From Lugano to La Jolla....what a remarkable amalgam of ideas, insights, and perspectives. Welcome to this site. Mr. Izsa (TASIS) and Mrs. Shaul (LJCDS) invite you to join us in our conversations about the history and the realities of America's history and culture--from a decidedly international perspective.
Each month a new series of questions will be posted here by Mr. Izsa and Mrs. Shaul. Please click on the blog posts and write in your comments for the questions below, per your teacher's instructions.
Please make certain that entries are thoughtfully written (check for typos and grammatical faux pas), as erudite as you can make them, and appropriately worded for a school-related activity (note: students from other parts of the world may not share your same philosophies or your same sense of humor, so please be mindful of our differences).
With every blog session assigned, one or two can be direct responses to the questions, but at least one MUST respond directly to the students who have already written posts, answering one thread per question (more is welcome, this is the minimum requirement).Be specific. Explain why you might agree or disagree with their (his/her) opinions. Feel free to "debate" or "discuss" with your international counterpart. Make sure we can identify you with your name so you can receive credit for your contributions.
Monday, February 11, 2013
February Question #3: What is YOUR question?
What question would you like students from your partner school to answer?
In 2008 there was an estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S! This is such a large number and it has only grown. There is no way that we can deport all illegal immigrants because of pure numbers, however the United States can take more precautions against immigration.
Immigrants are motivated to leave their home countries for various reasons which can be social, political, environmental, you name it. "The grass is always greener on the other side" poses the appeal of opportunity and success where someone is not. Immigrants can also be promoted to leave a country because their home country is in the midst of a political revival or they do not feel safe. The foreign country may pose economic opportunity that is not available in the host country and, after all, money is a big factor in one's life. If I were given the choice to leave my country and become and immigrant in another country, I would not take that option. Although I hope to travel various places in my life, I have no reason at this stage to forgo my citizenship here and take up citizenship somewhere else. Maybe later in life, however I'm content as a US citizen now.
What motivates immigrants to leave their home country and start a new life in a foreign country will different from people to people. It may be due to political issues in their country, religious, social, and lots more. Why they take such a huge risk is simply because they think that living in a new country would make their lives better. "Better" might be in terms of their religious values, safety, job opportunity, and lots more. Personally, I would not immigrate to a new country because I do not want to take risks. Language is one issue. If I am not familiar with the native language in that country, it would make communication very difficult. This would effect my life styles and jobs. No, I would not immigrate if I had the choice because I am very satisfied with the environment that I am in right now, but I cannot declare this, because situations might change later on in my life.
It's really hard for me to look at someone in America and immediately call them an immigrant because America truly is a melting pot of people with heritages from all over the world. I have many friends who although may not look like the traditional "white" American, most of them were born in America and it's the generations before them that were immigrants, so they are as much of an American as anyone else. My mom was born and raised in Japan and she is the first one in her family to live in America. With my Dad being raised in the U.S., their two cultures have greatly impacted my way of life so it's only natural for me to look at other people of different cultures and see that they are similar to me in the sense that either they themselves are immigrants, or are descendants of immigrants, who are mixing their culture with their own customs and creating a more diverse people. If you ask an American what they are, they most likely won't tell you that they are American, but rather the countries from which their ancestors came from, and that's what makes me differentiate even less amongst immigrants because the majority of the people in America today consist of multiple races and cultures, making it nearly impossible point out who is the immigrant and who was born in America.
Because I live in San Diego which is really close to the US-Mexican border I find that I have a lot of friends who are either the first or second generation of their family to be in the United States. Usually people come to the US from Mexico for better work opportunities. Working conditions and wages tend to be a lot better in the United States. Also, certain parts of Mexico are very dangerous due to the drug trade and the violence that accompanies it.
I believe I have the most Chinese friends. That is due to the fact that I study chinese and have always been interested in Asian cultures. They mainly move to the US because their families move here or they want better opportunities in terms of jobs, athletics, etc.
No I am not. Although I am an American citizen and am seen as "american" my paternal grandmother is from Germany and my maternal great grandparents are from Italy.
My mom came to American from Jamaica when she was six and my paternal great- grandparents came when here from Ireland and Italy. I do consider myself an American because I was born here, but my family is not originally from America, which is very common.
