The Mingling of the Ethnic Population - Essay Example

The Mingling of the Ethnic Population The United s of America, being one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world provides a long list of opportunities to many people. The pages of history will tell us that the US has a vast experience in terms of immigration of people from different place, race, culture and creeds. Correspondingly, these people, together with the "native" US born citizens worked side by side with each other and to them can be attributed the major part of what America is all about today. However, it cannot be denied that even long ago, there were issues surrounding the immigration and migration policies and America struggled to settle the differences among themselves and the flux of migrants to the land of milk and honey. And now is not different from the past, America, despite of her resources and good life to its people faced countless issues regarding race, ethnicity and varied culture of its immigrants and the so called "native white Americans." These among others are continuously become a subject of heated debates and arguments from scholars, politicians and for every Tom, Dick and Harry. This essay will examine the theories and arguments presented by Patrick J. Buchanan's book entitled The Death of the West. Similarly, the essay will also discuss selected important jurisprudence and laws regarding the Ethnic Population in the United States of America. Patrick J. Buchanan's The Death of the West Buchanan's The Death of the West basically discusses migration of different people to the United States. The author gave his theories and arguments regarding the influx migrants from various parts of the world and how these migrants affects the current society of the United States of America. America was once described as the great melting pot of all the races of Europe which correspondingly paved the movement for reformation. Buchanan argued that the biggest immigration in recent years came from all races of Asia, Africa and Latin America to which Buchanan says "are not melting and reforming." (Buchanan: 3) Consequently, America is faced with an abyss for ethnicity and loyalty. In this line, Buchanan supported this argument by stating that among the US' 31 million foreign born, a third are illegal, tens of thousands are loyal to the regimes which the US are at war with and some are trained terrorists. (Buchanan: 2) These increase in migration are encountered due to varying degrees of social as well as legal factors and as such, it posed as a threat of deconstructing the American nation for the reason that people have more or less nothing in common in matters like common history, language, culture and ancestors among others. And as such, it may bring forth separatism on account of ethnic and racial background and ideologies. Buchanan in his work pointed out that due to this influx of migration, the United States risked itself on a so called culture war which afterward results in divisiveness among people. There are social and moral issues which confront the varied background of the people which lives side by side in the US. These issues might likewise be considered as "Transvaluation" of all values for the reason that old virtues become sins and the old sins become virtues. (Buchanan: 5) These are among the reasons of Buchanan which leads him to ask "Is the Death of the West irreversible" (Buchanan: 10) The work presented numerous data with regards the decline of the population of the so called Western Civilization vis--vis the increase in population of the so called third world countries. The decline in population among these westerners pointed out people of German, Italian, Russian, British and Japanese decent, which in the same way the author regarded to as superior races in terms of thinking and technological advancement and even economic gains. It can be inferred therefore, that the aforementioned races belongs to the world's highly industrialized zones which are considered to be movers and shakers of our time. Such decline in the population of the West can be attributed to several principles which are commonly adhered to in the above mentioned nations. In Germany, many couples adhered to the DINKS otherwise known as "double income, no kids" (Buchanan: 15) and as such, birth rate was low even though the government moves for the tripling of the child's allowances for the first three years. On the other hand, many Italian women embrace the corporate world and on the notion that career was their most important priority rather than having children. Japan on the other hand, have "Parasite Singles" who still lives with their parents and pursue careers, and may have abandoned any idea of marrying and having children. (Buchanan: 23) These are among the main reasons for lower birth rate and subsequently, decline in population which will make up their respective countries in the near future. And this decline in population will definitely result to lack of people to fill up their work force which have a direct relationship in the stability of their respective nations, and as such, immigration to these places is among the practical and valuable solution to keep their nations alive and moving. In the more particular American setting, it can be said that the American nation is vivid example of migration and immersion of cultures which brought up a nation as illustrious and renowned all over the world. The US' democratic society as well as its social context of free and liberal thinking in addition to the economic gains the nation has achieved makes it the place of magnificent opportunities for a person who