Friday, May 16, 2008
Thoughts on Immigration
I'm curious as to how we, as a nation, are against more generous immigration policies while we strive to improve diversity in the work force. These two values seem to conflict, even though they're applied at different levels.
What would our forbears think if they saw our immigration policies today? The majority of us are descendants of the beneficiaries of an open door policy. So we're acting in conflict with one of the nation's original values. Not to mention needing the labor pool.
The immigration conservatives make a good point. There is something to be said for preserving, or at least slowing change in our existing culture. Learning the language, and obeying our laws is not asking too much of immigrants. Tribes entering our country vary in their willingness to assimilate. We don't find much backlash against those who do it well. We perceive them as wanting to become Americans, as opposed to annexing our neighborhoods and cities, turning them into something foreign.
But our immigration policies need to balance these two core American values: an open door immigration policy (or at least more open than it is now), and pride in our culture. The key lies in balancing these.
Perhaps immigration policy should reflect each group's historical capacity to integrate with the existing culture. That would open the door wider for those striving to assimilate, and slow down those resisting integration. Sure, there would be all kinds of argument about measurment, but the notion balances an open door policy with the need to integrate.
What would our forbears think if they saw our immigration policies today? The majority of us are descendants of the beneficiaries of an open door policy. So we're acting in conflict with one of the nation's original values. Not to mention needing the labor pool.
The immigration conservatives make a good point. There is something to be said for preserving, or at least slowing change in our existing culture. Learning the language, and obeying our laws is not asking too much of immigrants. Tribes entering our country vary in their willingness to assimilate. We don't find much backlash against those who do it well. We perceive them as wanting to become Americans, as opposed to annexing our neighborhoods and cities, turning them into something foreign.
But our immigration policies need to balance these two core American values: an open door immigration policy (or at least more open than it is now), and pride in our culture. The key lies in balancing these.
Perhaps immigration policy should reflect each group's historical capacity to integrate with the existing culture. That would open the door wider for those striving to assimilate, and slow down those resisting integration. Sure, there would be all kinds of argument about measurment, but the notion balances an open door policy with the need to integrate.