Not only do I consider myself a Native American, I also consider myself a Californian since I have lived here my whole life and both my parents have too. But in the generation before them, my dad's parents were from Europe and my mom's from Mexico.
I truly consider myself Native American. Not only is my grandfather full Cherokee, but also my father is full hispanic. As well as my grandparents, my parents, and I have always lived in the US, which I consider another reason why I am a Native American.
Although I was actually born in Virginia, both of my parents are Persian (Iran) and came to the US about 16 years ago, which technically makes me full Persian. Having Persian parents and being born in America has its perks because it grants me dual citizenship to both countries which may come in hand.
I would leave my country, maybe not for a better like, but for a different life. I think my country is great but it also had some problems. Living in another would be interesting an it is something at appeals to me.
It really depends. If I were to leave the US for a better life it would have to be a lot better. Life is pretty good in the US, and since I would have to make new friends if I moved, I wouldn't be too keen on leaving. However, if an opportunity presented itself that would allow for a much higher quality of life, then I think I would take advantage of that situation.
I am SO ready to leave the US. I feel like everything here is so stagnant; with due respect to the US and the comforts it has afforded me, I am ready to dream sleep think and hustle in another language.
Since I was born, I have lived in Dubai, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia, New York, Maryland again, and San Diego. My parents goal have been to optimize our lifestyles as much as possible so moving to a better place to have a better life would be ver probable for my family, and I wouldn't have too much of a problem with it.
Yes, I would defiantly move back, I am half Italian and half French and moved to American 2 years ago. I have lived in 5 different European cities and they have all been different experiences. American is very different that any European country I have ever travelled to. Every day life is very different. There are many different things I miss about home.
Yes, I would move back. I grew up in London and, although, I do like the states, I wouldn't mind venturing off back to the UK or Spain. I think the biggest advantage to moving back would be the opportunity to travel to more places. It is a lot easier to go out and explore in Europe than it is in the states, and there is a lot more to see too. Also, living abroad really helps you meet new and interesting people and you further your connection with people all over the world.
I have lived in London, England for 5 years between the ages of 7 and 12 and I have to say, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and made the transition from a small town to a very large city. Although it was a bit hard, I learned to love the cultures of England, ranging from a large muslim population to the typical Brit. I also traveled the world from there and gained a lot of life experiences in my endeavors. I would totally move back at one point in my life and am looking forward to a year abroad in college!
I would not like to move to Europe. However, I have wanted to go and revisit Europe ever since I took a trip to Italy and Spain. I loved the culture there and the experience was amazing.
I would love to move back to Europe. I lived in Sweden for two years and loved almost everything about the country. Moving from the warm weather of San Diego, it was really hard for my family and I to get used to the cold weather at first. The Swedish culture was somewhat similar to the Japanese culture my parents raised me by, so I didn't have much trouble with understanding the people there or communicating since most Swedes know how to speak English. I'd like to move back there and learn how to speak Swedish fluently again.
What do you think about Mexican immigrants in the US? Do you dislike them? What rights do you think they should be granted? Do you think it is right for them to have such a hard time while trying to cross the border to the US?
There is no simple yes or no answer to your questions Nicole. Although my opinion about culture may be slightly biased, being that I live in San Diego, just a short car ride away from the border, but Mexican culture is very ever present in the US. I also believe that Mexicans are a valued part of the culture and society of US, and also are some of the kindest people I've met. So to answer your question, no I do not dislike Mexican immigrants in the US.
However, although I completely understand how much of a struggle it is to leave ones country and try to start a new life in the US, I also believe that if you're going emigrate to the US, you need to accept the responsibilities of becoming a US citizen and pay the dues that all Americans have to as well. I believe it's hard to cross the border to start a new life in America because the US only allows 20,000 or so Mexicans immigrants a year. This is a far lower number than the actual number of Mexican citizens that want to come to America. Also unfortunately, I believe the US is trying hard only to accept people who they think are going to benefit the country in all aspects.
I feel like there are no interments that are truly disliked all through out the U.S. However, there are racial slurs against almost every race that reside in the U.S. I have heard a variety of different slurs used for every race, Caucasian people born in the U.S.
