There is no question that immigration has always been a controversial issue in the United States. And, as Richard Rodriguez points out in his essay, “Does America Still Exist?,” it is an issue that has become even more contentious in recent years.
Rodriguez begins his essay by recounting a conversation he had with a cab driver in New York City. The cab driver, who was originally from Ghana, told Rodriguez that he didn’t understand why people were so against immigrants coming to the United States. After all, he said, isn’t America a country of immigrants?
Rodriguez goes on to explain that this is indeed one of the defining characteristics of the United States. Immigration has always been central to the country’s history and identity. But, he argues, there is a difference between the immigrants of yesterday and the immigrants of today.
In the past, most immigrants came to the United States seeking economic opportunity. They were willing to assimilate into American culture and learn English in order to improve their prospects. Today, however, many immigrants are coming to the United States for different reasons. They may be fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries, or they may have no desire to assimilate into American culture.
This has led to a situation where many Americans feel like they are losing their country. They see immigrants as people who are not interested in becoming part of the United States, and they worry that the country is being changed in ways that they don’t like.
Rodriguez argues that these fears are misplaced. He points out that the United States has always been a country of immigrants, and it has always been able to absorb new people and cultures. The country has always been dynamic and changing, and it will continue to be so in the future.
In Richard Rodriguez’s essay, “Does America Still Exist?” I was introduced to another perspective on immigration in the United States. My beliefs had always been that if anyone is not a resident of the United States who is paying their taxes, they should not be permitted to enter. After reading this book and viewing the immigrant’s viewpoint, I discovered that America is home to immigrants from all over the world and that we are all here for the same reason: pursuing The American Dream.
We are all human beings who want a chance at a better life. Who is to say that one person’s dream is more important than another?
Rodriguez argues that the American people have become too comfortable and that we have lost touch of what it means to be American. We are no longer the hardworking, risk taking, innovative people that we used to be. He believes that immigrants are coming to America and bringing back those qualities.
I agree with him to an extent, but I also think that there are some immigrants who come here and do not want to assimilate into our culture. They want to keep their own culture and not learn about ours. In my opinion, this creates a divide between “us” and “them.”
I think that the solution to this problem is for everyone to be willing to learn about other cultures and to be accepting of others who may not look like us or have the same beliefs as us. We are all human beings who deserve to be treated with respect. If we can start treating each other with kindness and understanding, then maybe we can start to heal the divide that exists in our country.
The notion that we are held together as a society but yet exist as individuals, with distinct pasts, and individual destinies is precisely what I loved about paragraph seven. “We are gathered here-but as people with separate backgrounds, destinies.” Our culture is just as paradoxical as a Puritan congregation: We stand alone while standing together.
It’s as if we take a step forward but two steps back. We want to be an inclusive society that provides opportunity for all, but when people of color or immigrants come in, we are the first to find fault and push them out. It’s like we have this idea of what America is “supposed” to look like in our heads, and anyone who doesn’t fit that description is immediately deemed as “other”.
Rodriguez argues that America has always been defined by immigration and the mixing of cultures, so why are we now so resistant to it? He believes that it has to do with the fact that the majority of Americans are now white, and they are starting to feel like they are losing their grip on power.
In the past, America was a place for white people to come and start over, but now it is becoming a place for people of color to come and start over. This change is scary for many white Americans, and it is causing them to lash out and try to hold onto what they see as “their” country.
Rodriguez ends his essay with a call for Americans to embrace the diversity that makes our country great. He believes that this is the only way we will be able to move forward as a nation.I agree with him wholeheartedly. The beauty of America has always been its ability to welcome people from all walks of life and turn them into Americans. This is what makes us strong, and this is what makes us great.
When people inquired about his origin, for example, to understand the darkness of his skin tone. Despite the fact that everyone is permitted to obtain an education in this nation, I am who I am and should not be judged on my ethnicity. That is what America has given me. My family moved illegally from Mexico to California in order to start a new life and pursue the American Dream.
When I was younger, I always wondered why we had to sneak into the country. My parents would tell me that America is a land of opportunity and that if we worked hard, we could achieve anything we wanted. They were right.
My family didn’t have much money, but because of the opportunities in this country, I was able to get a good education and pursue a career in writing. If my family had stayed in Mexico, I probably would have ended up working in a factory or manual labor like my father. Instead, I’ve been able to live my dream and become a successful writer.
I love this country and what it stands for. It’s given me everything I have today. But lately, I’ve been wondering if America still exists.
There’s no doubt that America is changing. The country is becoming more diverse, and that’s a good thing. But it seems like our differences are being used to divide us instead of unite us. We’re seeing more hatred and bigotry towards immigrants, minorities, and anyone who doesn’t fit the “normal” mold.
