William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2011-06-01 / 6. szám
William Penn The perfect name for a Pennsylvania-based fraternal association by Kathy Megyeri Detail of a painting of William Penn by Gabriella F. Koszorús, which hangs in the second floor foyer ofWPA's Home Office. I always thought the phrase "a nation of immigrants" had been around forever to describe America's inhabitants. Only recently did I learned that Senator John F. Kennedy coined that phrase in a book by that name in 1958. And I also took for granted that William Penn was the model citizen for whom Pennsylvania was named. Again, only recently did I learn what a fitting and perfect name his is for a fraternal insurance association as well because of his attitude toward immigrants to this nation and to his state. Historian Susan F. Martin of Georgetown University has written a book published by Cambridge University appropriately called A Nation of Immigrants. In it, she examines three models of immigration, each possessing a different vision of what purposes newcomers would serve. In Virginia, particularly in Jamestown in 1607, workers were found within the slave trade and had few rights. John Smith claimed that "the colony had too many gentlemen tradesmen and not enough workers," so convicts and indentured servants became the mainstay. In Plymouth, Massachusetts, John Winthrop promised that "we shall be as a city upon a hill," and about 21,000 workers, mostly Puritans, settled there by 1642. However, any dissent from the Puritan model was punished. Most admirably, Pennsylvania's William Penn sought outsiders and built these citizens from foreign stock. Thus, author Martin champions the Pennsylvania model for its emphasis on political unity, cultural diversity and equal rights, so the Pennsylvania model is historically dominant and politically secure. As most know, William Penn arrived in the colonies after being jailed in England for his Quaker beliefs, but like most Virginians, he wanted to make money by selling land. So he sought out buyers with translations of his pamphlets that traveled overseas, particularly to the Rhine region. Pluralism and inclusiveness were part of his faith and his business plan. However, his attempts didn't always come easy because even Benjamin Franklin, among others, feared that non-English speaking immigrants would fail to assimilate. Franklin, in particular, hated the bilingual street signs for the most "ignorant stupid sort," as he referred to the Germans. But Philadelphia established itself as the center of Pennsylvania in 1682 and described itself as "seeking citizens of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds." William Penn himself welcomed all newcomers who would live peaceably and justly in civil society and guaranteed them that they in no way would be "molested and prejudiced." So Scots, Irish, Germans, French, Dutch, Moravians, and Mennonites were all particularly attracted to the area, and the immigration model William Penn fostered became truly the "melting pot." Thus, it is only fitting that William Penn is the moniker for a fraternal life insurance association, founded and based in Pennsylvania, that welcomes not only Hungarians but all nationalities to its fold. Kathy Megyeri is a writer who lives in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at Megyeri@juno.com. Reference: “Favoring Immigration, if Not the Immigrant," by Jason De- Parle, "NEW YORK TIMES, pages Cl and C6, 5/9/1 I
