Robert H. Clancy's An Un-American Bill

The documentary 9500 Liberty by Annabel Park and Eric Byler told of the inequality that immigrants faced in Prince William County, a small community in Virginia. On October 16, 2007, eight members of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on emergency funding to implement immigration resolution. This new law made it possible for police officers in Prince William County to question anyone they suspected to be in the country illegally based on factors such as their skin color and language. This paper will discuss the different perspectives appearing in the film 9500 Liberty in an effort to evaluate and critic arguments made by both parties in

For some they returned having never reached this goal, for others they ended up staying in America, but for many of these immigrants they did reach their goal and after doing so, returned home. These immigrants were temporary migrants that had caught “America fever”. (p. 16) Temporary migration had been going on before this time, but it wasn’t until the invention of the steam engine that migrant workers began to voyage across the seas. Many of these poor European’s that migrated to the United States did so to make money to go back home and buy land. Not all of them had this goal, some saved money to start-up or buy a business. Whether they were going back to buy land or expand land they already had, or they were going to use the money to start a business these remigrants all had one thing in common. Wyman writes of the Hungarian emigrant’s experiences; “they would soon return with the money made overseas to make a better life for themselves in the environment they were attached to, the place where they wanted to live.”(p. 49). Because many of these European immigrants only stayed in America a short time many native-born Americans began to have hostilities toward these new immigrants in terms of the American Labor Movement, assimilation politics and nativist’s movements.

In fear of having many claim equal rights were already in effect, he proceeded to acknowledge “the harsh fact … men and women are kept from voting simply because they are Negroes” (Johnson 2), showing how equal rights were not distributed to all men. Continuing to utilize emotional examples, Johnson addressed the chilling truth about African Americans struggling with “actions and protests, his courage to risk safety, and even to risk his life” to liberate themselves (3). Another key point is how the actions of African Americans are being rejected to vote simply because “the only way to pass these barriers is to show a white skin” (2) , discovering the ugly truth of the discrimination towards colored people. His ambition for the near future is to make America’s heart yearn for the passing of the bill and change the lives of those who will benefit from it. Johnson has such a strong belief towards the positive changes in which the bill will have because he knows “there is only the struggle for human rights” being seen right under the nose of every American

Daniels, Roger. Guarding the Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants since 1882. New York: Hill and Wang, 2004.

In the article “Surges and slips: Immigration in America over 200 years” by Associated Press discusses immigration into the United States of America. This article relates the current issues facing the White house during this presidency. In the body paragraphs of this article: immigration laws, civil rights history, and the conflicting economic and social issues that confront the country. Furthermore the conclusion brings the audience’s attention back to current issues. During the section titled “Immigration Laws Shape Diversity of Nation,” the author discusses early limits on citizenship. As seen in the second to last paragraph of the section,”A 1790 law limited citizenship to ‘free white persons’ of ‘good moral character’ who had lived in

Immigrating to America is a process in which many people all across the world entrust as their one way ticket to a better life. Whether they do so legally or illegally, coming to the United States ensures better opportunities, economically, politically, and so on, to people who would have otherwise been worse off in their countries of origin. Even so, the common understanding of being “better off” can be considered a misconstrued concept when it comes to living in the states. Many families that choose to immigrate to the U.S. fail to realize the cultural hardships that newcomers tend to face once on American soil. Anything from racial discrimination or bias at work, in neighborhoods, at school, etc., can all be challenges that people encounter when making a move to the U.S. Such challenges are described by Richard Rodriquez in his autobiography Hunger of Memory. In this passage, he explains how cultural differences between Mexican and American ways of life have shaped him into the person that he is today. He also chooses to highlights the problems that he faces growing up in a predominately white neighborhood, while attending a predominantly white institution. Much of his writing consists of the cultural differences and pressures he feels to assimilate to Western culture and how this process, in turn, changes him into the person that some may find to be unethical, but nonetheless, someone he is proud of.

