Why the Backlash?
By Laura Eschbacher
My ancestors settled in the general St. Louis area, in Missouri and Illinois. My family history includes German, French, Sicilian, Irish, and Cherokee Native American. I’m living proof of the rich history of immigration to Missouri.
The United States was founded by people looking for a better life, wanting to create their own destinies for their families. Even President Obama has said it: No matter where immigrants came from, or still come from today, the reason people immigrate to the States is the hope of a better future. Historically, the U.S. is willing to accept immigrants of all backgrounds and beliefs. That is a characteristic of this country that I’m very proud of.
But some American’s don’t want to welcome newcomers. Why not? Our generation would not be here if it weren’t for the original newcomers that established this country. Americans whose families have been here for many generations sometimes overlook the fact that one or two hundred years ago, their great-great-great-great-great grandfather came to America with his great-great-great-great-great grandchildren’s best interests in mind. We are those grandchildren. If we say that immigrants have no right to be here, doesn’t that also mean that we have no right to be here?
Why would it be a bad idea for established Americans to learn another language— Spanish, for example? How could it be a bad thing to have bilingual citizens? Don’t forget that just 100 years ago, many St. Louisans still attended schools taught entirely in German.
More than half of European citizens in the EU can speak two languages. Learning another language brings not only the obvious communication skills, but also insight into the culture of the people who speak that language. Some words exist that aren’t translatable into English. How did such words come into being? What developments in this other society’s culture created a word that we don’t even have in our dictionary? I think learning a new language is more interesting than it is threatening. If we understood each other better, a lot of fear would disappear, and respect could take its place.
This is not to say that learning English shouldn’t be required (English is a vital part of American culture!), but at the same time, I see immigrants at the International Institute working so hard to integrate themselves by learning our language, customs, social norms, professional behaviors, and more. They are truly making an effort to become one of us. Why wouldn’t we make an effort to be receptive and welcoming towards them? They just want to be American citizens too.
Our ancestors couldn’t have survived alone when they first arrived in the U.S. They needed a support group, and they found it in each other. The International Institute is that support group for today’s immigrants, linking them to each other and to the rest of St. Louis. How awesome it is, that we can continue that welcoming of new generations of Americans. Why not try a little understanding?
Obama on Immigrants http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/obamas_remarks_to_naleo.html
St. Louis’ Multi-Lingual History
http://stlouis.missouri.org/government/heritage/history/immigrant.htm
Language Skills of Europeans
http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/europeans-language-skills-rise/article-152828