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The American Dream
The American Dream. We Americans love to flaunt this phrase about and we take great pride in the wealth and opportunities that exist in our country. We have great patriotic pride in the freedoms we hold and are eager to attain the coveted dream of success. But herein lies an odd hypocrisy. We boast about the superiority of our country, but we are very anxious about letting outsiders in. Immigration has been a topic of controversy in the United States since the days when European settlers first set their feet on the eastern shores of the country. Discrimination, xenophobia, and fear of change have been contributing factors to the persecution of immigrants. These constructs have been the constant, while the group being persecuted has been the variable. Unfortunately, people do not consider this vicious cycle of intolerance. They do not see that the concerns they are fighting against are, in many cases, the same concerns that many of their ancestors had to deal with and overcome. Another aspect many do not consider is the reasons why people are apt to relocate to the United States. These people have generally not seen the extreme impoverished conditions that are so predominant throughout many other countries. Perhaps they do not consider the injustice of it all. Perhaps they do not realize that most migrants do choose to migrate, but in fact, are forced to for the sake of sheer survival. The complexity of migration is seemingly boundless. Push-pull factors, corruption of governments, difficulties in the immigration process are only a few of the concerns. Whether people are willing to admit it or not, migrants comprise the population of this country. We are a nation of countless colors, backgrounds, origins and nationalities. American people need to realize that this aspect is part of what makes the American Dream possible and alive. The fact that any average old Joe can come into this country and build a life and achieve success is a pretty amazing characteristic. |
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