Maria, I think there would be a disastrous loss of culture in the US if all the immigrants left considering everyone has descendants from other countries. Factually speaking, over 10% of the United States population would disappear leading to a smaller market, and quite possibly, a smaller economic revenue. Granted, a smaller population would make our lives less crowded, but the usefulness of immigrants outweighs the overpopulation in the US. Many great minds, athletes, and artists have come to the United States, influencing our education and our culture beneficially.
What do you think should be done in terms of helping developing countries to stop emigration from there, so that those migrants wouldn't need to immigrate to developed countries and almost overcrowd it?
Did or did not immigration help the American economy and development back then? Besides, would you say that immigration is a good idea nowadays(for the U.S.A especially) ?
Migrating would without a doubt be a huge lifestyle change; leaving a world power like the United States and moving to a third-world country in Africa. Becoming aware of many of the day-to-day luxuries that Americans often take for granted, among which are running water, the abundance of a wide-selection of food, and all of the technology we utilize in our society, would definitely be eye-opening. It would be extremely difficult to uproot and leave behind the prosperity of the culture I am so immersed in.
Other than the basic necessities I would take both a camera and video camera as well as a journal to document the entire experience and note the dramatic differences between the society I came from and the one that I was then living in.
I think that if all immigrants in the US were returned to their countries it would change America completely. Our country is a huge mix of all types of people and this mix contributes to our culture. Although immigrants weren't born American I think that many people see them as Americans. Lots of people born in the US have cultures that are similar to immigrants' culture and relate to the immigrants as if they were from America. Having immigrants in our country allows us to be diverse and exciting. If all of the immigrants left America it would leave a big gap in our culture, traditions, celebrations, and overall society.
I do not think Americans dislike immigrants whatsoever. I would like to think that our country as a whole welcomes them with open arms, just as we have since the founding of this country. Illegal immigrants on the other hand, are a different story, and yes you could say we don't like people coming here illegally. It is not fair that there are people trying to come here legally while other people are ignoring the process completely. I would not say there is a hatred, though.
The idea that many people have is that immigrants, usually illegal, take the jobs of people who have citizenship in the United States (or home country) and prevent them from these opportunities. Often, we put a planet on immigration and say that illegal immigrants need to be deported because of various reasons. These reasons include what was previously mentioned (they take away jobs), they introduce drugs into the host country, they lead to overpopulation, they don't have any allegiance to their host country, etc. When it comes down to it, there are good reasons and bad reasons for everything. Hate is a strong word, however many people feel hate toward these immigrants. I do not dislike immigrants nor do I dislike illegal immigrants. I think our society is very concerned with putting labels on groups of people (stereotyping) without getting at the real problem at hand. Whether or not immigrants are bad is a question that will get us no where and we need to accept that there are immigrants (legal and illegal) in nearly every country and promote discussions between cultures to learn about ourselves and each other.
My ancestors moved to the U.S. during the late 18th century from Ireland in search of labor and a new life. I'm not sure about my peers, but a large majority of americans aren't actually "americans". I would classify Native Americans as true americans, but on the contrary, american citizens today classify other americans in terms of patriotism, which I think is absurd in some ways. I have nothing against immigrants in this country. I believe that most immigrants are only coming to America for opportunity and not for reasons that America stereotypes them for like drug deals and "stealing our jobs". It's repulsive how stereotypical and prodigious our county can be sometimes.
I would probably like to travel around europe because i've never been there before. I would like to see italy and greece because they seem like pretty swell places to see.
I would rather travel around Europe because that is where my family is from. My ancestors lived in Russia, Austria and Ukraine so I would probably start by seeing those three places. It would be nice to see the culture that my ancestors lived in and I would be able to get a feel of where I come from. After that I would probably make my way to Israel because I have family living there right now.
I'd much rather prefer to travel around Europe than the states. I grew up over seas in London and the transportation is a lot more simple. It is a lot easier to travel between countries there because there are a lot more ways of doing so. It's easy to take a train to Scotland or Paris and experience something completely different. The states is something that changes from state to state, but not as drastically as Europe. Quite frankly, the people are a lot more likely to jump in on your adventure with you while in Europe than here in the states.
I think traveling around Europe would be way more interesting, than traveling the states. I've traveled to many places in the states and many places in Europe, and I think Europe has a lot more to see. I think traveling to Greece would be really exciting, because there is so much history there.
