Spring Break
Immigration is not the biggest problem that Americans face
Michael Brandon Harris-Peyton
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Ed-Op
The language doesn't help public opinion very much. The word "illegal" brings a negative response out in people, while the word "refugee" tends to bring out more empathetic feelings.
There is something deeply hypocritical about the hardliner position against illegal immigration. There seems to be contextual amnesia going on-an American citizen of the anti-immigrant persuasion can go from openly discussing the foreign origin of their ancestors to talking about how the country shouldn't immigrants "come over here and steal our jobs and not speak English."
News flash - your ancestors were probably poor, illiterate immigrants who most of the time didn't speak English either. And they had the advantage of arriving, most likely, in an older America with much looser border controls. If you're that severely anti-immigration, you're not "conservative," and you're definitely not a "real American"-you're xenophobic. You're also a hypocrite. The only people who can even claim to not be descended from immigrants are Native Americans. And from what the history books say, your ancestors weren't very nice to them. The anti-immigration argument is often so flawed that it approaches the irrational.
The fact of the matter is that we should not be looking at these people with hatred and intolerance-we should be making it easier for them to become legitimate citizens, and to contribute wholly to society.
America needs all the people it can get-we certainly have the space, and with the declining birthrate, we'll need more immigrants in order to stay on-par with the rising power of countries like India and China. If this country is truly ready to say no to immigrants, even the illegal kind, and go to such insane lengths as to build walls and deport every undocumented person, then it might as well resign itself to becoming the next collapsed superpower. America was built by immigrants, and that singular fact should be the first thought when it comes to dealing with the country's immigration issues.
Michael Brandon Harris-Peyton is a sophomore majoring in English and Japanese. He can be reached at ed-op@thetriangle.org.
There is something deeply hypocritical about the hardliner position against illegal immigration. There seems to be contextual amnesia going on-an American citizen of the anti-immigrant persuasion can go from openly discussing the foreign origin of their ancestors to talking about how the country shouldn't immigrants "come over here and steal our jobs and not speak English."
News flash - your ancestors were probably poor, illiterate immigrants who most of the time didn't speak English either. And they had the advantage of arriving, most likely, in an older America with much looser border controls. If you're that severely anti-immigration, you're not "conservative," and you're definitely not a "real American"-you're xenophobic. You're also a hypocrite. The only people who can even claim to not be descended from immigrants are Native Americans. And from what the history books say, your ancestors weren't very nice to them. The anti-immigration argument is often so flawed that it approaches the irrational.
The fact of the matter is that we should not be looking at these people with hatred and intolerance-we should be making it easier for them to become legitimate citizens, and to contribute wholly to society.
America needs all the people it can get-we certainly have the space, and with the declining birthrate, we'll need more immigrants in order to stay on-par with the rising power of countries like India and China. If this country is truly ready to say no to immigrants, even the illegal kind, and go to such insane lengths as to build walls and deport every undocumented person, then it might as well resign itself to becoming the next collapsed superpower. America was built by immigrants, and that singular fact should be the first thought when it comes to dealing with the country's immigration issues.
Michael Brandon Harris-Peyton is a sophomore majoring in English and Japanese. He can be reached at ed-op@thetriangle.org.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 14
Bill
posted 1/18/08 @ 7:44 AM EST
It may not stop them, but it will slow them down. Whats the alternative? Granting one amnesty after another? I highly resent Mexico's corrupt oligarcy,
and the general sentiment that it's up to the United States to solve the problem. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 1/18/08 @ 9:09 AM EST
I don't agree with your solution on what should be done. This is mainly because you mentioned no solution on what should be done. You did have issues with solutions that have been presented, but offered no solutions of your own. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 1/18/08 @ 11:38 AM EST
"Illegal"Immigration "is" the biggest problem that Americans face.
Most of the problems facing us today can be directly related to "Illegal"Immigration. (Continued…)
howard
posted 1/18/08 @ 1:29 PM EST
It is amazing what the naysayers come up with on the issue of illegal immigration. We can't enforce the borders, can't deport them, the list goes on. (Continued…)
Karen
posted 1/18/08 @ 4:42 PM EST
My neighbor had this dog. It kept coming over to my yard and crapping and eating my own dog's food. It created alot of tension and even would fight my dog. (Continued…)
american
posted 1/18/08 @ 6:34 PM EST
I have a solution to the problem. Currently, any pregnant woman that can make it across the border and to the emergency room will have her baby paid for by the American taxpayers. (Continued…)
Brittanicus
posted 4/10/09 @ 12:40 PM EST
In this melting economy and our lawmakers complete resistance to the US publics policies. American patriots must do the right thing and stop this violation of Federal law. (Continued…)
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