The Ugly Side of Americana
I dedicate "Tu vuo fa l'Americano" from the Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) to some of our more recent emigres, because everyone does not come here for the same reason, and some are not treated the same when they get here.
When I think of immigration in America, I first think of those stories I know of personally and emotionally from friends, family and families of friends. I think of Nigerian women who want to get from under their male relatives' shadows; Malagasy families that want a more prosperous life; young Irish-canadian Catholics that want to carve their own niche in the world; Scottish collegiates that fall in love with the diversity of our culture; Indian women who want broader perspectives for their future daughters; Palestine parents that are trying to give their sons a chance to live past eighteen; and Cuban friends that take a chance coming to America and become millionaires by the time they are thirty, doing what they love- cooking!
When it comes to Native Americans' forced assimiliation in boarding schools; Japanese-Americans' World War II internments; and the twisted and torturous history of Mexican-American culture, one does not think of immigration but of the ugly side of American history. The first time I spoke with anyone concerning illegal Mexican immigrants was in 2004...
Their names are Frank, Mario and Lucia. Mario and Lucia were 'sponsored' by families from Cathoic churches in the state of Ohio. Frank's immediate family has been here since the Mexican American War; part of the 80,000 or so citizens affected by the "Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago". I naively expressed sadness at what appeared to be insensitivity on the part of several American groups to the reasons illegals risk life and limb to cross our borders daily. "You study law, right?" Lucia asked. She was referring to my studies in Criminal Justice. "Yes" I answered waiting for her point. "Then what does THE LAW say?" I understood she was referring to the laws and statutes governing immigration. "Well..." I sheepishly began, "to become a naturalized citizen you have to spend time in residence recognizable by the Department of Immigration; you must be able to speak, AND read and write English; know the history of our country and the workings of our government; know and respect the principles behind our constitution; be in good moral standing; and be favorably inclined toward our country." "Does it sound like these people have done these things?" I looked surprised at her stern expression, Lucia was such a jovial woman. "No, but..." "You know the law but you make excuses?! I excuse NOTHING; you hear, NOTHING. I can do this the right way, he can do this the right way (she pointed to Mario)- EVERYBODY can do this the right way! If Ohio was across a river or a field, I would STILL wait, because I truly come here for a better life- not just more money in wages and to thumb my nose at laws. I follow laws- no matter what- in Mexico and I do the same here!" She seemed almost embarassed by her passion and found her composure by patting my back affectionately and walking away.
What do you say to a woman who points out that you are 'excusing' a group because they are a minority, not because there is a legal justification? I know full well that some of us, in order to compensate, are tougher on 'our own' than other groups. My inconsistency was not legally sound then and, apparently, not sound enough logically at present to pass the Senate. But my heart still goes out to all who are impoverished and ill and want better or at least sufficient for them and their loved ones. I simply want a LEGAL solution to what we as a nation have allowed to get out of hand since World War I, when we relaxed our laws to fill the void left in our economy by the restrictions on Transatlantic immigration. Truth be told, we were relaxing regulations for Mexicans just after the Mexican American War, when we had an influx of 'refugees' from the Mexican middle-class. Now our two towers have fallen and we are afraid.
I am a patriot and can be nothing else; there is no middle-of-the-road love for my country due to my affliation with any oppressed group. The second time I travelled farther than the Caribbean, I was an adult and was presented with a document from the local embassy. The gist of it was, that should civil unrest seize this country, I, as an American was to find my way to the embassy to be escorted away from danger. There was no small print that stated that this special treatment would not be extended to a communist sympathizer living in America; or a formerly convicted felon; or an ex-Black Panther...it said, "American Citizen(s)". The only status that was important was your citizenry; never a care of whether you were naturalized or not. I am painfully aware that I belong to a class of citizens that are simultaneously hated and envied by a great number of citizens of other nations; some from nations that we consider allies (yes, I hear you France).
I will NEVER excuse nor minimize any of the 'black-eyes of our democracy' like: the kidnapping and enslavement of Africans; the subsequent terrorizing and segregation of African-Americans after slavery; the alienation and degradation of countless Irish, Polish, CATHOLIC and Southeastern Asian immigrants throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries; Executive Order 9066 that legalized the internment of approximately 110,000 of the 120,000 Japanese-Americans relocated during World War II; the terrorization and lynchings of Mexican migrant workers during the first half of the twentieth century (and even as recently as 2000); and the more recent Muslim-bashing since even before 9/11 (don't kid yourselves!). Much like a parent with 'a past', I love my country flaws and all. It is so new as countries go; it is in the equivalent of its teens, while many countries we assist are in the equivalent of there eighties. The very ideals our country was founded upon are so radical compared to those of the past, that jealousy was bound to happen, even if we were not considered 'wealthy'. I almost laugh with a tear in my eye at that 'wealthy' status...the children I work with daily would beg to differ.
But I wouldn't trade America for the most easy-going utopia: it is quite worth it just to exercise my freedom, to allow someone with a completely opposing opinion to exercise theirs. One wishes that while the donkeys and elephants, bears and bulls were squaring off, they remembered this and acted a little more civil. I'll take the Statue of Liberty with her ugly hairy mole any day! I watch the news and have travelled enough to know how good home is. The illegals wouldn't be shouting for Amnesty if they did not know it too. THEY are not the ones that bother me and Lucia...it's the ones that have no respect for what it took to get our country to its accomodating status today; who merely want money without the sacrifice of learning what it means to be an American...they make usVERY nervous.
