Advantages and Challenges of Immigration - Essay Example

Abstract Most of the developed countries in the west have experienced an influx of immigrants. This phenomenon results from the massive immigration of people from the third word countries who go to these nations in search of employment, and friendly economic returns on jobs. Despite the fact that most immigrants entered these developed countries through legal means, there are thousands of illegal immigrants in the developed countries. These immigrants have caused grand diversity in the western countries, especially the United States of America. Apparently, these people move to these countries to take advantage of the numerous job opportunities, which do not require high levels of training and techniques. This is the key reason behind immigration and it has produced an extremely rich cultural diversity in the US. Advantages and Challenges of Immigration Despite the fact that most immigrants entered these developed countries through legal means, there are thousands of illegal immigrants in the developed countries. These immigrants have caused grand diversity in the western countries, chiefly the US. Apparently, these people move to these countries to take advantage of the numerous job opportunities, which do not require high levels of training and techniques (Aguirre, 2003). This is the key reason behind immigration and it has produced an extremely rich cultural diversity in the US. There are many facts, information and knowledge about the diversity in the US, which are extremely essential to the person who lives in the US. The information can alter the way that an individual relates to his fellow immigrants. It is essential that one understands the different origins of other people and the reasons that made the people move to the US. It is equally crucial for an individual to comprehend the demographics and the changes that the immigrants bring to the populations for economic and political reasons (Aguirre, 2003). Further, it is apparent that immigrants understand the environment in various ways that can be appealing to a demographer or a student who would wish to study the impacts of populace changes on the surrounding. Other areas of interests that concern the immigrants are matters of education levels and competition for natural and artificial resources. The knowledge of the different origins of the immigrants who live in America is significant because it helped me to understand and appreciate different behaviors and beliefs of these people. For instance, information about the Hispanics and the Latinos is essential because it enabled me understand the reason why they believe in certain things and the reason that they do not believe in other things. This knowledge facilitates me to look at the behavior of this people from an objective point of view. In most cases, people make the mistake of perceiving other people using the standards of their own culture. Therefore, such people will always appear irrational as per the judgment of the people who see them do the things that matter to them. Further, the knowledge of the group that makes up the largest proportion of immigrants facilitated me to understand the demographic effects of this and the influence that the group has in the political realm. The Hispanics are the largest group of immigrants that live in the US, and their large number means that they are the majority of people who occupy the most job opportunities in the lower ranks, which attract people with lower skills and knowledge (Aguirre, 2003). This information facilitates me to appreciate these people and respect the position that they occupy in the labor market, which is essential for economic growth and stability. The information on the education levels of immigrants and the proportion of the working population and the non working population is essential in determining the possibility of economic growth; the nonworking population depends on the people who are working fro sustenance (Aguirre, 2003). It is essential to know the education levels of different people; this helps an individual to relate with people and communicate with them in respect to their level of understanding. This facilitates a smooth interaction between neighbors and friends or college mates, without any friction or misunderstandings. There are numerous things that an individual can learn from the cultural history of the African-Americans. This happened in the 17th century, and the owners of the slaves maximized their control over the slave by striving to strip the Africans off their precious culture and cultural practices. I learnt that the African culture was preserved in a unique way, unlike other cultures in America (Aguirre, 2003). The Africans were marginalized, and they were also isolated physically from the rest of the population. Further, their children were also marginalized, and this aided the preservation of crucial traditional culture elements among Africans, in America. The African slaves engaged in numerous rebellions and resistance acts, which were repressed by the slave owners, especially by denying the Africans a chance to form their own independent cultural and political organizations. Further, I learnt the ways in which the African-American culture has transformed many elements of the American culture, which is the mainstream and the centre of the entire American cultural beliefs. This mutual exchange of cultural elements is referred to as creolization. The culture of the African slaves, as well as the culture of the descendants of these slaves has been omnipresent in its impact on both the American culture that is dominant, as well as the culture of the entire world (Aguirre, 2003). The increase in diversity in the US has continued to shape the population composition and characteristics of America. The number of immigrants has increased significantly over the last decade. It is evident that, in the next couple of decades, the demographics of the US will be amusing as the number of immigrants will probably be equal to the number of white Americans. Apparently, recent studies have proved that the Hispanics, Latinos, Africa-Americans and other immigrants are increasing at a higher rate than the white Americans, and in some states, these statistics were shocking (Aguirre, 2003). Therefore, the demographics of the US in 2050 will be that the minority groups will close the gap and become equal in number as the white Americans. This is due to the ever increasing number of immigrants and their descendants who become American citizens through natural birth. The diversity of America is the focal point of the development of this nation, and it has many advantages. However, this diversity has resulted to competition and a scramble for resources, which in turn results to economic strain in some states. Apparently, most immigrants go to a place where economic incentives attract them, but there are a few exceptions of states that do not welcome immigrants. Therefore, these people compete for job opportunities with the locals, as well as with their fellow immigrants. These situations might result to hatred and fights among immigrants and between immigrants and the local inhabitants of a state (Aguirre, 2003). The benefits of diversity in America are that the nation thrives on this diversity, which is a synthesis of the world’s diversity and plentiful races, cultures and religions. This makes the nation to be a home to all people, and there is no group or race of people that can claim to be more American than other groups or races. The American cultural fusion is extremely outstanding that the American citizens are proud to be Americans as they would be proud in their own native culture. This combination enriches the heritage of America because each cultural group contributes its own irreplaceable and distinctive part in the comprehension of America (Aguirre, 2003). Further, the diversity forms the recipe of the American society that is a “melting pot” for the nationalities struggles and snapshots of heritage and culture. Pluralism and the spirit of acceptance can be cultivated by organizing community education forums, which would encourage people to encourage and welcome different views from other people. This approach can encourage people from all parts to respect each other and appreciate the little things that make people think and behave differently. These things should be adopted by parents and teachers who contribute immensely in the socialization of children. Children should grow knowing that people are different and that different people do things differently, but this does not mean that the different things are not right (Aguirre, 2003). The media perpetuates stereotyping and prejudice by airing biased information and false news, which make people increase their racial divide. For example, reports that are given by the media that the cause of economic and social crimes in America is primarily immigrants are false, and they bring problems of ethnic profiling in this nation (Aguirre, 2003). It is evident that diversity is extremely significant for the enrichment of the American culture and heritage, and people should appreciate that all people are significant in the building of this intimate combination (Aguirre, 2003). Therefore, they should work with love and keen understanding, which brigs people together to celebrate the fact that they all belong to one enormous human family. The organizations should ensure that they balance their employees to incorporate all the different races in their system and various positions. This will avoid the problem of relegating a single group in the lower ranks because this affects the economic well being of these people, as well as their living standards. Behavior change at the individual level is equally indispensable because discrimination starts with one person and it spreads to groups and organization. I might change my own opinion of other people and interact with everyone without judging people on the skin color or race. The base line of this argument is to see the lovely things in an individual, as well as appreciate their belief system because everybody cannot believe in the same culture as I do. Individuals can always change their behavior, and respect other people with respect and appreciate their abilities. References Aguirre, A. (2003). Racial and Ethnic Diversity in America: A Reference Handbook. New York: ABC-CLIO. Read More