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Becoming American : why immigration is good for our nation's future / Fariborz Ghadar.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Ghadar, Fariborz, author.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- United States--Emigration and immigration--Government policy.
- United States.
- Emigration and immigration.
- Government policy.
- Immigrants--Government policy--United States.
- Immigrants.
- Immigrants--Government policy.
- United States--Emigration and immigration--Economic aspects.
- United States--Emigration and immigration--Social aspects.
- Social aspects.
- Physical Description:
- x, 207 pages ; 24 cm
- Place of Publication:
- Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2014]
- Summary:
- For policy makers, business leaders, and American citizens, immigration reform is one of the defining issues of our time. In turns both personal and analytical, remaining factual and well-argued throughout, Fariborz Ghadar's Becoming American makes the case for common sense immigration policies and practices that will not only help strengthen America's economy and role as world leader, but will also help millions of prospective immigrants and their families start making more out of their lives today, and for generations to come. The author is an Iranian immigrant who fled his homeland decades ago in search of a more stable and successful future. Weaving his personal story into that of the millions of immigrants facing unnecessary hurdles at the global level, he demonstrates the need for our governments and leaders to make policy decisions intelligently - not just based on current circumstances - but with an eye toward a future brighter than our current state of dysfunction, uncertainty, and regrettable bigotry towards those with funny names. Based on our nation's undeniable history as a nation of immigrants, we cannot fail to address the impact that immigration will have on our future if we want to accurately plan for a thriving, diverse and better tomorrow. Becoming American understand helps readers not only the mindset of America's immigrant populations, but makes the case for America once more as a place for the world's hardest workers, loftiest dreamers, and most prosperous people. -- Provided by publisher.
- Contents:
- 1 Beyond the Numbers 1
- 2 Debunking the Myths 5
- Myth #1 America Continues to Be a Nation of Immigrants 5
- Myth #2 All Immigrants Want to Come to the United States 6
- Myth #3 America Already Attracts the Best and Brightest Immigrants 6
- Myth #4 Immigrants Are a Drain on the Economy 6
- Myth #5 Immigrants Are a Threat to National Security (That Is, The War on Terrorism Can Be Won through Immigration Restrictions) 7
- Myth #6 Immigrants Do Not Want to Learn English 8
- Myth #7 Many Immigrants Are Criminals 8
- 3 How Did I Get Here? 11
- 4 What It Takes to Uproot Yourself 21
- Immigration as a Force of Change 21
- Immigration Laws 25
- Today's Pariahs 30
- Immigration Reform 32
- 5 How Did She Get Here: Margaret Ghadar 37
- 6 Why Do They Come? 43
- Immigration's Ebb and Flow 46
- Silicon Valley: A Microcosm 48
- 7 How Did He Get Here: Zbigniew Brzezinski 53
- 8 Hard Work Makes for a Successful Career 59
- 9 How Did He Get Here: Salomon Garay 69
- 10 Paying It Forward to the U.S. Economy 73
- 11 How Did He Get Here: Yoon-shik Park 81
- 12 The Bimodal Nature of Immigrants 87
- 13 The Lure of Clusters 95
- Case Study: Detroit's Automobile Industry 96
- Case Study: Silicon Valley 98
- Technological Revolutions 99
- Life Science Cluster 100
- Nanotechnology Cluster 102
- Other Revolutionary Fields 104
- 14 A Day in the Life 111
- 15 Prejudice Exits, But So What? 117
- The New Enemy 125
- Racial Profiling 128
- 16 Sticking to Your Own May Work, But It's Not Easy 133
- 17 Assimilation Is Critical 137
- When Assimilation Doesn't Occur 141
- 18 Next Generation, and the Next, and the Next 147
- 19 How Did She Get Here: Otessa Ghadar 151
- 20 Old Country Is Old 155
- Benefits 155
- Costs 157
- 21 How Did He Get Here: Michel Amsalem 161
- 22 Can You Go Home Again? 165
- 23 Lessons for the Next Generation 171
- 24 Blueprints for Policymakers 177
- 25 Would I Do It Again? 187.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 9781442228948
- 1442228946
- OCLC:
- 860825758
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