The world as I see it.
We currently have a lively and loud debate going on about immigration into the United States. This has gotten me thinking.
Although loud and with some very inappropriate language, this debate may actually be useful — even needed. It is probably appropriate that we re-examine our strategy and values on the subject of immigration.
What are our values as Americans? What strategy do we form and what policies do we put in place? Do we allow open immigration? Do we close inward and stop immigration — or restrict it to only a few certain types from certain places that we feel comfortable with?
Now, as for myself, I do not endorse unlimited immigration. I feel that it is appropriate that there be some limits. I can agree that there be appropriate validation (“vetting”) of applicants to prevent criminals and terrorists from entering. I am against illegal immigration and believe that people who wish to enter the US should do so legally.
[As a background for any of you who are reading this and do not know me well, I am American-French. I was born in the US, am an American citizen, and lived in the US for many years. Some years ago, I moved to France — legally — and am active on both sides.]
As I listen to the debate and hear the negative and harsh views, I think of my ancestors. I myself am a 3rd-4th generation immigrant. My grand and great-grand parents immigrated to the US.
In particular, I think of my paternal grand-father Edward (Edouard) Uhrich who in 1894, at the age of 15, immigrated to the US from Alsace — then under German rule. He followed his sister who had already moved to the US and then was followed by their mother when their father died less than a year later. So, I guess that we have a case of “chain migration” here. He integrated into society, worked, married, and raised a family. His children had professional positions in civil service, local business, and high-level positions in national companies.
Although he immigrated legally, according to the rules of the time, we don’t know what procedure he had to go through. The end of the 19th century was a period of mass immigration to the US — from many countries.
Would he have been admitted in the current environment? Probably not. He was not rich. He had only a basic education and did not have any special high-level skills. He was coming from a region that had suffered war, was under occupation, and was in economic crisis. Nevertheless, he was accepted and went on to succeed in his new country.
We Americans are all descendants of immigrants — all of us. Even if you are “Native American”, your ancestors migrated/immigrated to North America. Even if your ancestors came over on the Mayflower, your ancestors were “boat people” who were escaping persecution in their original countries. All of our ancestors were seeking a better life.
We do need to have the discussion. We do need to discuss our values and decide on a policy relative to immigration in today’s world. However, that policy should not be closed in on ourselves — exclusionary based on those with who we feel “comfortable”. It needs to be open. That is how our country was built.
The United States is a country built from people from many diverse places and different cultures who share one central decision that unites them — the decision to be American. That is what has made us great.
And, as you think about the subject, remember your ancestors.
You may not agree with me but, That is how I see things.
Mark Louis Uhrich
Maisons-Laffitte, France, 18 January 2018
©Copyright Mark Uhrich