Since the dawn of American colonization in the early 1600s, the notion of immigrating to America has long been instilled upon various people as a stimulating opportunity to begin a fresh chapter in their lives. Even now, this possibility has brought many variations of people to America, culminating a society that brims with dreams and aspirations to form the diversified nation of today. When speaking of the current state of immigration, it is easy to conclude that immigration is heavily discussed from political standpoints. Though this current condition is composed of highly controversial perspectives, many of the early-century viewpoints found in literature genuinely embrace reality, for these writers were indeed immigrants themselves, thus adding an authoritative standpoint over immigration. The Americanization of Edward Bok (1921) by Edward Bok and The America I Believe In by Colin Powell, display the perspectives of two authors, who have lived as immigrants, through their own personal anecdotes. Both Edward Bok and Colin Powell convey a sincerely grateful tone and develop the idea of Americanization and the quest for opportunity through the use of connotative diction in contrast to the Immigration Chart and Political Cartoon which have a downright concrete and pessimistic tone and supports the idea that immigration exposes various challenges to incoming immigrants.

To say that immigrants in America have experienced discrimination would be an understatement. Ever since the country formed, they have been seen as inferior, such as African-Americans that were unwillingly brought to the 13 colonies in the 17th century with the intention to be used as slaves. However, post-1965, immigrants, mainly from Central and South America, came here by choice. Many came with their families, fleeing from their native land’s poverty; these immigrants were in search of new opportunities, and more importantly, a new life. They faced abuse and Cesar Chavez fought to help bring equality to minorities.

In the United States, there are over 40 million immigrants, both legal and unauthorized (Auclair, Batalova, Nwosu 1). Of that 40 million, an estimated 11 million immigrants are not authorized to be in the country (Krogsadt, Passel 1). In recent news, there has been quite the debate over whether or not there should be amnesty or citizenship offered to some or all of the undocumented citizens in America. I have a personal attachment to the subject. I believe there should be a clear and easy pathway to citizenship for immigrants with some restrictions. I support this idea because they provide for older generations, younger generations, and fill jobs

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

The final piece of evidence Nichols uses is by showing that the some of the United States’ most valuable people are immigrants: “Who speaks contemptuously of Alexander Hamilton as a foreigner, because he was born in one of the West India Islands? Who at this day will question the worth or patriotism of Albert Gallatin, because he first opened his eyes among the Alps of Switzerland”. He shows that allowing immigrants to come to the United States would only benefit the country, not harm it. Critical

Immigration’s Truth Today, there is no debate on whether or not America is a country filled with immigrants because that’s exactly what America is, and has been for many, many decades. Immigration has given many fortunate people a chance to start over, create a life for themselves and their family, including you and me. If it weren’t for our ancestors immigrating to America, our life would not be what it is today. Cole successfully gives unbiased facts that support his thesis and gives logical reasoning to back his statements.

Savannah Cox, writer and editor of New Republic, wrote “Trump’s Refugee Ban Isn’t as Un-American as You Think”. Cox claimed the refugee ban isn’t the only un-American thing in America, considering the fact that similar major events happened. She gave examples like the Immigration Restriction Act in 1917 which Congress overrode Wilson’s rejection, and she said “This marked the first time the U.S. used federal law to discriminate against immigrants”; these quotes and examples strengthened the idea that acts and bans because it became a “popular” topic which starting hundreds of years ago, making it part of America and everyone in America. In the article, Cox targeted the American people because the overall subject of the article was about America

Congressman, Robert H. Clancy, in his speech, An “Un-American Bill”: A Congressman Denounces Immigration Quotas, discusses the discrimination of immigrants in America. He stands up for many immigrants and people of immigrant descent in his speech, trying to explain why the congressmen shouldn’t be against them. He uses a passionate, heartfelt tone to appeal to the congressmen’s thoughts. Clancy of An “Un-American Bill”: A Congressman Denounces Immigration Quotas addresses the situation of racial discrimination in America by using personal anecdotes, background research, and concrete facts to back up his argument.

Bret Stephens’ editorial concerning a modern controversial issue on deportation and immigrants in America was published in the face of the growing anti-immigration criticism. As a child of immigrants himself, he reprimands the educated public on the stereotypes they have placed on immigrants. Stephens establishes and supports his arguments through his use of evidence, sarcasm, and point of view/voice.