I would rather travel around Europe than the US for many reasons. Firstly, traveling from country to country in Europe is much easier than in the US. Also, every country in Europe is completely different from each other allowing for completely different experiences to occur. I would be interested in traveling to Spain because I have never been, and find it to be a place with many interesting aspects to it.
I would prefer to travel around Europe because it has so much more history than the United States do. It is a much older country, with ruins and such and I believe you could learn more traveling to a foreign country with a foreign language that traveling around your own with customs that you are used to.
I would say mostly positive, for one can learn from new experiences and cultures. But of course there is a negative side, which is mainly having to deal with the stereotypes that people have about the country you come from originally. Overall there is no way to really say if it is mostly positive or negative, it really depends on what each person makes of their experience in a new place:)
To respond to Artem the Great, I would travel to Europe to have a greater experience. The culture is very diverse and each country has different creations, ideology and history. In my life time. I would be exposed to much more culture shock in Europe because I already have seen a lot in America and very little in Europe.
To answer Dr. Dr. Schmid, most Americans dislike immigrants because they are just more people coming to their country, over populating, and taking their jobs. I think immigrants are essential in creating the cultural "melting pot" America was said to be, because America was founded entirely on people from different places wanting to start a new.
To answer Isabel's from Italy question, I believe that it is not possible to deport all the illegal immigrants. It would take too much time and money in order to do this, and it would be very hard to do it as well. It is thought that there are around 15 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the US.
Have any of your families had to migrate to a different country? Are you a first or second generation citizen, or does your family have a long history in a single country?
Having dual citizenship in France and in the USA, I consider myself half American and half French. Being an American citizen means a lot to me because it is a powerful country that is full of diversity. While the world is in an economic crisis since 2008, the politic and economic system of the USA works pretty well compare to other european countries such as Greece, of France. The values that represent me are the same that represent the Americans: hard-working and open-minded.
Does you feel as though America has become consumed by other races besides home grown Americans? If so, do you feel we should restrict immigration into our country and preserve the meaning of being an "American"?
I believe it depends on whether they apply for citizenship or not. Illegal immigrants do not pay taxes while citizens do. Immigrants in general, though, usually do the "dirty work" in America such as doing the jobs most American citizens wouldn't do like janitors and laborers. Legal immigrants contribute to society with taxes, while illegal immigrants do not.
How is the economic fallout in Europe (specifically in Italy and Switzerland) affecting the unemployment rate in your area? Do you see many people looking for jobs but the jobs are just not there? Do you find a lot of homeless people out on the streets seeking shelter?
Do you think Americans should take more jobs than the immigrants? I know there has been a lot of issues going on how foreigners who get low personal expenses take the jobs and not Americans.
What are some reasons that push you to choose leaving your own country and exploring a completely foreign place? Will you understand the immigrants more after considering their thoughts and the difficulties they've been through?
How do you view the United States in comparison to your own country? Is it a positive or negative view? What do you think about the people and our society in comparison to yours? Is it a goal of yours to some day be a resident or citizen here?
Isabel (Italy)
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to deport all illegal immigrants? How many illegal immigrants are estimated to enter the United States?
In 2008 there was an estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S! This is such a large number and it has only grown. There is no way that we can deport all illegal immigrants because of pure numbers, however the United States can take more precautions against immigration.
DeleteWhat motivates these immigrants to move to foreign countries? If you had a choice, would you leave your own country or you'd rather stay?
ReplyDeleteImmigrants are motivated to leave their home countries for various reasons which can be social, political, environmental, you name it. "The grass is always greener on the other side" poses the appeal of opportunity and success where someone is not. Immigrants can also be promoted to leave a country because their home country is in the midst of a political revival or they do not feel safe. The foreign country may pose economic opportunity that is not available in the host country and, after all, money is a big factor in one's life. If I were given the choice to leave my country and become and immigrant in another country, I would not take that option. Although I hope to travel various places in my life, I have no reason at this stage to forgo my citizenship here and take up citizenship somewhere else. Maybe later in life, however I'm content as a US citizen now.
DeleteWhat motivates immigrants to leave their home country and start a new life in a foreign country will different from people to people. It may be due to political issues in their country, religious, social, and lots more. Why they take such a huge risk is simply because they think that living in a new country would make their lives better. "Better" might be in terms of their religious values, safety, job opportunity, and lots more. Personally, I would not immigrate to a new country because I do not want to take risks. Language is one issue. If I am not familiar with the native language in that country, it would make communication very difficult. This would effect my life styles and jobs. No, I would not immigrate if I had the choice because I am very satisfied with the environment that I am in right now, but I cannot declare this, because situations might change later on in my life.
