Immigration in the United States

When you think of the United States of America, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For most, America stands for the land of the free. American citizens obtain several rights, duties, and the pursuit of happiness. Our founding fathers worked very hard to make this country a safe haven when trying to escape from an unstable government. Everyone has a different story of how their family came here. It may have been recent generations, or hundreds of years ago. America thrives on immigration and the constant diversity each area has to offer. But what happens when immigrants take advantage of how “free” America is. More and more families or just individuals cross over borders illegally, therefore void their chance of living the American dream. However, that is not the only thing being sacrificed. America suffers tremendously when families choose to live basically in hiding. This causes several problems locally and overall nationally. Our government, however, chooses to put illegal immigration on the back burner. The United States should take a more assertive approach when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants. This country is going through several other crises, but that doesn’t mean immigration should be the last thing to acknowledge. The beauty America has to offer is slowly becoming dimmer and dimmer as the brutality of border and immigration control becomes more and more steep.

America has forever been known as “the melting pot”. There is no one type of race or religion. Everyone comes from a different background and brings different ideals with them. This is how America came to be in the first place. We have the right to express ourselves in any way we want, and chances are no one will ever be alone. Throughout time, traditions change and mold into something different because of the combinations of several other traditions. Families can come here without fearing that a government will be controlling their every move. Essentially, they come here looking for a better tomorrow.
The United States is primarily known for their safer environments. Yes, there are some places that are better than others, but compared to other countries, the U.S. takes more of a stance on keeping the environment safe. Along with safety, laws were put in place to provide every child with education and a place to go home to every night. There is a major problem with leaving no child behind when it comes to education. Research shows that “The total K-12 school expenditure for illegal immigrants costs the states $7.4 billion annually—enough to buy a computer for every junior high student nationwide” (Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform). Tax payers can revoke the law that allows illegal immigrants to receive education if it becomes more costly or there becomes a confliction of education to legit students.
After completing school, it’s time to face the real world. Though the job market may not seem very promising at this moment, the opportunity to find work in numerous different fields is. Employers, currently, are always looking for cheap work. Illegal immigrants are who they look for. This may seem stereotypical, but here is what happens. These illegal workers are receiving a wage “under the table”, which is usually less than minimum wage, without taxation, and the employer doesn’t have to document this. Somehow, it seems like every one wins. Wrong. The economy would see a $1.5 trillion growth over the next ten years according to an article written by the U.S. government. Somehow, though, this extra money doesn’t seem to want to make the government revise immigration laws.
The idea of living in America is so promising; however, families and individuals are taking for granite our freedoms by coming here without gaining citizenship. According to the U.S. government, before President Obama was officially elected into office, he emphasized his plan to change the lives of 12 million illegal immigrants. He feels that controlling immigration should be driven by the working American, and the state of the economy. However, health care took over Obama’s priorities. Obama received help changing the future of immigration from activist Edward M. Kennedy, but after he passed away, laws remained at a standstill. Most feel that immigration should wait even longer due to the current state of the economy. Numerous, mostly Hispanic protestors, and immigrants, have been flooding city streets, waving not just our flag, but the flag of their own nation, demanding to better recognized and treated. Americans feel that this is a takeover of our country.
To add to the problem, borders have now become new war zones. For example, crossing over to Mexico for a day then returning used to be decently safe and also enjoyable, requiring only a sate ID. But because families are now “jumping borders” to get into the country, Mexico isn’t as easily accessed and a passport is required. According to an article written by journalist Roman Joch, Arizona has recently adopted newer and stricter laws regarding bored patrol.

