Firoozeh Dumas 'Funny In Farsi': An Analysis

For many decades the history of the United States and immigration has always been a very talked about topic of debate. Many Americans did not like the collision that immigrants would have upon the native-born American people, while others welcomed the flow of people as adding to America’s multiculturalism of difference. According to Immigration: Good or Bad for America (2016), a large amount of immigrants try to enter the U.S. borders without proper documentation, in this manner being labeled as illegal immigrants. In addition, the United States unusual position as a nation of immigrants is being questioned by

The focus of this paper is an analysis of the book Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas using concepts from the Lives Across Cultures textbook. Ten concepts are identified and defined from Chapter readings. Following definitions, examples from the novel of these concepts are shown.

Immigrants are what have helped America to be America. Being a multicultural society standing united. We say that America is just a melting pot. This is what makes our country exceptional and special. We have here many cultures: Chinese, Italian, German, African, and Latin as well. We have many Ideas

‘Funny in Farsi”, written by Firoozeh Dumas, is a memoir in response to events that the author experienced in terms of her culture. The author experienced racism after the September 11th attacks that led her to want to shame humorous aspects of her culture with others. The author writes about a childhood experience, in this case starting school in a new country in order to inform the audience of her struggles the aspect of culture that is primarily explored is her language barrier. The author uses setting and language to convey the her message.

Everyone in life wants a better life for themselves and their next generations. Many people in different countries are migrating to The United States for one or two main goals. Those two goals are a better opportunity for employment and education. Which in turn, accomplishing either one of these goals will provide a higher quality of life and a sense of importance for themselves and their family. However, Americans view the immigrants differently from what they are. Some Americans view the immigrants with different stereotypes such as being lazy system abusers, dangerous criminals, and job thieves, just to name a few. However, these stereotypes are not true and does not represent the majority of immigrant. In actuality, immigrants are very disciplined, hard workers whom are also highly motivated opportunity chasers, where in these ways they should and need to be viewed by Americans.

The unaccepting nature of US citizens is one flaw in the idea of America’s wide open golden doors. The blame and stereotypes added to an immigrant’s burden prevents them from ever feeling welcome and eliminating the gap between immigrants and Americans born in the US.

Everyone in life wants a better life for themselves and their next generations. Many people in different countries are migrating to The United States for one or two main goals. Those two goals are a better opportunity for employment and education. Which in turn, accomplishing either one of these goals will provide a higher quality of life and a sense of importance for themselves and their family. However, Americans view the immigrants differently from what they are. Some Americans view the immigrants with different stereotypes and prejudices such as being lazy system abusers, dangerous criminals, and job thieves, just to name a few. However, these stereotypes are not true and does not represent the majority of immigrants. In actuality, immigrants are very disciplined hard workers whom are also highly motivated opportunity chasers, where in these ways they should and need to be viewed by Americans.

An immigrant in terms mean a subject of legal and political subject far from gaining the citizenship and rights. The influx of exclusive classes constituting immigrants admission into the nations was a biggest concern with the idea that the national body should be protected from contaminants of social degeneracy. The idea of deportation played central role in immigration policy. According to the critics, deportation is unjust in the case of separating families. Ironically appeal to prevent family separation was effective in the areas with numerous European immigrants were found. I agree with that statement because intruding into peaceful family privacy is doing wrong. Giving the option to free migration is important in furthering the process of capitalist industrialization of America. This pattern of this trend is still persist in modern day immigration.

In the United States, the cliché of a nation of immigrants is often invoked. Indeed, very few Americans can trace their ancestry to what is now the United States, and the origins of its immigrants have changed many times in American history. Despite the identity of an immigrant nation, changes in the origins of immigrants have often been met with resistance. What began with white, western European settlers fleeing religious persecution morphed into a multicultural nation as immigrants from countries across the globe came to the U.S. in increasing numbers. Like the colonial immigrants before them, these new immigrants sailed to the Americas to gain freedom, flee poverty and

“We are nation of immigrants. Some came here willingly, some unwillingly. Nonetheless, we are immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, one, and all. Even the natives came from somewhere else, originally. All of the people who come to this country come for freedom, or for some product of that extraordinary, illusory condition. That is what we offer here—freedom and opportunity in a land of relative plenty.” (Middletown Journal 2005)

    Many immigrant and minority narratives concentrate their efforts on the positive side of the American dream. These particular stories narrate a person's struggle and rise through the ranks of the Am6rican hierarchy focusing on the opportunities that seem to abound in this country. While these stories are well and good. they do seem to soft peddle the flip side of this country's attitude toward the immigrant and minority. America is a land of milk and honey and opportunity, but unfortunately most new officiates or unwilling participants in the American culture face an American nightmare that leaves its effects on the individuals, families and cultures

In the book Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas, there are five concepts from our textbook, Lives Across Cultures: Cross-Cultural Human Development by Harry W. Gardiner and Corrine Kosmitzki. Three of the concepts are components of Firoozeh Dumas’ developmental niche such as the psychology of her caretakers, the customs of her child care, and the social settings of her daily life growing up. The other two concepts are individualism and ethnocentrism.

In the novel, Funny in Farsi, religion plays an important role as Firoozeh Dumas migrated to the United States of America. During her time in America, Firoozeh is forced to look upon things differently than how most American's do, however as her life continues she establishes the perfect balance between her homelands religion and the religion in America. In addition, religion also serves as a tool for her to demonstrate the progress she has made to become culturally in tune with the Americans she is around.

War is portrayed as something emotional that every living being goes through in their lifetime. Most of the people experience.

The increasing accommodations directed toward immigrant culture worries many Americans. Americans fear the special treatment granted to immigrants will affect the unifying force of the country. Today, the trend is toward multiculturalism, diversity and adapting the newcomer, rather than on the newcomer adapting himself or herself to a diverse society (61).