DeleteAngela (Italy)
ReplyDeleteDo you differentiate among immigrants from diverse countries or do you see them as all the same? Is someone of you a descendant of immigrants?
It's really hard for me to look at someone in America and immediately call them an immigrant because America truly is a melting pot of people with heritages from all over the world. I have many friends who although may not look like the traditional "white" American, most of them were born in America and it's the generations before them that were immigrants, so they are as much of an American as anyone else. My mom was born and raised in Japan and she is the first one in her family to live in America. With my Dad being raised in the U.S., their two cultures have greatly impacted my way of life so it's only natural for me to look at other people of different cultures and see that they are similar to me in the sense that either they themselves are immigrants, or are descendants of immigrants, who are mixing their culture with their own customs and creating a more diverse people. If you ask an American what they are, they most likely won't tell you that they are American, but rather the countries from which their ancestors came from, and that's what makes me differentiate even less amongst immigrants because the majority of the people in America today consist of multiple races and cultures, making it nearly impossible point out who is the immigrant and who was born in America.
DeleteFrom which countries do you have the most immigrant friends? What is the main reason to why they move to the US?
ReplyDeleteBecause I live in San Diego which is really close to the US-Mexican border I find that I have a lot of friends who are either the first or second generation of their family to be in the United States. Usually people come to the US from Mexico for better work opportunities. Working conditions and wages tend to be a lot better in the United States. Also, certain parts of Mexico are very dangerous due to the drug trade and the violence that accompanies it.
DeleteI believe I have the most Chinese friends. That is due to the fact that I study chinese and have always been interested in Asian cultures. They mainly move to the US because their families move here or they want better opportunities in terms of jobs, athletics, etc.
DeleteAre you a Native American in terms of ancestors? Or did you great-grandparents, grandparents or parents came from elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteNo I am not. Although I am an American citizen and am seen as "american" my paternal grandmother is from Germany and my maternal great grandparents are from Italy.
DeleteMy mom came to American from Jamaica when she was six and my paternal great- grandparents came when here from Ireland and Italy. I do consider myself an American because I was born here, but my family is not originally from America, which is very common.
DeleteNot only do I consider myself a Native American, I also consider myself a Californian since I have lived here my whole life and both my parents have too. But in the generation before them, my dad's parents were from Europe and my mom's from Mexico.
DeleteI was born in the Sudan and emigrated to the US as a refuge by way of Egypt.
Delete-Julia Julima
I truly consider myself Native American. Not only is my grandfather full Cherokee, but also my father is full hispanic. As well as my grandparents, my parents, and I have always lived in the US, which I consider another reason why I am a Native American.
DeleteAlthough I was actually born in Virginia, both of my parents are Persian (Iran) and came to the US about 16 years ago, which technically makes me full Persian. Having Persian parents and being born in America has its perks because it grants me dual citizenship to both countries which may come in hand.
Deleteare you ready to move from your country to another country to have a better life?
ReplyDeleteI would leave my country, maybe not for a better like, but for a different life. I think my country is great but it also had some problems. Living in another would be interesting an it is something at appeals to me.
DeleteIt really depends. If I were to leave the US for a better life it would have to be a lot better. Life is pretty good in the US, and since I would have to make new friends if I moved, I wouldn't be too keen on leaving. However, if an opportunity presented itself that would allow for a much higher quality of life, then I think I would take advantage of that situation.
DeleteI am SO ready to leave the US. I feel like everything here is so stagnant; with due respect to the US and the comforts it has afforded me, I am ready to dream sleep think and hustle in another language.
Delete-Julia Julima
Since I was born, I have lived in Dubai, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia, New York, Maryland again, and San Diego. My parents goal have been to optimize our lifestyles as much as possible so moving to a better place to have a better life would be ver probable for my family, and I wouldn't have too much of a problem with it.
DeleteWould you like to move to Europe? If yes why?
