--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the American people would be…" description: "\"I think the American people would be compassionate and practical. But we need to be talking about assimilation as well, something that is politically i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/bobby-jindal-6682_american-exceptional_i-think-the-american-people-would-be-com_3003707.png" --- # I think the American people would be compassionate and… ![“I think the American people would be compassionate and practical. But we need to be talking about assimilation as well, something that is politically incorrect, I know, to say that people should learn English, should learn American exceptionalism, shouldn't come here to use our freedoms to…” quote by Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/bobby-jindal-6682_american-exceptional_i-think-the-american-people-would-be-com_3003707.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/bobby-jindal-6682_american-exceptional_i-think-the-american-people-would-be-com_3003707.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/bobby-jindal-6682_american-exceptional_i-think-the-american-people-would-be-com_3003707.png) > “I think the American people would be compassionate and practical. But we need to be talking about assimilation as well, something that is politically incorrect, I know, to say that people should learn English, should learn American exceptionalism, shouldn't come here to use our freedoms to undermine the freedoms we give to everybody. But there's nothing wrong with saying people who want to come here should want to be Americans.” [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assimilation involves learning language and values, but framing it as “should be American” can be politically charged. **In simple terms:** Learning English and civic values is part of integration. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive assimilation. Themes culture language politics Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - education - community integration - public debate Key Concepts national identity immigration policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we teach language respectfully? - What values are essential for unity? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating newcomers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American exceptionalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-exceptionalism/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Assimilation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assimilation/) [Assimilation Politically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assimilation-politically-4781014/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Exceptionalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptionalism/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politically incorrect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politically-incorrect/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Assimilation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-assimilation-4781013/) [Think American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-american/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-americans-750310/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [ America's military is the best in the world, but this president \[Barack Obama\] is hollowing out our military. We need a commander in chief… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/america-s-military-is-the-best-in-the-world-but-this-president-barack/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [The human condition for the vast majority of people on this planet for the entire time of what humanity has been here has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-human-condition-for-the-vast-majority-of-people-on-this-planet/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We don't have to apologize for American exceptionalism or western values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-don-t-have-to-apologize-for-american-exceptionalism-or-western/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [ Even Republicans seem to think that these undocumented Democrats could be made \[GOP\] voters...and what happens is that two out every three that would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-king/even-republicans-seem-to-think-that-these-undocumented-democrats/) [Steve King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-king/) > [ I think where \[Donald Trump\] loses most hawkish republicans is when he talking about how much he likes \[Vladimir\] Putin. That should make any… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-where-donald-trump-loses-most-hawkish-republicans-is-when-he/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Christian nation mythologists pump themselves up with narratives of American exceptionalism and Christian domination. But sooner or later even their most devoted followers should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-posner/christian-nation-mythologists-pump-themselves-up-with-narratives-of/) [Sarah Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-posner/) > [You want to unify America with a sense of culture and decency and all of this that reasserts and reaffirms the concepts of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-want-to-unify-america-with-a-sense-of-culture-and-decency-and-all/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Post World War II America draws a great deal of interest, but the students also seem to know quite a bit about American exceptionalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-marandi/post-world-war-ii-america-draws-a-great-deal-of-interest-but-the/) [Mohammad Marandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-marandi/) > [The idea of American exceptionalism doesn't extend to Americans being exceptional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/the-idea-of-american-exceptionalism-doesn-t-extend-to-americans-being/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [American exceptionalism requires understanding biblical view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/american-exceptionalism-requires-understanding-biblical-view/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [People get tired of talking about American exceptionalism, but I think this is an extraordinary thing about the United States, that we are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-l-eck/people-get-tired-of-talking-about-american-exceptionalism-but-i-think/) [Diana L. Eck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-l-eck/) > [Our patriotic fervor was the result of the old and widespread belief in the idea of American exceptionalism, the idea that America was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/our-patriotic-fervor-was-the-result-of-the-old-and-widespread-belief/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [The position of the Americans is quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-position-of-the-americans-is-quite-exceptional-and-it-may-be/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [American exceptionalism, in the broad sense, is not a bunch of braggadocious words people say, "Yeah, we're better people. We have a better country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/american-exceptionalism-in-the-broad-sense-is-not-a-bunch-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Gone is any mention of American exceptionalism. I happen to believe that twice, three times in the 20th century, the United States saved Western…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/gone-is-any-mention-of-american-exceptionalism-i-happen-to-believe/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More by Bobby Jindal > [The American dream means that you have the chance to work hard, get an education and do great things for yourself, for your kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/the-american-dream-means-that-you-have-the-chance-to-work-hard-get-an/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I'm tired of hyphenated Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-m-tired-of-hyphenated-americans/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [We will stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power. We will stop that nuclear arms race that could happen in the Middle East. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/we-will-stop-iran-from-becoming-a-nuclear-power-we-will-stop-that/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [A job for your family, a paycheck in your mailbox - they're the ultimate proof that your state is doing things right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/a-job-for-your-family-a-paycheck-in-your-mailbox-they-re-the-ultimate/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [Thirty percent of the Nation's energy comes off the gulf coast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/thirty-percent-of-the-nation-s-energy-comes-off-the-gulf-coast/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I'm so tired of the left trying to divide us by race. One of the things I said today in my speech, we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-m-so-tired-of-the-left-trying-to-divide-us-by-race-one-of-the/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [The Obama presidency, and liberalism in general, are based on not trusting the American people - a belief that big government is better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/the-obama-presidency-and-liberalism-in-general-are-based-on-not/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I'm not running to manage the decline of this great country. I'm running to make real changes in D.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-m-not-running-to-manage-the-decline-of-this-great-country-i-m/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [The Nation needs to take a new approach to our energy problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/the-nation-needs-to-take-a-new-approach-to-our-energy-problems/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I'm not running for president to be somebody, I'm running for president to do something!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-m-not-running-for-president-to-be-somebody-i-m-running-for/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [America is the most compassionate country in the entire world. We do more for folks around this world. And that's the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/america-is-the-most-compassionate-country-in-the-entire-world-we-do/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [My background is in health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/my-background-is-in-health-care/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [ The American dream is at jeopardy. This president \[Obama\] has defined the American dream as more dependence on the government. We need to restore… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/the-american-dream-is-at-jeopardy-this-president-obama-has-defined/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/the-politically-correct-crowd-is-tolerant-of-all-viewpoints-except/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [Unfortunately, we are finding the bureaucratic inefficiencies and red tape have a tendency to slow the efforts of individuals and communities working to rebuild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/unfortunately-we-are-finding-the-bureaucratic-inefficiencies-and-red/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) [Explore all 98 Bobby Jindal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) ## More American exceptionalism quotes > [I think that an attack of America, an attack on American exceptionalism by the media, which is real, has certainly undercut a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-travis/i-think-that-an-attack-of-america-an-attack-on-american/) [Clay Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-travis/) > [Young people in college - many living away from their parents for the first time in their lives - are particularly vulnerable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kirk/young-people-in-college-many-living-away-from-their-parents-for-the/) [Charlie Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kirk/) > [The human condition for the vast majority of people on this planet for the entire time of what humanity has been here has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-human-condition-for-the-vast-majority-of-people-on-this-planet/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Yes, my friends, your hunger for history is still pretty segregated. Your knowledge of America often ends at the color line. You end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/yes-my-friends-your-hunger-for-history-is-still-pretty-segregated/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [American patriotism is now jingoism. American Greatness is made fun of. The concept of "Make America Great Again" or American exceptionalism is lampooned. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/american-patriotism-is-now-jingoism-american-greatness-is-made-fun-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Patton was ecstatic, writing home to Beatrice that “I know I am needed!” and “The Lord had a perfect cut for me and pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-s-m-lyon/patton-was-ecstatic-writing-home-to-beatrice-that-i-know-i-am-needed/) [Christopher S.M. Lyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-s-m-lyon/) > [ That \[American exceptionalism\] is a reaction to the inability of people to understand global complexity or important issues like American energy dependency. Therefore, they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/that-american-exceptionalism-is-a-reaction-to-the-inability-of-people/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [If people are being upstanding citizens of the Republic, then you have to widen the net to incarcerate them. This explains why America's prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-people-are-being-upstanding-citizens-of-the-republic-then-you-have/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [American exceptionalism, in the broad sense, is not a bunch of braggadocious words people say, "Yeah, we're better people. We have a better country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/american-exceptionalism-in-the-broad-sense-is-not-a-bunch-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The position of the Americans is quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-position-of-the-americans-is-quite-exceptional-and-it-may-be/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“But the biggest problem with being fed lies about how great we are is that people won't be prepared for how evil this government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-ra/but-the-biggest-problem-with-being-fed-lies-about-how-great-we-are-is/) [Aron Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-ra/) > [Our patriotic fervor was the result of the old and widespread belief in the idea of American exceptionalism, the idea that America was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/our-patriotic-fervor-was-the-result-of-the-old-and-widespread-belief/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [The notion of American exceptionalism is effective in part because there is little on the face of it that is offensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/the-notion-of-american-exceptionalism-is-effective-in-part-because/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [People get tired of talking about American exceptionalism, but I think this is an extraordinary thing about the United States, that we are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-l-eck/people-get-tired-of-talking-about-american-exceptionalism-but-i-think/) [Diana L. Eck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-l-eck/) > [American exceptionalism requires understanding biblical view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/american-exceptionalism-requires-understanding-biblical-view/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) [Browse all 75 American exceptionalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-exceptionalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the American people would be compassionate and practical. But we need to be talking about assimilation as well, something that is politically incorrect, I know, to say that people should learn English, should learn American exceptionalism, shouldn't come here to use our freedoms to undermine the freedoms we give to everybody. 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