Cuban and Jewish American Immigrants - Essay Example

?Cuban and Jewish American Immigrants Introduction American dream is a fascinating aspiration that motivates representatives of different nations to become immigrants. Waves of immigrants have been directed towards America and this wave is still flowing to America. Further research is based on Jewish and Cuban immigrants in America and the way they were treated by the public policies of the country. Centennial existence of these ethnic groups on the American land signifies America as a favorable country for living. The representatives of Jewish and Cuban nations have escaped from their countries in the searches for a new better life. Therefore, America is a country that is able to provide not only its nation with favorable living conditions, but it is also able to take care about other nations. American is a great mother of billions of child. Either they were borne by her or were adopted does not matter. The most important is the fact that America is the mother who “grew up” her children under favorable living conditions. Cuban American immigrants Cuban Americans have increased their educational levels and social status and they cannot be named as “stupid” immigrants who want to live at the expense of American nation. Their political interests vary; they are occupied in different fields of activity. Their importance has been underlined by Moore in his book “Downsize This” as “responsible for sleaze and influence-peddling in American politics. In every incident of national torment that has deflated our country for the past three decades Cuban exiles are always present and involved” (Stepick, Grenier, Castro, & Dunn, 2003). Nevertheless, active involvement of Cubans in political process has been often criticized. Former Batista’s supporters are accused of shaping policy of Cuban Americans. Their policy is often called “crazy”, but in spite of criticism Cuban Americans have not stopped expressing their opinions and have remained a “small number of powerful exiles”. The reasons for immigration process for Cubans were marked by initial geographical and economic closeness of Cubans to Americans (Alberts, 2005). During the early period of immigration the number of Cuban American immigrants has four times increased (starting from 1959). Cubans’ political aspirations to change their lives in their country were gone. They were too weak to oppose to severe Cuban government. They were restricted from a normal life by the absence of a qualified medicine and economic oppression of Cuban government. American government showed tolerant attitude to Cuban immigrants from the very beginning. They had a status of bona fide refugees and once they entered America they could use special privileges of refugees. Moreover, there were three basic inflows of Cuban immigrants in America: the first wave of immigration mainly consisted from Batista’s supporters; the second wave came into America during the period between1965-1973; and the third wave of immigrants is also known as the Mariel Boat Lift (1980) (Stepick, Grenier, Castro, & Dunn, 2003). Basically, the main triggers for Cuban immigration are economic conditions that have worsened in Cuba, political oppression and the Cubans’ aspirations by successful Cuban Americans. The level of education and social status varied among representatives from different immigrant waves. The former were more educated and immigrants from massive waves of migration were less educated. A central destination for Cuban immigrants’ residence is the States Florida and Miami. Still, there is a significant opportunity for Cuban immigrants’ spread. For example, the American government in 1961 launched Cuban Refugee Program, which allowed them to settle in different States. Moreover, public programs launched by the American government to support Cuban American immigrants have resulted in a successful assimilation of this nation in America (Stepick, Grenier, Castro, & Dunn, 2003). Cuban immigrants have turned into a strong politically powerful ethnic group. For example, the Cuban immigrants’ community managed to prevent Clinton government from appointing an undersecretary of state for Latin American affairs in 1993. Moreover, this ethnic group has experienced a greater economic protection in comparison with others (Zhou, 1997). Thus, family income of Cuban immigrants was $6,700 more in comparison with family income of families from other ethnic communities. Nevertheless, modern Cuban American immigrants “have not enjoyed as warm a reception from their adopted country as their predecessors. This is partially due to the fact that, as a group, they have less business or professional experience and are less educated” (Zhou, 1997). In spite of public programs supporting Cuban American immigrants, these people are often misrepresented by the media as less-educated ones. Therefore, in America Cuban immigrants have a chance to live under better conditions, it is only necessary for them to get rid of a “secondary” status of ethnic group and assimilate into America, but at the same time preserve their ethnical identities and traditions. Jewish American immigrants Ethnic aspirations of Jews and their intention to remain a pure nation could not prevent them from immigration to America: “Jews were unique as an American immigrant group in their hostility toward American Christian culture and in their energetic, aggressive efforts to change that culture” (Furmen, 2000). The central emphasis of Jewish immigration to America was made on family unification and humanitarian goals. Still, in contrast to Americans, Jews were not much focused on multi-ethnic immigration policy to Israel.  