ReplyDeleteYes, I would defiantly move back, I am half Italian and half French and moved to American 2 years ago. I have lived in 5 different European cities and they have all been different experiences. American is very different that any European country I have ever travelled to. Every day life is very different. There are many different things I miss about home.
DeleteYes, I would move back. I grew up in London and, although, I do like the states, I wouldn't mind venturing off back to the UK or Spain. I think the biggest advantage to moving back would be the opportunity to travel to more places. It is a lot easier to go out and explore in Europe than it is in the states, and there is a lot more to see too. Also, living abroad really helps you meet new and interesting people and you further your connection with people all over the world.
DeleteI would love to move to Europe! I think it would be wonderful to experience all the cultures of Europe and be able to explore different countries.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI have lived in London, England for 5 years between the ages of 7 and 12 and I have to say, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and made the transition from a small town to a very large city. Although it was a bit hard, I learned to love the cultures of England, ranging from a large muslim population to the typical Brit. I also traveled the world from there and gained a lot of life experiences in my endeavors. I would totally move back at one point in my life and am looking forward to a year abroad in college!
DeleteI would not like to move to Europe. However, I have wanted to go and revisit Europe ever since I took a trip to Italy and Spain. I loved the culture there and the experience was amazing.
DeleteI would love to move back to Europe. I lived in Sweden for two years and loved almost everything about the country. Moving from the warm weather of San Diego, it was really hard for my family and I to get used to the cold weather at first. The Swedish culture was somewhat similar to the Japanese culture my parents raised me by, so I didn't have much trouble with understanding the people there or communicating since most Swedes know how to speak English. I'd like to move back there and learn how to speak Swedish fluently again.
DeleteWhat do you think about Mexican immigrants in the US? Do you dislike them? What rights do you think they should be granted? Do you think it is right for them to have such a hard time while trying to cross the border to the US?
ReplyDeleteJohn Finkenberg (USA)
DeleteThere is no simple yes or no answer to your questions Nicole. Although my opinion about culture may be slightly biased, being that I live in San Diego, just a short car ride away from the border, but Mexican culture is very ever present in the US. I also believe that Mexicans are a valued part of the culture and society of US, and also are some of the kindest people I've met. So to answer your question, no I do not dislike Mexican immigrants in the US.
However, although I completely understand how much of a struggle it is to leave ones country and try to start a new life in the US, I also believe that if you're going emigrate to the US, you need to accept the responsibilities of becoming a US citizen and pay the dues that all Americans have to as well. I believe it's hard to cross the border to start a new life in America because the US only allows 20,000 or so Mexicans immigrants a year. This is a far lower number than the actual number of Mexican citizens that want to come to America. Also unfortunately, I believe the US is trying hard only to accept people who they think are going to benefit the country in all aspects.
Why are some specific nationalities'' immigrants disliked the most in the U.S? What are these Nationalities?
ReplyDeleteI feel like there are no interments that are truly disliked all through out the U.S. However, there are racial slurs against almost every race that reside in the U.S. I have heard a variety of different slurs used for every race, Caucasian people born in the U.S.
DeleteHow bad would your situation in your native country be for you to move to the US?
ReplyDeleteWhy do these immigrants immigrate? Why should they disturb other people' nations?
ReplyDeleteHow would be hard moving to another country? How many opportunities do immigrants have?
ReplyDeleteWould you leave your country and go to the U.S.? Which obstacles would you meet according to your opinion?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow prohibitionism would affect modern societies?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think there are so many illegal immigrants who do not appropriately register?
ReplyDeleteWhy do immigrants think they can find what they are looking for in another country?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought about moving to Europe with your parents? If so, please explain the reasons!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think that will happen if all immigrants disappeared from your country? Would it benefit economy? Would it make your lives easier?
ReplyDeleteMaria, I think there would be a disastrous loss of culture in the US if all the immigrants left considering everyone has descendants from other countries. Factually speaking, over 10% of the United States population would disappear leading to a smaller market, and quite possibly, a smaller economic revenue. Granted, a smaller population would make our lives less crowded, but the usefulness of immigrants outweighs the overpopulation in the US. Many great minds, athletes, and artists have come to the United States, influencing our education and our culture beneficially.
DeleteWhat do you think should be done in terms of helping developing countries to stop emigration from there, so that those migrants wouldn't need to immigrate to developed countries and almost overcrowd it?