would like to have a better life for himself and his families, a far out situation from the immigrants' hometown which is usually a third world country. Recent development shows that there are quite a number of populations in the United States which is of Spanish origin. Some are legal Hispanic residents and the others are illegal aliens. Most of them reside in southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and southern California, to which a considerable percentage of the population is of Mexican-American origin. Each year thousands more enter the United States, most illegally, for the reason that there is the over-population problem in Mexico and the greater opportunities America has to offer. The eastern states likewise come into contact with the high rates of immigration from Mexico most of which came from the Central American Region and the Caribbean Islands. Migration of Mexicans can be attributed to historical concerns relating the land previously owned by the Mexican government which were afterward ceded to the United States. The Mexican Migration story is of a specific concern to the government because of their illegal entry to the boarder and of their strikingly cultural and ethnic notions. For Mexicans, due to the proximity of their location to their homeland, many of them have no desire to learn English or to become citizens. Many come for work rather than assimilate (Buchanan: 125) a far cry from the old immigrants who come to the US centuries ago. Having a culture of their own, they tend to stimulate ethnic conflicts within the country which raise the issue of separatism among others. Organizations like MEChA demands the US for the "restitution" of past economic slavery, political exploitation, ethnic and cultural psychological destruction and denial of civil and human rights. (Bucahnanan: 130) Aside from this, crime rates are said to have increased on the issue of illegal aliens entering the US border. These, among others are a major concern for the government since a call to radical change in the composition of people in the US has been called "un-American." The country is besieged by numerous problems regarding immigration which includes extra expenditures for school, health care, welfare and social security among others. All of these are primary concerns which must be addressed to accordingly so as to fully reap the benefits of the immigrants from long ago which made the US a better place to live in. Reform is needed to deal with issues concerning ethnic and racial predicament. Many have criticized Buchanan for being a racist in his views on his work. I submit that this is not a fair assessment of the author. Buchanan in his work presented principles and figures to support his claim on the decline of the population of the so called "west." The author was able to discuss the problems of migration in relation to ethnic and racial context by providing for the reality that confronts the nation such as the problems posed by illegal immigration and the building up of a separatist group instead of pluralism which was the effective means wherein the immigrants ancestors of the US have successfully done in the past. However, it is also noteworthy to point out, that Buchanan was not able to give his fair assessment on how this new wave of immigrants from the so called third world have contributed to the growth and development of the US. Notwithstanding the current trend in immigration, it is also safe to assume that there is a need to re-evaluate the values and priorities of the people residing in the US. Necessary steps should be taken to bring back the sanctity of family life and at the same time realizing the need to improve oneself by having a career to speak of. There must be a compromise to settle once and for all the issues surrounding family vis--vis the opportunity to expand wider horizons for women. The economic gains and activities should also go hand in hand in the value formation of the people whether natural born or immigrants, taking into context the importance so as to continue the continued existence the US. Related to the immigration topic discussed before this are some laws and jurisprudence which discusses the interaction among the races in the Untied States of America. For this purpose, this section will be discussing the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA), The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the landmark cases of Loving v. Virginia, ISD v. Slavatierra and Shelley v. Kramer. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act There are a substantial number of Native American populations in the United States. The Indians constitute a majority among this Native American People and many of them live on reservations located in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, South Dakota, Washington, Montana and Alaska. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act enacted into law on August 11, 1978 endeavors to safeguard and preserve the traditional religious rights of American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and Native Hawaiians among others. This is the Federal Government's response to the interference of previous Federal laws which hinders the traditional religious practices of the American Indians. In 1994, there was an amendment to this act which now allows the use of peyote, which is a sacred plant for ceremonial purposes. The AIRFA is a clear manifestation of the US government in its commitment to uphold the First Amendment right of free exercise of religion. Similarly, the act aside from protecting and preserving the traditional religions of the Native Americans, it likewise safeguards the safekeeping and conservation of the Native American religious cultural rights and practices. In the same light, it paved the way for the return of the Native Americans human remains and sacred objects and subsequently direct to the enactment of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in 1990. