Immigration and Identity
As usual, the news (almost anywhere you find it) is providing little understanding to people on the subject of immigration. The emphasis is on illegal immigration and civil rights and has a decided political approach. And, it goes without saying (but I'm going to say it anyway), the information is presented in the most confrontational way possible. When information is presented in this way, there is usually nothing of value that is passed along.
A better approach is a simple question and answer format; i.e., why are people upset over illegal immigration? The answer may seem simple, but I believe if we delve deeply into the matter we will find that it has to do with a fear of a change in identity. Let's look at it.
For years, even decades, Mexicans have crossed over into the U.S. and it has not been an issue. Why did they come? They came predominantly because they could get a decent paying job in the U.S. We welcomed these Mexicans because we needed their labor and the labor was inexpensive. In otherwords the U.S. benefited from this arrangement. Mexico benefited as well because those immigrants sent much of their money back to Mexico which often help to moderate and stabilize the Mexican economy.
So what has changed within the last few years that has resulted in the controversial Arizona law (SB 1070) and the demonstrations, boycotts and political posturing, even in a time when illegal immigration is declining. What's changed is that the number of Mexicans, both legal and illegal, has grown such that the demographics of Hispanic people has become a more potent force in the culture and, Hispanics are impacting the culture.
The problem with immigration is that when foreigners come into the country they bring their culture with them. One of the most powerful cultural change agents is language. Without ennumerating a large list, suffice it to to say that having two official languages is costly and as well as divisive. And, certainly, it creates two identities within a country.
These powerful influences are not just found in the current U.S./Mexican border situation. As discussed in my new book, "The Fall and Rise," Romans had the same problem with barbarian invasions. The barbarians wanted to be in Rome and be Roman like, but they brought their culture with them. Rome did not fall, it just changed. And, while some U.S. citizens do not want to change, change will come along with a different national identity. Similar situations a are currently being found in Europe and else where around the world. While U.S. immigration policy needs to be re-formed, we will be able to do a better job of reforming if we have a better understanding of how we arrived at the current state of affairs.