The main goal of Jews was to escape from Nazism and this trend was readily supported by the American Government. Thus, in November 1943, the Gillette-Rogers resolution appealed for saving Jewish people from extinction (Garland, 2008). Still, a real support from American government to Jews was realized during the Presidency of Roosevelt. His famous political course “New Deal” was often called in a quite different manner by critics: a “Jew Deal”. Jewish American immigrants wanted to get rid of status of “nearly extinct nation” and wanted to be treated in a tolerant and loyal manner, like all other members of the American nation. Still, there were numerous challenges in development of public policy for Jewish American immigrants. Nevertheless, it should be noted that Jewish immigrants have had enough power to smooth the sharp corners of American public policies. In accordance with a famous scientists Raab: “(a)n increasing ethnic heterogeneity, as a result of immigration, has made it even more difficult for a political party or mass movement of bigotry to develop” (Garland, 2008). Jewish immigrants have been striving for obtaining an equal status with Americans. To restrict political activity of anti-Semitic group was of primary concern for Jewish American immigrants. Numerous public organizations and policies have been struggling for improvement of social and national status of Jewish immigrants in America. This group of immigrants is characterized by “highly organized, highly intelligent, and politically astute, and they were able to command a high level of financial, political, and intellectual resources in pursuing their political aims” (Garland, 2008). Moreover, the establishment and well-regulated functioning of such organization as the American Jewish Committee (AJCommittee) characterizes an ability of Jewish American immigrants to function in terms of internal cohesion, allowing these people to develop programs with a proper financing and establishment of good leading positions lobbying interests of Jews. Basically, American culture was influenced to the greatest extent by the Jewish community. For example, they took an active part in post-war development of American church-state policy. Other influential organizations, such as the AJCongress, and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have initiated intellectual debates concerning improvement of American governmental policy directed on improvement and advancement of cultural life of Jewish Americans. These intentions were supported by Pfeiffer’s claim: “No other lawyer exercised such complete intellectual dominance over a chosen area of law for so extensive a period—as an author, scholar, public citizen, and above all, legal advocate who harnessed his multiple and formidable talents into a single force capable of satisfying all that an institution needs for a successful constitutional reform movement” (Zeskind, 2005). Basically, the development of public programs directed on perfection of life level of Jewish immigrants has influenced to the greatest extent on the community’s active social role they played in the American society. Jewish and Cubans relations Unlike Cuban American immigrants, different triggers were relevant to the first Jewish immigrants in America and different goals were reached by these two ethnic groups. The common goal was to restore their ethnic dignity and a right to influence on a political life of their countries and not remain simple observers. Nevertheless, it is interesting to trace past, present and future relations between these two ethnic groups. Jewish Cubans have existed on Cuba for centuries. Many Jewish have left Cuba and moved to the United States. Currently, there is a well-known community of Jewish in South Florida. Jewish, like Cubans wanted to avoid oppressive regime of Castro and on the basis of a common goal to play a crucial political and social roles in the development of their societies, these two ethnic groups have migrated to America (Weinberg, 1988). Only 1,500 Jews lived on the island of Cuba in 2007. Still, there is an essential lack of the number of Jews who live in Cuba in comparison with years previous to the Castro’s power (Weinberg, 1988). A future trend supported by the Cuban Jews is an attempt to restore relations between these two communities. Cuban Jews need a chance, like any other ethnic group to preserve their heritage and restore their historical contacts. There is also a need for both ethnic groups to restore cultural relations and it is necessary to develop international relations based on tolerance and respect. Prospects for Jewish and Cuban immigrants in America On the basis of aforementioned historical relations between these two ethnic groups, their future prospects of living in American can be prognosticated. On the one hand, both ethnic groups were motivated to live in a new territory, where they would be able their social and ethnic dignity. In spite of overall challenges and reprehensible attitude to ethnic group in America, that has not been eradicated yet, these two ethnic groups have already reached success. They are political activists, successful businessmen, educated professionals that are occupied in various fields. This list of benefits is endless, actually. So, what is the reason for such advancement in a foreign country? Is it due to public programs and foreign initiatives provided by the United Sates? As for me, only cohesive ethnic group can reach success no matter whether it is supported by the government of the country or not. Therefore, the integrity of common interests, common aspirations and set goals are relevant characteristics to both Jewish Americans and Cuban Americans. America is a successful mother of millions of diverse children and only by means of internal integration and external support of the government ethnic minorities in America have a chance to be successful. Supposedly, for Jewish American immigrants and Cuban American immigrants, the country of their residence is the land of promise, where their dreams have finally come true. Works cited 1. Alberts, H. C. (2005). Changes in Ethnic Solidarity in Cuban Miami. The Geographical Review, 95(2), 231+. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5014649375 2. Furman, A. (2000). Immigrant Dreams and Civic Promises: (Con-)Testing Identity in Early Jewish American Literature and Gish Jen's Mona in the Promised Land.MELUS, 25(1), 209. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001760066 3. Garland, L. (2008). Not-Quite-Closed Gates: Jewish Alien Smuggling in the Post-Quota Years. American Jewish History, 94(3), 197+. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5031944720 4. Stepick, A., Grenier, G., Castro, M., & Dunn, M. (2003). This Land Is Our Land: Immigrants and Power in Miami. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105959840 5. Weinberg, S. S. (1988). The World of Our Mothers: The Lives of Jewish Immigrant Women. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105107625 6. Zeskind, L. (2005, November). The New Nativism: The Alarming Overlap between White Nationalists and Mainstream Anti-Immigrant Forces. The American Prospect, 16, 15+. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5011705264 7. Zhou, M. (1997). Growing Up American: The Challenge Confronting Immigrant Children and Children of Immigrants. 63+. Retrieved July 1, 2011, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000502714 Read More