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act is of valuable contribution in Ethnic Studies because, it affords the Native American Indian their right and entitlement to what is lawfully theirs and a clear exercise of their right to the First Amendment. Similarly the Act provides the venue for grater understanding and appreciation of the ingenuity of the Native Americans. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 The law disqualified new immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States for ten years. There were subsequent amendments to the law which basically constrict the provisions which permits previous immigrants to leave and return and this was applied to all Chinese irrespective of their country of origin. The 1884 amendment was subsequently repealed in 1943 which allows a quota of 105 Chinese immigrants per year. What is significant about this law is that it was the first immigration law aimed at a particular and identifiable ethnic group. The law's significance to Ethnic studies is that it can be inferred that there are laws enacted to achieve a particular purpose which is likewise aimed at a particular subject. This likewise shows that people, who have less economic opportunity in their native lands, tend to migrate to the United States or anywhere else where there is economic opportunity so as to make both ends meet in their respective homeland. The influx of Chinese migration occurred in the California Gold Rush where most railroad workers are Chinese. The Chinese experience in the Gold Rush days seems to be helpful in assessing the competitiveness and the need for the labor force with regards particularly to wages. For the reason that, in the US there is a wider market for labor competition and most of the time these immigrants in order to survive their new home, must work and are much more than willing to get a job which pay a relatively low wage. This must be address to accordingly because it contravenes the society's social justice concept and may likewise give confidence to opportunists and scrupulous business owners to take advantage of the dire needs of these immigrants. Loving v. Virginia The case was about the marriage between a black/Native American woman and a white man; both were residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It causes controversy because at the time there was a law prohibiting marriages between a white and a non-white person. After their marriage in the District of Columbia, both were sentenced to prison for the violation of the inter-racial marriage. The case was decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1967, the court ruling in favor of the spouses Loving. The Supreme Court held that the law of Virginia against the inter-racial marriages is construed to be discriminatory and unconstitutional. Furthermore, the Supreme Court stressed out that the freedom to marry or not to marry a person of another race resides with the individual and as such it cannot be infringed by the state. This landmark jurisprudence paved the way for the abolition of the race based legal restrictions on marriages in the United States. This likewise further enhances the application of the Fourteenth Amendment which provides among others that No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States among others. ISD v. Salvatierra This is the foremost case in which the Texas courts appraised and evaluates the actions of the local school districts regarding the education of children of Mexican decent. This involves the proposal of an expansion of the school buildings and facilities which designates a particular room for Mexicans or "West end" school. The Court ruled that in maintaining distinct schools for children of Mexican decent violated the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution. This is significant in the subject Ethnic Studies because it points out the need to avoid placing a demarcation line between races or ethnic affiliation, because in doing so, there is a violation of the fundamental law of the land. Shelley v. Kramer This case involves a black family who purchased a house in St. Louis, Missouri. The family was not aware of the restrictive covenant provisions of the house where it disqualified "people of the Negro or Mongolian Race" from owning the property. The Supreme Court of Missouri held that the covenant was enforceable against the purchasers; the contractual provisions, it being a private agreement between the parties thereto ran with the land and were consequently enforceable against succeeding owners. The case was brought forth before the United States Supreme Court which ruled that the aforementioned restrictive provision in the contract is contrary to the fourteenth amendment of the US' Constitution for the reason that parties may voluntarily abide by the terms of a restrict coventent, but they may not seek enforement of such a covenant, because doing so would qualify as a state action. Such state action would necessarily be discriminatory, because the enforcement of a racially-based restrictive covenant by a state is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment. Conclusion The discussion of the above mentioned laws and jurisprudene is significant to Ethnic Studies. This is because it raises one's awareness of the reality