilience and collective heritage of the immigrant experience, recognizing that both groups have found a home in America.
If you want to explore the meaning of this quote further, I would suggest reading John F. Kennedy's book "A Nation of Immigrants" to gain a deeper understanding of his perspective on immigration and how it shapes the identity of America. Additionally, examining the historical and social context surrounding the quote can contribute to a more comprehensive interpretation.