ReplyDeleteDid or did not immigration help the American economy and development back then? Besides, would you say that immigration is a good idea nowadays(for the U.S.A especially) ?
ReplyDeleteWould you immigrate?
ReplyDeleteHow would you feel if you had to migrate to a poor country in Africa? What would you take with you?
ReplyDeleteMigrating would without a doubt be a huge lifestyle change; leaving a world power like the United States and moving to a third-world country in Africa. Becoming aware of many of the day-to-day luxuries that Americans often take for granted, among which are running water, the abundance of a wide-selection of food, and all of the technology we utilize in our society, would definitely be eye-opening. It would be extremely difficult to uproot and leave behind the prosperity of the culture I am so immersed in.
DeleteOther than the basic necessities I would take both a camera and video camera as well as a journal to document the entire experience and note the dramatic differences between the society I came from and the one that I was then living in.
What do you think would happen if all immigrants were returned to their countries?
ReplyDeleteall immigrants in US*
DeleteI think that if all immigrants in the US were returned to their countries it would change America completely. Our country is a huge mix of all types of people and this mix contributes to our culture. Although immigrants weren't born American I think that many people see them as Americans. Lots of people born in the US have cultures that are similar to immigrants' culture and relate to the immigrants as if they were from America. Having immigrants in our country allows us to be diverse and exciting. If all of the immigrants left America it would leave a big gap in our culture, traditions, celebrations, and overall society.
DeleteWhy do most Americans dislike Immigrants? What are the reasons for the hate and Now that you though about it do you still dislike Immigrants?
ReplyDeleteI do not think Americans dislike immigrants whatsoever. I would like to think that our country as a whole welcomes them with open arms, just as we have since the founding of this country. Illegal immigrants on the other hand, are a different story, and yes you could say we don't like people coming here illegally. It is not fair that there are people trying to come here legally while other people are ignoring the process completely. I would not say there is a hatred, though.
DeleteThe idea that many people have is that immigrants, usually illegal, take the jobs of people who have citizenship in the United States (or home country) and prevent them from these opportunities. Often, we put a planet on immigration and say that illegal immigrants need to be deported because of various reasons. These reasons include what was previously mentioned (they take away jobs), they introduce drugs into the host country, they lead to overpopulation, they don't have any allegiance to their host country, etc. When it comes down to it, there are good reasons and bad reasons for everything. Hate is a strong word, however many people feel hate toward these immigrants. I do not dislike immigrants nor do I dislike illegal immigrants. I think our society is very concerned with putting labels on groups of people (stereotyping) without getting at the real problem at hand. Whether or not immigrants are bad is a question that will get us no where and we need to accept that there are immigrants (legal and illegal) in nearly every country and promote discussions between cultures to learn about ourselves and each other.
DeleteWhat is the concentration of people in your class whose ancestors were immigrants to US? What do think about immigrants in your country?
ReplyDeleteMy ancestors moved to the U.S. during the late 18th century from Ireland in search of labor and a new life. I'm not sure about my peers, but a large majority of americans aren't actually "americans". I would classify Native Americans as true americans, but on the contrary, american citizens today classify other americans in terms of patriotism, which I think is absurd in some ways. I have nothing against immigrants in this country. I believe that most immigrants are only coming to America for opportunity and not for reasons that America stereotypes them for like drug deals and "stealing our jobs". It's repulsive how stereotypical and prodigious our county can be sometimes.
Delete* prejudice.
DeleteWould you prefer to travel around USA or Europe in order to get more life experience? Where would you go in the first place and why?
ReplyDeleteI would probably like to travel around europe because i've never been there before. I would like to see italy and greece because they seem like pretty swell places to see.
DeleteI would rather travel around Europe because that is where my family is from. My ancestors lived in Russia, Austria and Ukraine so I would probably start by seeing those three places. It would be nice to see the culture that my ancestors lived in and I would be able to get a feel of where I come from. After that I would probably make my way to Israel because I have family living there right now.
DeleteI'd much rather prefer to travel around Europe than the states. I grew up over seas in London and the transportation is a lot more simple. It is a lot easier to travel between countries there because there are a lot more ways of doing so. It's easy to take a train to Scotland or Paris and experience something completely different. The states is something that changes from state to state, but not as drastically as Europe. Quite frankly, the people are a lot more likely to jump in on your adventure with you while in Europe than here in the states.