that there can be racial or ethnic discrimination in whatever aspect in a person's life. It is significant to take a look at the laws and jurisprudence which were all anchored on the United States constitution which consequently prescribes a set of laws setting forth the fundamental civil and political rights of individuals irespective of race, color or creed. It likewise impose limitations on the powers of government as a means of securing the enjoyment of those rights. It can be said that laws preserve the ideals of liberty, equality and security. And as such, the aforementioned cases and laws serve as the reflection of the existence of the time immemorial ethnic discrimination whether to a native born American vis-a vis the immigrants. It also shows that discrimination does not only rest on the color of your skin, but with racial and considerations too. The foregoing relates to the study because it discusses the fundamental rights and violations experienced by people. Similary, these show that ethnic studies involves a wide array of topic ranging from discrimination to legal protection and prohibition to society and politics. Ethnic studies therefore is beyond the study of skin color and appearance. It goes to the very core of society and its effects. Rabbit in the Moon Rabbit in the moon is a visually remarkable and emotionally compelling documentary/memoir about the events, meanings and lingering effects of the World War II confinement of the West Coast Japanese American community. The movie comes across an obscured history of political tensions, social and generational divisions, and resistance and collaboration in the camps. It focuses on the lives of the two children who are sisters who went to the camps; both confront their own family secrets - about their mother who died shortly after their release at war's end. At the same time while working to reconstruct the events of the last years of their mother's life they discovered a reality far more inexcusable than they had imagined: the betrayal and abuse by their government, betrayal by members of the Japanese American community, protest and resistance by the internees, and eventual return back into a country now foreign and hostile to them. They equally confront the collective silence among Japanese Americans about the social antagonisms and insecurities that were born in the camps and that still haunt community life 50 years later. Rabbit in the Moon examines and explores issue that created deep rifts within the community, reveals the racist subtext of the loyalty questionnaire and exposes the absurdity of the military draft within the camps. The movie has proved to be an important instrument for introducing and familiarizing students to this troubling episode in America's past, exploring issues of racism, constitutionality, identity, and American ideals. Broken Rainbow This is an award-winning documentary film records the forced relocation of 12,000 Navajo Indians from their sacred lands in northern Arizona, after U.S. government claimed to have resolved an intertribal conflict. It speaks of the predicament of 12,000 Navajos who were forced off their land by the U.S. government so that big companies could tap the area's rich reserves of fossil fuels. The movie bears witness to the machinations of energy companies and their government proxies as they eagerly cast aside the peaceful Navajo to make way for oil, gas, and uranium and coal exploration. In their own words, elders and outside experts discuss the rich culture and the history of the Navajo as well as their close friends and neighbors the Hopi. The film follows these Native Americans as they take their protest to Congress and join with the militant American Indian Movement, turning their tragedy into acts of heroic resistance. The movie gave voice to the conflicts faced by indigenous peoples who struggle to survive in the face of Western constraint. Conclusion Ethnic Studies is an element of American identity that overlaps athwart with various disciplines. It necessitates a method of study which derives on the humanities and the social sciences in addition to interdisciplinary sources such as cultural studies. Ethnic Studies must also address historically and moderately, giving attention to the perspectives of other societies-such as Mexico, China, Japan, Brazil among others, where they have similar experiences with their own cultural and political spheres. It is a discipline only one of its kind as an educational experience that redefines the lives of people of color from their own perspectives. The study challenges the students to rethink these issues in race, indignity, culture, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, and nation among others in comparative, relational, and multidisciplinary methods in order to address the questions of power and inequality. Books and media representation indeed paved the way to a better understanding of the subject. Works Cited Buchanan, Patrick J. The Death of the West (Please place here the Publisher and the year published) Del Rio ISD v. Salvatierra. (n.d) December 4, 2006.< http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/DD/jrd2.html> Loving v. Virginia.(1967) December 4,2006 < http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/loving.html> Shelley v. Kramer (1948) December 4, 2006 The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (n.d) December 4, 2006 The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.(n.d.) December 4,2006 < http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/chinex.htm> Rabbit in the Moon. (n.d.) December 6, 2006. Broken Rainbow (1985) December 6, 2006 Read More