If you would like to know more about the AMERICANS detained in the internment camps, please visit
trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/.../japanese_internment/background.htm. Happy learning! Kisses, M.~
When I think of immigration in America, I first think of those stories I know of personally and emotionally from friends, family and families of friends. I think of Nigerian women who want to get from under their male relatives' shadows; Malagasy families that want a more prosperous life; young Irish-canadian Catholics that want to carve their own niche in the world; Scottish collegiates that fall in love with the diversity of our culture; Indian women who want broader perspectives for their future daughters; Palestine parents that are trying to give their sons a chance to live past eighteen; and Cuban friends that take a chance coming to America and become millionaires by the time they are thirty, doing what they love- cooking!
When it comes to Native Americans' forced assimiliation in boarding schools; Japanese-Americans' World War II internments; and the twisted and torturous history of Mexican-American culture, one does not think of immigration but of the ugly side of American history. The first time I spoke with anyone concerning illegal Mexican immigrants was in 2004...
Their names are Frank, Mario and Lucia. Mario and Lucia were 'sponsored' by families from Cathoic churches in the state of Ohio. Frank's immediate family has been here since the Mexican American War; part of the 80,000 or so citizens affected by the "Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago". I naively expressed sadness at what appeared to be insensitivity on the part of several American groups to the reasons illegals risk life and limb to cross our borders daily. "You study law, right?" Lucia asked. She was referring to my studies in Criminal Justice. "Yes" I answered waiting for her point. "Then what does THE LAW say?" I understood she was referring to the laws and statutes governing immigration. "Well..." I sheepishly began, "to become a naturalized citizen you have to spend time in residence recognizable by the Department of Immigration; you must be able to speak, AND read and write English; know the history of our country and the workings of our government; know and respect the principles behind our constitution; be in good moral standing; and be favorably inclined toward our country." "Does it sound like these people have done these things?" I looked surprised at her stern expression, Lucia was such a jovial woman. "No, but..." "You know the law but you make excuses?! I excuse NOTHING; you hear, NOTHING. I can do this the right way, he can do this the right way (she pointed to Mario)- EVERYBODY can do this the right way! If Ohio was across a river or a field, I would STILL wait, because I truly come here for a better life- not just more money in wages and to thumb my nose at laws. I follow laws- no matter what- in Mexico and I do the same here!" She seemed almost embarassed by her passion and found her composure by patting my back affectionately and walking away.
What do you say to a woman who points out that you are 'excusing' a group because they are a minority, not because there is a legal justification? I know full well that some of us, in order to compensate, are tougher on 'our own' than other groups. My inconsistency was not legally sound then and, apparently, not sound enough logically at present to pass the Senate. But my heart still goes out to all who are impoverished and ill and want better or at least sufficient for them and their loved ones. I simply want a LEGAL solution to what we as a nation have allowed to get out of hand since World War I, when we relaxed our laws to fill the void left in our economy by the restrictions on Transatlantic immigration. Truth be told, we were relaxing regulations for Mexicans just after the Mexican American War, when we had an influx of 'refugees' from the Mexican middle-class. Now our two towers have fallen and we are afraid.
I am a patriot and can be nothing else; there is no middle-of-the-road love for my country due to my affliation with any oppressed group. The second time I travelled farther than the Caribbean, I was an adult and was presented with a document from the local embassy. The gist of it was, that should civil unrest seize this country, I, as an American was to find my way to the embassy to be escorted away from danger. There was no small print that stated that this special treatment would not be extended to a communist sympathizer living in America; or a formerly convicted felon; or an ex-Black Panther...it said, "American Citizen(s)". The only status that was important was your citizenry; never a care of whether you were naturalized or not. I am painfully aware that I belong to a class of citizens that are simultaneously hated and envied by a great number of citizens of other nations; some from nations that we consider allies (yes, I hear you France).
I will NEVER excuse nor minimize any of the 'black-eyes of our democracy' like: the kidnapping and enslavement of Africans; the subsequent terrorizing and segregation of African-Americans after slavery; the alienation and degradation of countless Irish, Polish, CATHOLIC and Southeastern Asian immigrants throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries; Executive Order 9066 that legalized the internment of approximately 110,000 of the 120,000 Japanese-Americans relocated during World War II; the terrorization and lynchings of Mexican migrant workers during the first half of the twentieth century (and even as recently as 2000); and the more recent Muslim-bashing since even before 9/11 (don't kid yourselves!). Much like a parent with 'a past', I love my country flaws and all. It is so new as countries go; it is in the equivalent of its teens, while many countries we assist are in the equivalent of there eighties. The very ideals our country was founded upon are so radical compared to those of the past, that jealousy was bound to happen, even if we were not considered 'wealthy'. I almost laugh with a tear in my eye at that 'wealthy' status...the children I work with daily would beg to differ.
But I wouldn't trade America for the most easy-going utopia: it is quite worth it just to exercise my freedom, to allow someone with a completely opposing opinion to exercise theirs. One wishes that while the donkeys and elephants, bears and bulls were squaring off, they remembered this and acted a little more civil. I'll take the Statue of Liberty with her ugly hairy mole any day! I watch the news and have travelled enough to know how good home is. The illegals wouldn't be shouting for Amnesty if they did not know it too. THEY are not the ones that bother me and Lucia...it's the ones that have no respect for what it took to get our country to its accomodating status today; who merely want money without the sacrifice of learning what it means to be an American...they make usVERY nervous.
If you would like to know more about the AMERICANS detained in the internment camps, please visit
trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/.../japanese_internment/background.htm. Happy learning! Kisses, M.~
Labels: japanese internment, mexican immigration, patriotism
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