Am I Not
An American?
Many
immigrants from south of our borders now live in my hometown and work
side-by-side with me. I often hear others complain that these are not real
Americans and they should go back to their own country. These comments always
bring to mind a long list of my own immigrant ancestors that came to this
country to became Americans. If we are not of Native American descent, how can
we be any more American than these new arrivals? Koenratt Koltman was a
resident of Gundheim, Germany in 1698, a Lutheran registered in the Church
books at Dalsheim. Koenraat Koltman, his wife, and five children were in the
sixth party of refugees to reach Rotterdam, Holland in 1709. He first appears
on the Hunter Lists in New York on July 4, 1710 with two persons over ten years
and three persons under ten. Koenraat Koltman (Conrad Goldman in America) is my
7th Great Grandfather. If he is my ancestor, am I then not an
American? Am I a German?
Born on
the Side of Right
Same work, same place, same time. We
labor side by side.
It is my right. It is his wrong.
Why? Just Because. Just Because.
I was born on the side of right.
He on the side of wrong.
Just Because. Just Because.
Three hundred years have come and
gone
Since Koenraat Koltman, oppressed and
persecuted,
Fled the Palatine along the Rhine.
Wife, five children and he
To Holland, to England with Queen
Anne, and then
To the New World and the Beloved
Schoharie Valley.
Why? Just Because. Just Because.
No Food, No Home, No Land for the
Palatines.
Said Queen Anne, "Come, I
welcome you."
But still, No Food, No Home, No Land
for the Palatines.
Til' the Mohican Indian Chief
extented a hand and said,
"I have land abundant. I will
share with the Palatines."
Why? Just Because. Just Because.
Conrad Goldman, To Canada to fight
and die.
Sons Jacob and Conrad trudged with
the widow's possessions
Sixty miles, on a sled, no path,
unbroken forest,
Three foot of snow, howling winds
blowing cold,
To the beloved Schoharie Valley of
the Mohican Indian Chief.
Why? Just Because. Just Because.
And I was born on the side of right,
He on the side of wrong.
Why? Just Because. Just Because.
Koenraat Koltman, a wife, five
children, No Food, No Home, No Land
Til' Queen Anne and the Mohican
Indian Chief said,
"I have abundance. I will share
with the Palatines."
Why? Just Because. Just Because.
Copyright © April 20, 1996 Fleta Aday
Why should the Palatine boors be suffered to swarm into our
settlement, and, by herding together, establish their language and manners, to
the exclusion of ours? Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become
a colony of aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanized us,
instead of our Anglicizing them, and will never adopt our language or customs
any more than they can acquire our complexion?
Benjamin Franklin 1751
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