#83 Sep/Oct 2006
The Washington Free Press Washington's Independent Journal of News, Ideas & Culture
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TOP STORIES

Fidel Decides US Presidential Elections
Election by popular vote would ensure that the Florida Cuban vote doesn't have undue influence
by Steven Hill

Five Years on
opinion by Todd Huffman, MD

Mothers Day at the Bangor Trident Base
personal account by Jan Prichard-Cohen

Pierce County to Vote on IRV
editor

FREE THOUGHTS

READER MAIL
Liberal in Religion (Except for Catholics?); Impeach Bush Now

A Violent & Hopeless Course
Seattle shooting ought to trigger questions about American foreign policy
opinion by Joel Hanson

Today's 'Bad' Immigrant is Tomorrow's 'Good' Immigrant
by Domenico Maceri

Can you fill in the blanks in these headlines?
by Doug Collins

FOOD

The Cholesterol Myth Part 2: The dangers of low blood cholesterol
by Barry Groves, PhD

CHOLESTEROL THEORY WIPES OUT HUMAN RACE
'Regret at the waste of a fine planet'
from the Weston A. Price Foundation

MEDIA

MEDIA BEAT
Digital Hype: A Dazzling Smokescreen?
by Norman Solomon

Remodel at the Seattle Weekly
by Doug Collins

Just Looking For Something Fun To Do On Saturday Night?
from the editor

CIVIL RIGHTS

Judge: No Ban on Apartment Door Signs
Housing agency appeals verdict
opinion and photos by Keith Gormezano

Defending Free Speech Rights of Lt. Ehren Watada
Brief filed for Fort Lewis officer facing court martial for opposition to Iraq War
from the ACLU of WA

POLITICS

Fishing for a Good Candidate
opinion by Doug Collins

Thank Republican Congressmen Ron Paul and Walter Jones for Speaking Truth
by David Swanson

Republicans, Please Stand Up
opinion by Jim Sullivan

BOOKS

BOOK NOTICES
Tire Grabbers; The Revenge of Gaia; This is Burning Man

What's your favorite book?
Write about it!
from the editor

LAW

BOB'S RANDOM LEGAL WISDOM
The Long Road to Justice: One Client's Story
by Bob Anderton
plus Bob's Random Lawyer Joke

HEALTH

Charity at the Wrong End
Drugstores charity and pharmaceutical solutions
by Doug Collins

Vaccination Update
Pharmaceutical companies might lose out if common sense held sway
by Doug Collins

Disposing the Diaper
Part 2: How my wife and I potty-trained pretty darn early. Our kids, I mean.
by Doug Collins

CONTACTS & ACTIVISM

DO SOMETHING CALENDAR

NORTHWEST NEIGHBORS

ENVIRONMENT

Bush Fiddles While the World Burns
As global warming sets new and dangerous records, the US sets new records in pollution
by Don Monkerud

RIGHT BRAIN

Some Thoughts
by Styx Mundstock

THE WANDERINGS AND THOUGHTS OF KIPP KELLOG
by Vincent Spada #7

PUMPKIN EDDIE'S LIGHTNING POEMS
by Vincent Spada

Mourning and Moving On
poem by Robert Pavlik

WORLD RECORDS DEPT.
Transcendental Poem
by Vincent Spada

Today's 'Bad' Immigrant is Tomorrow's 'Good' Immigrant

by Domenico Maceri

The prospective student wanted to learn Italian to discover his roots. In his parents' efforts to Americanize, the family had insisted on speaking English and the Italian language had vanished. The gentleman was now retired and after a successful career wanted to "correct" his parents' mistake of not teaching him Italian.

It's easy to understand why immigrants of the past insisted on learning English as fast as possible and Americanize. There was a great deal of discrimination against those who were different.

An acquaintance of mine who began dating an American woman more than fifty years ago was shot by the girl's father for the mere fact the young man was Italian. His language and nationality were not good enough for the daughter.

In the 1920s, 50% of the special education students in New York City were of Italian extraction. Apparently, kids were given tests in English and since they did not know the language well, they "failed" and were labeled retarded. Discrimination was based on ignorance. Race and ethnicity were easy targets.

Americans have learned a lot about their ancestors and now view them as heroes. There is little discrimination toward legal immigrants these days.

But the negative feelings that used to exist toward immigrants of the past are now directed toward undocumented workers. The ideas are the same. Newcomers don't know the common language, and will not integrate.

People these days justify their animosity toward today's undocumented workers through the technical illegality of their immigration.

Of course, it's difficult to separate the illegal presence of the undocumented workers from the illegal act committed by the companies which hired them. Yet, we all know that in agriculture, the service industry, and construction, much of the labor force is made up by people without proper documents.

The animosity toward undocumented workers is also fueled by the comparison with immigrants of the past who are now viewed with nostalgic eyes.

When we look with modern eyes at immigrants of the past, they appear hard working, eager to learn English, and longing to become Americans. But this view is skewed by time.

It seems that we can celebrate America as a land of immigrants when people are no longer immigrants. It's only after a few generations have gone by that we can recognize the contributions immigrants have made. While they are in the process of making their contributions, we do not value nor appreciate them because they're not part of us.

So we expect that they assimilate as soon as possible without realizing that asking them to give up their language and their culture will eventually be viewed as a mistake.

We have not learned much from the experience with the immigrants of the past. Yes, it is important to integrate but it is indeed possible to become Americans and retain the language and culture brought in by immigrants.

Immigrants don't need anyone telling them that they have to learn English to improve their lot. They understand very well that the new country means opportunity even if it will involve the loss of the original language and culture, and even if it means initial rejection. That's the price immigrants, documented or not, have to pay.

After a generation or two, the negative feelings people now have towards today's undocumented immigrants will change. Ultimately, today's undocumented workers will be seen with the same heroic eyes we now view immigrants of the past.

Domenico Maceri (dmaceri@gmail.com), PhD, UC Santa Barbara, teaches foreign languages at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA.


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