The Obama administration had filed a law suit against the state, but winning seems highly unlikely for them. Arizona isn’t the only state dealing with the consequences of illegal immigrants. According to Urban Institute, illegal immigrates have had a decent amount of contribution to violent crimes being committed. Most crimes committed by illegal immigrants upon other illegal immigrants go unreported due to the fact that they will be caught and deported. The cost of arresting, prosecuting, and sentencing these illegal immigrants have become extremely high. Some states are even filing suit against the federal government demanding to be reimbursed these costs.
However, the government agrees that a good way to reduce illegal immigration from Mexico is to build fences. These 10-foot-high fences would take up hundreds of miles of southern borders, including the state lines of Arizona, New Mexico, and California. This idea is known as the Minuteman Project, which is a group of volunteered citizens, who take it upon themselves to protect the southern borders. The United States wants families to live here and flourish our nation, but without becoming naturalized, this country becomes weaker.

Though many citizens focus on the bad things that illegal immigration has caused, there is certainly a lot of good. The book Immigration in the United States, edited by William Dvorack, sheds a light on how immigration has changed the way this country looks at the world. There is a specific chapter focused mainly on what immigration has actually brought to the America. Every culture that has made this country their home brings something new to the table. Within the chapter, Hilary Chura wrote an article about a marketer’s heaven. The amounts of different products that can be advertised are astronomical. All of these different cultures and ideals have made it possible to advertise American products in different countries, with the ability to gain attention. The amount of international marketing is amazing. Marketers are embracing the “mish mash” of cultures because of the positive influence it has. Along with out sourcing American products, we are also able to bring in new products. Not only are we accommodating to our immigrants, but opening up the minds of those who have never experience anything beyond a hamburger. We should be using this diversity to our advantage and learn all we can. The beauty of America is the fact that we don’t have to travel across the world to experience a completely different culture. Immigration made this possible. We couldn’t call ourselves a melting pot if we ignore the different ethnicities that live here.
The idea of living in America and sharing new ideas to everyone is very rewarding. It is probably just as rewarding as becoming a naturalized citizen. Ask someone who has gone through the process, just like I did. Maria Ramirez, a naturalized citizen, came here at a young age, but was able to successfully go through the immigration process and obtain all the privileges the rest of the country has. Ramirez explained that “at first it was scary moving to a completely different country. Literally no one knows you. But in the end, it was all worth it. I have gained so much, along with my brother and sister.” In the article “America Doesn’t Need Crusades”, by immigrant Zakaria, this process is explicitly told. He sat alongside nearly 2,000 others in a Brooklyn auditorium, listening to introductory speeches in every language imaginable. They gave their oath and were granted their citizenship. The moment in which you take oath and become a citizen is exciting and true pinnacle of moving here. Afterwards, they were greeted outside with a New York Street fair and several booths advertising everything the city had to offer their citizens. Zakaria does acknowledge how he doesn’t feel any different as a citizen, for he had been studying here for several years, but he felt welcomed in America, just like Ramirez. America represents the future for just about everyone who enters. Ramirez states that “living in American is very rewarding. Once school is completed, I can move about the country and become anything I want” (Maria Ramirez). It is clear that other countries look up to us. We are expected to do something greater than ourselves.
Those who have lived here our whole life seem to stay focused on our important past, while these new American citizens are coming up with new and creative ways to live in the future. It is the legal immigrants who gain a voice in this country. There is always something to be learned and something to be changed. If we only stayed close minded and didn’t accept the views of others, American wouldn’t be the great country it is today. Illegal immigration is lawfully wrong, but to play devil’s advocate, America was built by founding fathers who emigrated here. However, as time goes on, this country developed into something bigger. Our nation is plenty populated, and with an economy that is spiraling downwards, we cannot afford to be hiding people in our system. This all began in 1965 when we stopped favoring European countries, and opened up the opportunity from immigration to the United States for all nations. According to Immigration in the United States, from 1965 to 2007, America accepted more than 40,000,000 immigrants. Most of these immigrants came from struggling third world countries. Our biggest concern is the Mexican border. By 2001, almost 9% of the Mexican population migrated to the United States. Many people have the conception that Mexico has the high right of immigration to the United States, but as a matter of fact, they are number 13 (Canada being number 1) according to the book. Though several Mexican immigrants are doing their part and either renewing their green card or becoming a citizen, there is a great deal who are not. Turning the tables though, a large portion of illegal immigrants have decided to live in Canada. Most are from Asia, but the Latin community is started to follow the trend as well.

