Do you agree with what my History teacher from H.S. told me?

Question

I remember once in grade 10 history class, my teacher was talking to me about how immigrants are blamed sometimes. It's because when people who have been living in this country for a long time see other immigrants getting good jobs they get mad at immigrants. I wonder if any of you agree with this statement?

by the way she was reffering to legal immigrants

Answer 1

I agree because one way or another everyone had to face some sort of hatred based on jealousy.

Answer 2

I don't agree.

Historically, people got mad at immigrants because they tipped the political balance by voting for one party or another. Also, immigrants brought their religion with them, and that too became a reason to dislike them (do you remember the know-nothing party?).

Now people are angry at illegal immigrants because they are here illegally. Personally, I don't see a problem with immigration, but I don't like illegal immigrants. Now, my reasoning will follow, so don't get up in arms yet :).

Illegal immigrants are a problem for many reasons:

1. Some of them don't pay taxes, but they still live here. I know that some illegals pay taxes (how they do, I don't know, but it was said in one of the above answers, so I will accept it as fact), but I would guess that there are many who don't. If they want to live here, then they should pay taxes.

2. I highly doubt that employers who are employing illegal immigrants are paying them what they *should* be making- that is robbery and it must stop. The solution is to legitimatize them being in the U.S.

3. We don't know who they are, where they go, what they do; we cannot track them. With the way Iran is making ties with countries like Venezuela, I could foresee people rising up to wage war on the streets of America. We wouldn't know who they were because there is no documentation on them, and so I can foresee a real mess because Latinos that are here legally or those who were born here would automatically be subjected to racial profiling (like what happened to the Japanese during WWII and what happened to Arabs after 9/11). Now, not every Latino is from Venezuela or some other Latin country with a leader that hates the U.S., and not every Latino in those countries agrees with the government, but there are probably some, and that is a problem.

I do not advocate mass deportation, but we need to know who these people are, where they live, who they are related to, where they work, etc. We have to know before it comes and bites us in the rear; I would hate to have to fight in the streets of my own country against an enemy that I can't find. Let's get them documented and then deport those who need to be deported and let stay those who should stay. As to whom falls into those categories, let the politicians decide.

Answer 3

Sure. People throughout history have faced some angry people as they immigrated. A friend recently told me she was upset about Mexican immigrants-yes even legal. Yet, then she told me about her German grandparents who immigrated and how her mother was ridiculed for the food they ate, the clothes they wore-and of course the accent. People then complained immigrants took jobs because they were willing to work for less. It's not so different. I believe we need to work on immigration policies but there is too much hate involved.

Answer 4

I think it's basically a bogus viewpoint. Any person who lives here legally has the same rights as any other citizen, and to say that some who were here longer blame newcomers for their problems is a very short-sighted, biased attitude. On the other hand, it is an entirely different matter to find fault with those who sneak into this country like thieves and contribute nothing and take everything.

Answer 5

I don't agree with that the least bit.

I mean; if it was illigal immigrants they were complaining about, that would make more sense and would be acceptable to an extent.

If it's legal immigrants; then those who complain about them are hypocrites for the simple and true fact facing every single american: We're are ALL immigrants with the exception of the Native Americans/Indians.

Technically speaking; they should be angered with the fact that their people were destroyed, their land was ruined, and their culture faded, because of the white man.

As for immigrants; everyone in america is an immigrant; has parents who are immigrants; or has ancestors who are immigrants. So no one has solid grounds for complaining.

And besides; you get rewarded as to how much you try. New immigrants who come in (Indians, Chinese, Koreans, Pakistanians, Russians, etc...) actually try hard in school; put in endless hours studying; and they get what they deserve -- high paying jobs & great compensations.

I remember my university years; the library would be open fom 8am until 1am for studying purposes 3 weeks before finals week; all the new immigrant students would have their heads shoved in a textbook and their pens in their notebooks and carried huge bookbags; as opposed to the 3rd -4th and higher generation americans who use to complain that classes took up most of their times and then get pissed when the get a C or D and lose an internship position to a new immigrant.

And that's not to say all bred americans don't care about thier education and dont try hard enough; there are many who do, like me for example; and in the end everyone gets what they worked hard to acheive. simple as that --case closed--

As americans we grow up to believe that if we blame our downfalls on others we're safe & have good reason to be pissed; and that's wrong on a million different levels.

Answer 6

Of course... the English / Dutch were violently anti-Irish in the 1860-80's. There was strong anti-Italian sentiment during the 1880-90's. Then there was backlash against Germans during World War I. And of course on the West Coast there was the anti-Chinese feelings from the 1850-1930's !!

This has happened all through our country's history... even when the immigrants were LEGAL !! But in each case, the blame/ hatred diminished as the ethic/ national group took the effort to ASSIMILATE into the American culture. Often WITHOUT Government checks or assistance.

Our family has copies of letters and a journal from my great-great grandfather who came from Germany in 1890... was given great grief on the east-coast, but then travelled to Kansas, learning English on the way, and settled in Big Sandy in 1893. The NEXT generation was just part of the American melting-pot.

Today it is a different situation... these ILLEGAL immigrants have:

a) entered the country illegally... therefore they ARE criminal.
b) taken a great number of the LIMITED construction, machining, and "teen-age" jobs from the legal workforce.
c) refused to assimilate... and actually have the NERVE to demand all the government services in THEIR language.
d) placed a drag on medical and social services.

Answer 7

It's reasonable, but another reason I learned was that some people are mad at immigrants just because the have a different culture and they just envy it.

Another reason is that some immigrants enter "illegally" and they some people don't know how to "share" freedom with others.

Answer 8

I dont hear of any Americans getting mad at legal immigrants,They spend more money on other nations than any other country,also America has more nationalities than any other country, We have fought wars with other countries,and we have fought against countries we felt were a threat to our freedoms.I think your teacher was speaking for herself and not the majority of Americans.

Answer 9

Yes, I agree. She could have been referring to illegal immigrants because those immigrants are 'making it' here, I guess U.S. citizens don't want that and try to keep them down through anything. They are most likely attacked by their papers, even if they are good people who come to try to make it better for him/her and their families.

People just keep repeating things no matter how stupid they are. About not obeying their laws, if they didn't there wouldn't be as many illegals here because they would get sent back after being caught. I do know illegals and they are good families who work hard. About stealing, many illegals here are illegal because they over-stayed, that means they still pay taxes and get nothing back and illegals cannot get help from the government either, that would be asking for their own deportation. I have many more things, but for now, this will do.

So I say yes to amnesty.

Answer 10

Notice how illegal immigrants did not come up. What we are concerned about is illegals taking your job in the future.