As tensions continue to flare and more are killed in senseless acts of terrorism and violence in every corner of the globe, fear can often get the better of all of us. With fear comes a frantic search for blame, a never-ending game to find the larger enemy. It’s a powerful thing. Fear has driven humans to turn their backs on each other over and over. It’s what drove Hitler to kill Jews in World War II and led our own president during that same time to isolate the Japanese-American population. It’s happening today as refugees are being turned away from countries just for coming from a place experiencing violence.
With Fourth of July just behind us, let us take a minute to think about the course of American history without immigration. When this country’s Founding Fathers, all immigrants themselves, decided to declare independence more than 200 years ago, they ensured that independence and rights would be granted not only to those already living in the new country, but to those who would come later. With the abolition of slavery, ongoing efforts to mend relationships with Native Americans and now the recognition of gay marriage, this country seems to be taking steps toward being more open. But simultaneously, pervasive attitudes of fear around “others” from outside the borders continue. Those who soak up media attention continue to speak to the harmful effects of welcoming immigrants and bringing in new citizens — forgetting the fact that this country was built on the backs of immigrants.
According to an article in The Seattle Times, America has become home to more than 80 million immigrants since official records began in 1820. Unless of Native American descent, nearly all Americans can trace their roots back to somewhere else, and many can name famous people in their families who made fantastic discoveries after moving to America: Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Benjamin Franklin and John Muir, just to name a few.
But immigrants have also played a role in defending that which gave them the rights they have here. The Seattle Times article also reports that in the American Civil War, 18 percent of the Union Army was comprised of immigrants. Fast-forward to the present. Currently, 65,000 immigrants are serving in the military.
Fear is a powerful thing. Imagine what America would be like today if the Founding Fathers were scared of the immigrants beyond this fledging country’s borders. The world’s population has brilliant minds, record-breaking bodies and hardworking men and women to offer if we could just leave our doors open to the possibilities.