What exactly is pushing all of these different communities of immigrants into the United States in the first place? A chapter in the frequently mentioned book, Immigration in the United States, a journalist went to Mexico to meet with colleagues to discuss worldly problems. The conversation turned into the issue of the U.S. immigration reform. Mexican president Felipe Calderon was recently protesting the 700 mile long wall the Bush Administration had been talking about. This wall would be costing the U.S. up to $7 million. However, many Mexican citizens would agree with the construction of this fence. It would cause the Mexican government to actually confront their problems, rather than having their citizens run away from them. America is known for wanting to create a comfortable and safe life for their citizens. Though some may not live that way completely, immigrants see this as an opportunity to thrive, even if it’s not in their mother country. Many third world country citizens pick up and leave everything behind to remove themselves from their unstable government. Unfortunately, losing citizens isn’t enough for the government to change. We accept these families with open arms, so isn’t it only fair for them to do their part if we do theirs? America only wants to remain the safe haven it is today. Whether we’re fighting away illegal immigrants on border fronts, or deporting those who don’t belong, Americans lose their good name by showing force against immigrants.
Two hundred years have passed since the first arrival of immigrants, yet the United States still doesn’t have an answer to the question of illegal immigration. All of those who call the U.S. their home are immigrants. Since the birth of this country, immigration has been the incentive for political and social evolution. Even though every new arrival brought about some sort of judgment and animosity from native born Americans, these immigrants molded themselves into the gradually increasing multicultural society we live in today. The constant need for jobs and settlement to keep the economy strong will continue the incoming of immigrants. Blood was shed by true American citizens in our history, and current state of being. Our fight for becoming free and staying free is never forgotten. This is why Americans’ truly value everything we have earned and those coming here and taking it away should be punished. There is no right or wrong answer, it seems, to immigration. No legislature, court house, or individual has a respectable way to deal with illegal immigration. However, the United States has not fully given their attention this issue deserves. If Americans’ can come together as a nation and solve this problem, the overall future of this country will only look stronger and brighter.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,
Since I started kindergarten, I was constantly informed how important staying in school was. No matter how tough the work got, stay focused and graduate. Teachers, to my knowledge as an elementary school kid, were like gods. They seemed to know everything, and with each day, my horizons were broadened. However, I never had the chance to resist schooling. There was no such thing, in my family, as quitting school and not doing my best. Education was the key to becoming successful in life. Yet if this is true, why is education the first thing to be cut during the process of creating the state’s yearly budget? Education should not be the state’s first target when cutting the budget down because these young kids are our future. Success had become harder to reach, and for once, the kids are not to blame.
When reading the Northern Star, I stumbled across an article regarding the education cuts happening throughout Illinois. The article “Programs Cut to Help Balance the Budget”, by Thomas Verschelde, focuses mainly on the programs being cut in the Sycamore School District 427. But in the bigger picture, according to WQAD,” from preschool to high school there will be a 4.3 percent cut, which equals about $11 million”. With that, an estimated 17,000 teachers are expected to lose their jobs, according to the Huffington Post. Not only will a number of staff be cut, but also after school programs. I feel that after school programs are the easiest target for the Board of Education to cut, because they may not seem as important as the general education classes. However, as class sizes begin to increase, how will students receive that individual help they need?

I personally relate to this article because I work at Sycamore Middle School for a program called Teen REACH. Every day after school, the kids which participate in this program receive help on their homework and have a chance to obtain the help they may need in a particular subject. The proof of these students’ success is directly through their grades. They all show improvement, whether it’s a slow or immediate progression. How is this program, along with others that are similar to this in other schools, not important enough to keep? There is no way for a child to excel if they are left behind at day one.
However, I understand that several things were taken into consideration when planning for the new year. Education isn’t the only thing taking a hit. Income tax is expected to rise, along with a spending cut in Human Services and the Health Department, according to the Sunshine Review. But where are all of these cuts leading to? Hopefully a debt free America, which looks highly unlikely in the near future. “There are signs that state finances will start to stabilize after next year, but recovery will be slow.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) Governor Pat Quinn shouldn’t necessarily be our first target. Illinois is clearly doing everything they can to pull us out of our $13 billion deficit, according to MSNBC.

