Mexicans and Greeks

Illegal immigration is a hot button topic these days in the US and elsewhere. America has always been known as a nation of immigrants, built and sustained by them. As an immigrant myself, I have mixed feelings about the current situation. Although I can certainly sympathize and understand the desire millions of people who live in failed states to come to the Promised Land, I also think they need to abide by our laws in doing so. Perhaps it would be instructive to compare the migration of present day Mexicans to that of Greeks at the turn of the century.

Greeks, like Mexicans, wanted to come to America primarily to partake of the economic opportunities unavailable to them in their home countries. Most of them were young men who left communities that had to survive with the help of the old people and women left behind. These communities subsisted in many respects on the cash receipts sent home from America.
America has always relied on the cheap labor of immigrants to fuel its economic growth and the relationship between worker and business has been mutually beneficial if not always fair or equitable. Greek immigrants, unlike other European immigrant workers, had not been radicalized before coming to America and were often used as strikebreakers by management. This in turn created much animosity with other ethnic groups. The nativist Anglo-Saxon majority was less than welcoming in the early twentieth century and considered Greeks "less than white." As an interesting aside, Greeks and Japanese immigrantsdeveloped an early bond because they were similarly ostracized. I highly recommend the writings of Helen Papanikolas (See the Exiled Greeks link) for a much more thorough treatment of their travails. Mexicans nowadays, although they are often the target of a softer racism are still the beneficiaries of taxpayer largess in the form of free education for their children, free medical care in Emergency rooms, and other forms of handouts that would have been the envy of the first Greeks in America. These Greeks also had to enter America legally through Ellis Island, undergoing strict regulation and screening, at least for that era.

I can't get too mad at Mexicans, after all they remind me too much of Greeks. They are family oriented, love life, cling to their religious faith and are extremely proud. I think illegals in the US are most often law abiding and hard working folks who are trying to improve their lot in life. Many probably come here thinking that some day they can return home with money in their pockets, to enjoy the fruits of their labors. In the old days many Greeks carried an amulet of their native soil so that the priest could sprinkle it over their grave if they died before they could return. Life in America was bittersweet, many would never return or see parents and siblings again. This was before the days of air travel and telephonic communications. Their only connection to their past life was via the mail, the Church and Greek language newspapers. These early Greeks eventually had to assimilate to survive, that meant learning the English language, ensuring that their children got a good education, starting businesses, and becoming Americans. For many Mexican illegals, these are not things that they aspire to. Certainly the Mexican communityis not monolithic and generalizations can be dangerously misleading. One should note for example the numerous number of Hispanic names on the list of Iraqi War dead. Certainly as a community they have proven their love of America. What rankles many Americans however, is the sense of entitlement of many of the recent demonstrators in the protests that swept American cities. No one owes them anything and more importantly claiming that the American southwest is Mexican territory and waving Mexican instead of American flags is a recipe for disaster.

Americans rightly expect that their government move quickly and immediately to control our borders and STOP the flow of illegals. Legal immigration, the lifeblood of this country should continue to offer a path to citizenship and the American dream to everyone, not just next door neighbors. For those illegals already here, no promises, just a shot at really earning the right to stay. As for assimilation, immigrants must learn English and abide by our laws and consider themselves "Americans." That said, they do not need to discard their heritage at the door.

Technorati : Assimilation, Ellis Island, Greek Americans, Greeks, Illegal immigration, Mexicans

Comments

[drmom]

Steve, we are really enjoying your blog! This immigration issue hits home for me here in Michigan on many fronts. A really good friend of mine from Michigan was a park ranger in AZ and was killed just before Brynn was born (and I was unable to travel to his funeral.) A Mexican drug runner basically walked across our border and shot an American citizen to death...and the media never reported it. I just saw his dad, Bob Eggle, on Fox news in April talking about border control. www.kriseggle.org

[Stavros]

Megan, I think most people want to see control of our borders and basic screening of incoming immigrants. We also expect adherence to our laws. The recent protests were designed to bring the nation to a standtsill. As far as I could tell it was just a blip on the radar, in terms of its effect on the economy. They did manage to alienate a good portion of the American public. I'm afraid our congressional representatives are not covering themselves in glory with their inability to put the interests of the country over partisan wrangling and party interests. Hope you come back occasionally. Tell your friends.
BTW, I'm proud of you for putting the interests of your children over those of your career. They need their Mommy.
Semper Fi