Immigration in America Is a Changing Landscape Shaped By Perception and Proximity
Immigration today is different than generations ago—more immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Not that many from Europe.
Some people are “farsighted.” They see the Mexican border and watch Fox News and the emotion of fear clouds their judgment, sometimes leading to hate. Others are “nearsighted.” They look within their local community: Go to your supermarket, restaurant or pizza shop—many workers speak Spanish.
The cook at the sushi station is Japanese. My local tailor is Korean. I was in Washington, D.C. last week—one cabby was from Pakistan, the other from India. The hotel clerk was Serbian. (Finally a European!) Many of the nurses when I was in the hospital were from the Philippines. … and the list goes on.
If you want to be “farsighted,” don’t forget to check who harvests your fruit and vegetables.
By the way, when I first came to America, the “Great Council of Aunts” decided I needed an American name—so “Chuneh Avruhm” became “Carl Allen.” And all the cousins spelled their name “Singer” instead of “Zynger”—so my parents followed suit.