Is the Internet Changing the World Completely?

Throughout the past decade, all generations have, together, gone through several different changes. We think differently, speak differently, dress differently, and react differently to situations. However, the biggest type of change we made is the way which we communicate, find out information, and relieve ourselves from boredom. How, might one ask? Through the infamous world wide web. These days, everyone relies on the internet and the way it makes the world go round. Despite our dependence on the internet, I don’t think it should change the way we read, write and think. This is the valid argument that Nicholas Carr brings up in his article. In the article “Is Google Making us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr, the valid argument about the reliance of the internet is brought up. Carr brings up the constant feeling that someone is messing with his brain. The ability to sit down and read a book has diminished and gains a feeling of ADHD after a few pages. His reasoning? The amount of time spent on the internet. Over the past decade or so, Carr’s internet usage has gone up a great deal. Everything revolves around the internet. These days if one mentions going to the library and using a book to find research, other may think their crazy. A few clicks can get this society so far. Carr finds his other acquaintance, Scott Karp, whom is an intellectual blogger, has simply given up reading once and for all. The ability to simply absorb long articles is simply vanished. Our way of writing has changed since the invention of the type writer. Carr feels that our generation is reading now more than ever, however, it’s not the same. Texting messaging and short and sweet explanations are skewing how the brain wants to retain information. Friedrich Nietzsche, a famous writer, bought a typewriter in 1882 and after mastering each button successfully, “words could once again flow from his mind to the page” (Carr). However, typing brings a different tone to how we write things. Carr goes on explaining other changes which technology has done to the human brain. However, since the invention of the printing press, our train of thought has been a constant worry.

Carr brings up very strong opinions about the use of the internet. He, along with psychologist Maryanne Wolfe, believe our need for “efficiency” and immediacy” weakens the ability of our brain to more “deep reading” (Carr). The fact of the matter is, it does. The internet provides a safe haven for quick answers and brief, yet informative articles. Therefore, when a group of students, perhaps, are told to read long articles, most merely skim the article and retrieve only the main ideas. Carr also explains his inability to stay focused due to frequent internet use. His friend also believes the same, however, society today needs to understand the balance between internet and reading books. Younger generations simply learn to just Google questions rather than finding the answer in a book. Carr feels that we are reading more now than back in the 1970s and 1980s. I feel this is only opinion. People from that generation couldn’t simply log onto a computer to retrieve information. Going through several books broadened the mind immensely. Though Carr brings many facts into this article, some ideas are more biased than others.
The obvious argument in this article is the issue of what the internet has done to our minds. Carr uses many personal anecdotes and also those of his friends. Lucky for him, his friends are fairly intellectual individuals and can offer a well put together opinion about the internet. In addition to Carr’s friends, he also found evidence in psychologists, sociologists, and different scientists. All of their statements give quotable, and reliable, information backing up Carr. He defiantly took the time to research about the usage of the internet. Towards the end of the article, Carr includes information about Google the founders of the search engine itself, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. “In Eric Schmidt’s words, “to solve problems that have never been solved before,” and artificial intelligence is the hardest problem out there. Why wouldn’t Brin and Page want to be the ones to crack it?” (Carr).

The invention of the internet has made the world more connected. Through trial and error, the geniuses of the world have perfected and changed the way people find information, communicate with other, and pass time by simply typing in a web address and clicking “GO”. I’m sure many feel that this is a blessing, but for Carr, the effects could be even more damaging not just for his generations, but the future generations. Modern individuals have lost the ability to use a card catalogue in a library. But why blame us? Finding answers and doing research is so much more convenient than searching through maybe more than one book. Carr feels that because of the simplicity of finding information, we are losing the ability to retain it more effectively.



