After reading the "The Framing of Immigration," I was shocked; I have heard of and seen debates concerning immigration, but Lakoff's explanation for it opened my eyes. As a daughter of immigrants from Colombia, I understand what you need to do in life to succeed for your family because I've watched my parents each day working their butts off to do what they can for my siblings and I; even if they are U.S citizens. I liked the face that Lakoff chose to defend "illegal" immigrants because I've only read in the past the articles that degrade them even more than the title "illegal immigrants." Sadly, the majority of Americans do not see that they are an asset to our country and that have the same rights as us. Placing these names upon them frames them as criminals and such even if all they want is the same we want-the American Dream. What I find funny is that America was founded by immigrants and made by them as well; so why do we see them as such horrible people if they are exactly like us. They maybe from a different culture, but we are all the same.
Sadly, people have been placing the blame mostly on immigrants from Mexico and Central America, but they are not the only immigrants coming here. Just because some immigrants are white doesn't mean that they should be treated better or not reffered to as an "immigrant" because I feel that is what they are doing in America. Throughout America's history we have housed people from Asia, Africa, India, Spain, Europe, etc; that is why we are called the melting pot. However, now that it is a new era where most of the immigrants are hispanics, Americans are now turning their backs on them and saying they are criminals for taking "their jobs" or "invading their lands." It seems to me that every race needs to pick on another one to make themselves feel better. For example, African Americans were treated cruelly and discriminated against, but now that they "are not," they pick on the hispanics (example in reading). I believe that America should hold its truth to the title of "the land of opportunities".
I personally love the diverse culture that immigration brings to America. My current workplace is full of people from Poland and they mainly speak Polish at work. I am constantly asked if it bothers me, and I am never bothered by it. I think its absolutely fascinating and the first real opportunity I have to immersed in another culture and possibly learn a second language (something that is hard to do when you are an adult).
ReplyDeleteI agree that people rarely speak from the perspective of defending immigration. Why do you think that the majority of the discussion about immigration is negative? Where are the groups defending immigration and why aren't their voices heard as often?