Same Excuses
Nicholas Kristof makes some persuasive point on how immigrants can help improve the United States economy in “Immigration Enriches You and Me”. For many years the american people have seen immigrants as a parasite that must be cleansed from our civilization. United States citizens always use the same excuses to keep immigrants out of United States soil, such as overpopulation or stealing our jobs. Fear is our number one enemy for progressing as a nation. If United States citizens keep pushing immigrants away, them what is the point of having Lady Liberty. At this point she might as well be a huge paper weight for all citizenship applications that congress will never pass. If the United States are to become a free nation, then the citizens of the United States must accept all immigrants into their country.
Kristof explains how Americans fear immigrants because they, quote, “threaten our way of life”. Americans fear that they will not have enough space to fit all the immigrants in the United States. Another excuse is that North Americans are afraid they will lose their jobs to immigrants who will take a job for little pay. Although these statements are true, they are just excuses that have been use since the very beginning of immigrants. Irishmen were not welcome with open arms when they first set foot in American soil. Americans feared that their jobs will be taken away from them. Today Americans are now trying to push Mexicans away from their country. It’s a cycle that keep on changing target from one country to another.
Ed Butowsky who wrote “We cannot afford amnesty for illegal immigrants”. Butowsky believes that each immigrant will cost the United States more taxes. He uses math to strike fear into each and every one of his readers. The fact that Butowsky uses money to prove his point makes himself look like a scared child trying to protect his stash of candy. When Kristof explains how immigrants can actually help pay taxes and create more jobs when he says, “Parasites? No, they’re our assets.” These are assets that we can use to straighten our economy, military, and our nation.
North Americans believe that kicking immigrants out of the United States will not have any consequences. Consequences such as separating children from their families and putting them in foster homes or out on the street when he says, “more than 5,000 children who are United States citizens are with foster families because their parents have been detained or deported.” Americans make these decisions without thinking who they might hurt in the process. Another will be the cost to send these people back to their homes. According to Bryan York from the Washington Examiner, he explains that it cost more money to deport an immigrant rather than to let them live in peace when he says, “ The President will ask for a large amount a money, as much as $2 billion.” This money can be used to help build school, apartments, and create jobs for these immigrants who can later help pay taxes for others like themselves.
North Americans believe they are the superior nation, but they have forgotten what they stand for. When immigrants come to the United States, they come here for the freedom of opportunity. Instead the are prosecuted by others such as Theodore Roosevelt when he says, “Every immigrant who come here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country.” The United States are keeping immigrants from coming into their country. It’s only a matter of time that other countries share the same courtesy that Americans have shown them.
Jobs and overpopulation are the same excuses that have been used to keep immigrants out of the United States. We never try to look at the benefits that immigrants will provide us. Americans citizens are afraid that immigrants will bring changed only to benefit themselves. If money is really the problem, then we should invite more people into our country to help get out of debt and create more jobs for years to come. United States citizens must think about how deporting will affect not only themselves, but other families. Change is scary, but it can also be beneficial.
To say fear is America's number one enemy is a little bit of a stretch. Citizens have become their own enemy and they themselves are standing in the way of change. America lives in a democracy where people can create change if that is what they truly desire yet their inaction prevents this change. Fear is definitely an issue though. America does fear change, and they fear of the threats these changes can have on their traditions. This argument was very clear and easy to read. The position this paper is taking is really felt throughout this piece.
ReplyDeleteYour argument does a good job at stating how illegal immigrants are beneficial to our country. In the paragraph where you stated "The fact that Butowsky uses money to prove his point makes himself look like a scared child trying to protect his stash of candy" was really funny. If you would have added that America was founded by illegal immigrants it would have made your argument 10 times better than it already is. Good job.
ReplyDeleteYour argument was clear and persuasive. You had great inputs and each idea helped your claim. There was a great use of quotes to back up your points. Additionally, including Lady Liberty and using her, who a beacon for immigration, to make your point was genius. However, in paragraph 4, there was quotes used but no citation of which author made the statement. Overall, your argument was persuasive and clear.
ReplyDeleteThough Hispanics are the majority of undocumented immigrants currently, you should have not posted that the United States targets specific countries like Mexico. In the end this affects every undocumented immigrant not just Hispanics. However, nice use of evidence to support your claims. Also, you have to be more specific on who you refer to as North Americans, because Mexicans and Canadians can also be referred to as North Americans.
ReplyDeleteFear is definitely the problem here. American citizens are afraid of change. They do not seem to see that it can benefit America. You made a good point by pointing that out. It brought to my attention when you said, " it's only a matter of time until other countries share the same courtesy Americans have shown them." That was very interesting point.
ReplyDeleteYour solution to the undocumented community consisted of many supporting ideas that showed why undocumented immigrants should receive legal status. You bring the idea that America has always been the land for immigrants, the misuse of taxpayer dollars used to deport hard working people, and the fact that these undocumented workers can help American's with the national deficit. Overall, you gave good example throughout the entire essay to show the benefits that immigrants bring and the reasons why an amnesty is such a controversial topic.
ReplyDeleteYour argument was clear and persuasive. However, you need to incorporate your voice into this argument. Your always repeating what the author says in his article instead of adding your opinion. Yet, you put great inputs on how they can be beneficial. However, you need to realize that these "aliens" who are illegally coming here are not just hispanica. They are every race. So you shouldn't be specify the countries, when you said Mexico. Immigrants can be any race in general.
ReplyDeleteYour argument was very clear and persuasive with a lot of supporting evidence that keeps your ideas well in tact. You did seem to direct undocumented immigrants towards just one specific race, keep in mind that their are many races , even though hispanics are the majority race.
ReplyDeleteYour claim was well stated and the support you added to your position was good.The metaphor you used to show Lady Liberty as a paper weight for the applications of undocumented immigrants really shows how much the country has changed. There was a point where immigrants were allowed to come to the United States but it was during a time of war. Citizens do have a fear, they fear what they do not understand, they fear that the actions of one will become the actions of the many.
ReplyDeleteThis argument has many strong points, such as using the money spent on illegal immigrants for better things such as job opportunities and education. A weak point in your argument is mentioning breaking up families. Immigrant families that are undocumented know that they're taking a risk when coming in the U.S. considering they were never citizens. it may seem wrong, but immigrants should know what they're getting into before illegally moving into a country. You break the law you suffer the consequences.
ReplyDeleteLike you said, it is exactly that, that Americans use excuses for keeping illegal immigrants out of the states. Americans choose to stay ignorant to the issue of immigration and they don't try to sympathize or understand what illegal immigrants have to deal with. It is definitely not Americas obligation to try and understand the issues of undocumented immigrants, but at the same time the issue is here in America, so some steps should be take to at least understand the surface of the problem. Change is scary and its not entirely promised that this immigration change will be success but the benefits out weight the cost like keeping families united, giving opportunities, and contributing to tax and social security.
ReplyDelete