I promised myself that I wouldn't write any political posts during this month of Ramadan, but technically Ramadan doesn't begin for another couple hours, so I'm still safe.
I wanted to bring your attention to my recent post on the spiraling US-Eritrea relations. The comments have gotten a bit passionate and are really worth reading, especially the noteworthy comments by Anonymous, who once worked for the US government as a representative in Ethiopia and Somalia, and Sahra, who is originally from Somalia.
However, I take umbrage to Anon's latest comment where he/she so easily hurls this oversimplified sandlot retort:
"Why is it that so many Somalis come to live in the US? If it is such a terrible Crusader country why come here, go elsewhere."
This reasoning is so tiring yet so common that I finally felt the need to address it.
The Muslim (as well as non-Muslim) immigrants who continue to make their way to the North by the millions every year are NOT, through their acts of migration, endorsing the West and its values. What they are laying claim to is their own human survival instincts.
Americans and the West do not realize the very real pain and suffering that prevails in so much of the South. The nations of the North have become so far removed from these harsh realities that they've convinced themselves, as they live in their insulated lap of luxury, that the indigent and destitute of the world cherish the social and moral values of their society.
They need to realize that people are NOT scrambling to get to America because of its liberties or its democracy or any of its other vaunted principles. The vast majority are simply trying to find a way to give their families a better life.
This is about pure economics.
They don't realize the lows to which a man will degrade himself in order to put food into his children's stomachs and a roof over their heads and clothes onto their backs and an education into their brains and maybe, just maybe, a chance at a better life.
Dignity and freedom and democracy take a back seat to survival and sustenance and hope.
The Mexicans who risk their lives for the chance to work the fields of Arizona or sweep the floors in California are not looking for a life under a democratic government. They are looking to send money home to their families.
The Pakistani MD who rejoices at his chance to come to the US to drive a taxi does not care about living a dignified life. He's lowering himself so as to give his children the chance that he never got.
To further my contention, look at the unfortunate souls who make their way year-in, year-out to the Gulf. There are no liberal democratic values championed by Saudi Arabia or the Emirates that the poor Afghani or Bengali come in search of. Their fateful trek to the Gulf is solely a survival tactic. They endure the abuse and adversity and ignore the human rights records and despotic regimes solely for that monthly salary.
The Africans who cross the Mediterranean into Spain and France or the Turks who enter Germany knowingly venture into those lands as second-class (or even third-class) citizens. They do so knowing that their future is in ghettoes and crime-ridden neighborhoods. They do so accepting their less-than-dignified life, not to vote or to express themselves or to breathe the air of freedom, but to survive.
To get away from the hell they once called home.
The values espoused by that society (be it America or Saudi Arabia) are completely irrelevant to their very real needs.
In their eyes, the US or the UK are the same as Bahrain or Kuwait. Lands of riches that give them – no, not them, but their families - hope for a better life.
WAW
2 days ago
5 comments:
Naeem, don't you find it ironic that folks who are born into privilege rarely realize that it was not by their own hand and instead of being grateful and showing sympathy to those less fortunate they instead look down their noses at them and judge them so harshly?
I pray that all those egotistical "you know whats" are cast into the shoes they so disdain and are forced to walk not just one mile but hundreds of miles so they can come down from the thrones they sit upon and live in the reality of what is our WORLD!
And more importantly, may Allah Glorified and Most High, keep us from being among them at any level at any time, ameen!
Oh, and RAMADHAN MUBARAK yaa Muslimoon!
Naeem,
That is a rational analysis of why people come here and I agree that seems to be the reason for most illegal/legal movement.
Times and immigrants have changed somewhat in attitude.
There is an attitude of entitlement I percieve in some that follows the lines of
"The US has raped the world and all of the problems of our ex societies are those inflicted from without so you need to avail all of your assets to me immediatley",
My Mothers family came here in 1717 and my Fathers family in 1920. I heard many stories from my Grand Mother (F) about their transition. They were poor, spoke no English (Russian) and were destitute. There were no Govt. programs to offer assistance, no Govt. housing, nothing. Get a job and make it work and although it was extremely difficult and they counted upon the Russian/Slavic ghetto for some help that's what they did.
What do Americans owe legal immigrants when we come down off of our thrones? Do not the Govt. assistance programs intituted by the people of this country count for nought?
Born into privilege, yes, if you consider being born into America, yes, we won the birth lottery but no one gave me anything in the way of a free ride. I think you can tell from my postings I'm proud of my Country and thank God for all of those that went before me, worked hard, created this environment. I honor that by doing the same, working hard, paying taxes, following the rules of law.
Naive as to the conditions of other countries, hardly. I've spent most of my life overseas.
People come to America because there is social/economic mobility and a middle class that doesn't exist in many countries.
Just don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Well said, just recently i've been involved with helping some newly arrived legal immigrants with some basic things like getting kids registered into school and it's a headache that is furthered by people who handle these processes who don't have a clue or understanding of what it means to be new to this country. Guess what, it takes time to find a job so no the parents don't have a pay stub or a bill proving they live where they live and no they are unable to provide a lease that shows their name as residents. Yet, they were treated like criminals. Sorry had to vent, yes I know there are good people out there but since I just went thru this it's fresh in my mind and needed to vent.
Anonymous,
You ended your comment with:
"Just don't bite the hand that feeds you."
Why is it that if immigrants criticize US foreign policy, they are 'biting the hand', but if Americans do so themselves, it is labled as 'freedom'?
"...but no one gave me anything in the way of a free ride." and " I honor that by doing the same, working hard, paying taxes, following the rules of law."
I think we all do the same - there's no doubt about that. It's actually common knowledge that immigrats work harder than Americans themselves, but that's beside the point.
Ramadan Kareem to you and yours. In the KSA.
Anyway I am "immigrant" and I use quotes because I came into the US in my opinion on a smooth trek compared to others who went through much more hardship. Before coming to stay permanently in the US I use to come to NY for vacations and to buy brand name clothes and shoes for school.
My wife always remind me when I gave her my sob "immigrant" story that its a joke and pitiful and I should not tell anyone because its not a story of real hardship.
Anyway I'm not going to tell my story because it's not that important and really not that hard. But I'm an "immigrant" nevertheless because I was not born here and my parents were not American.
My parent(s)decided that coming to the US will give us more opportunities than we would of had back home. For us we were not poor, or under any type of political pressure, or any real hardship. It was just an opportunity to provide us (children) some options in life.
I truly believe I could have stayed at home and done relatively well similar to where I am in the US. However I still thank GOD for the opportunity.
But your points are true and real form many immigrants.
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