DeleteI think traveling around Europe would be way more interesting, than traveling the states. I've traveled to many places in the states and many places in Europe, and I think Europe has a lot more to see. I think traveling to Greece would be really exciting, because there is so much history there.
DeleteI would rather travel around Europe than the US for many reasons. Firstly, traveling from country to country in Europe is much easier than in the US. Also, every country in Europe is completely different from each other allowing for completely different experiences to occur. I would be interested in traveling to Spain because I have never been, and find it to be a place with many interesting aspects to it.
DeleteI would prefer to travel around Europe because it has so much more history than the United States do. It is a much older country, with ruins and such and I believe you could learn more traveling to a foreign country with a foreign language that traveling around your own with customs that you are used to.
DeleteAre the ramifications of migrating to other countries more positive or more negative?
ReplyDeleteI would say mostly positive, for one can learn from new experiences and cultures. But of course there is a negative side, which is mainly having to deal with the stereotypes that people have about the country you come from originally. Overall there is no way to really say if it is mostly positive or negative, it really depends on what each person makes of their experience in a new place:)
DeleteTo respond to Artem the Great, I would travel to Europe to have a greater experience. The culture is very diverse and each country has different creations, ideology and history. In my life time. I would be exposed to much more culture shock in Europe because I already have seen a lot in America and very little in Europe.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Dr. Dr. Schmid, most Americans dislike immigrants because they are just more people coming to their country, over populating, and taking their jobs. I think immigrants are essential in creating the cultural "melting pot" America was said to be, because America was founded entirely on people from different places wanting to start a new.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Isabel's from Italy question, I believe that it is not possible to deport all the illegal immigrants. It would take too much time and money in order to do this, and it would be very hard to do it as well. It is thought that there are around 15 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the US.
ReplyDeleteHave any of your families had to migrate to a different country? Are you a first or second generation citizen, or does your family have a long history in a single country?
ReplyDeleteDo you believe that only being born in the United States makes a person American or you disagree and think that it should be changed??
ReplyDeleteHow do you consider yourself American? What does it mean to you to be an American citizens? WHich values represent you the most?
ReplyDeleteHaving dual citizenship in France and in the USA, I consider myself half American and half French. Being an American citizen means a lot to me because it is a powerful country that is full of diversity. While the world is in an economic crisis since 2008, the politic and economic system of the USA works pretty well compare to other european countries such as Greece, of France. The values that represent me are the same that represent the Americans: hard-working and open-minded.
DeleteCapucine Tuffier
What are the things you would wish to change about the American way of viewing the world?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the most obvious difference between Americans and immigrants? What is the identification of "being American"?
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Americans are too harsh or too lenient on the illegal immigrants in our country? Why or why not?
ReplyDelete-Dani Devor
Does you feel as though America has become consumed by other races besides home grown Americans? If so, do you feel we should restrict immigration into our country and preserve the meaning of being an "American"?
ReplyDeleteIs immigrant in general helpful or harmful to American society these days?
ReplyDeleteI believe it depends on whether they apply for citizenship or not. Illegal immigrants do not pay taxes while citizens do. Immigrants in general, though, usually do the "dirty work" in America such as doing the jobs most American citizens wouldn't do like janitors and laborers. Legal immigrants contribute to society with taxes, while illegal immigrants do not.
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DeleteHow is the economic fallout in Europe (specifically in Italy and Switzerland) affecting the unemployment rate in your area? Do you see many people looking for jobs but the jobs are just not there? Do you find a lot of homeless people out on the streets seeking shelter?
ReplyDeleteHow does the American recession effect the economic growth in your country?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Americans should take more jobs than the immigrants? I know there has been a lot of issues going on how foreigners who get low personal expenses take the jobs and not Americans.
ReplyDeleteDo you think immigrants really take jobs away from Americans, or do they just take jobs that Americans would never want?
ReplyDeleteWhat are some reasons that push you to choose leaving your own country and exploring a completely foreign place? Will you understand the immigrants more after considering their thoughts and the difficulties they've been through?
ReplyDeleteHow do you view the United States in comparison to your own country? Is it a positive or negative view? What do you think about the people and our society in comparison to yours? Is it a goal of yours to some day be a resident or citizen here?
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