Despite the length of the article and the urge to simply skim it, I found that I was immediately interested in what Carr had to say. His tone is fairly formal for a great amount of the article, but I feel he has to be to make himself sound believable, for he is holding the database of the world responsible for dumbing us down. Causal language is very much intertwined though. Carr is obviously an excellent writer, so his sophisticated language is defiantly a supported in his claims, along with other evidence he supplies.
All in all, Carr really gets across what the internet is doing to people all around the world. Through extensive research and personal experience, he feels that the internet is weakening the way our brain works. I feel that we all know what the internet is doing to our thought process, but we all want to ignore it. Most everyone’s answer for an problem is “just Google it”. I know I wouldn’t go to the library and find an answer or do a research paper unless I had my laptop with me. I haven’t, however, lost the ability to read a book, but when I’m handed a lengthy article, I simply just skim it. Technology is so importance to this world and the future ahead of us, but are we losing more than what we gain?

Letters to a Southern Baptist Minister

Letters to a Southern Baptist Minister 

In the essay “Letter to a Southern Baptist Minister”, Edward O. Wilson reached out to a pastor, asking for his help. He explicitly explains his views towards religion and how Earth came to be. Wilson grew up a boy of religion, just like most children do. As he became older, he turned the other way. Even though his views are based on a scientific perspective Wilson believes that himself along with the pastor could easily sit down and discuss what is going to happen to this earth if daily habits continue. Being a Southerner is the main bondage of these two individuals. Wilson goes on describing why religion does not make sense in his eyes. Heaven and hell are what we “create for ourselves” (464). Putting that aside, uncontrollable things are happening to this world and Wilson feels that this Southern pastor would be the only one to understand. Each individual are to blame for killing what Wilson calls the Creation. Every living species is beautiful in their own unique way, yet within the next few decades, these spectacular creatures will soon begin to disappear forever. Wilson goes on and questions the lacks of interest religious leaders have on protecting the precious Creation. Humans are too self-centered preparing for the afterlife, rather than Nature itself.  When the time comes for God to divide us between these two afterlives, some may be set free in heaven with body and spirit, while others continue a life of suffering and die a brutal death. Those who are sent to hell will stay there forever while Earth withers away. Yet somehow, 10 billion other forms of life do not matter? Wilson begs the pastor to prove him wrong. He goes on backing up his claim by using research and ideals from the famous Charles Darwin. Darwin separated himself from religion and science and created the theory of evolution. This is what separates Wilson from the pastor. However, Wilson will cross the lines of Christian denomination in order to help our ever changing Earth. He ends wanting to gain knowledge, yet off scientific insight to the situation as well, even though science and religion rarely mix. 

In my perspective, Wilson completely achieves his purpose of the letter. He goes into this letter explaining his views very intensely, but goes into detail about how he understands the religious views as well. Science and religion should be combined to save the well being of mother nature. Wilson finds other ways himself and the past can connect, “…we are both Americans and, insofar as it might still affect civility and good manners, we are both Southerners” (463). I, myself, do not believe in a type of religion or “greater being”, but I feel that doesn’t make me more right than anyone else. I feel Wilson needs an outsider’s opinion on this ever changing Earth. Scientists may give the same answer, but sometimes a pastor has another insight on to make Earth beautiful once again. I did feel lost at some points of his essay because he jumped back and forth between science and religion a lot. After going back and rereading, though, there is a clear connection between the two things, no matter how separated they may seem, which will probably help the pastor see Wilson’s point. The most attention getting point of this letter was when Wilson really showed is true colors on science and religion combined. He put his foot down questioning if “human-centered ethics and preparation for the afterlife are the only things that matter?” (465) At this moment did Wilson show the importance of saving the Creation. I started losing interest and personal connection with his writing, but the paragraph and on really caught my attention and made me realize why he needed the help of the pastor. Some things are too great to only see in one light.