Thursday, 9 February 2012
Veterans Of Foreign Wars. (American Identites)
In most societies and nations the fact that one served in his or her nation's armed forces especially during times of war is seen as a hallmark of one's good citizenship, patriotism, selflessness, and bravery. To serve in the Armed Forces is to give up one's livelihood and business opportunities for a prolonged period or even lifetime (Indeed as the old song goes "Your digging a ditch, you'll never get rich, you're in the Army now!") and in exchange for the loss of these privileges men and women take up the mantle of a strict lifestyle with the prospect of being sent abroad to fight the wars of it's nation. Their only reward for this is often a paltry sum and medal, it is therefore obvious why veterans feel that they deserve respect and added benefits in their post-service lives.
Sadly Veterans (or 'Vets') did not always get treated like the heroes they were; in 1899 after the end of the Spanish-American war veterans returned home without medical care or pensions, to amend this they set up organisations to secure these basic needs, and so began the Veterans Of Foreign Wars organisation (VFW). Over the years they have represented and fought for the rights and privileges of U.S. Veterans.
The website itself talks about the history of the organisation, it's programmes and how to become a member, it also does commentaries on relevant news stories; such as fears over cuts to military spending.
In terms of identity it advocates that it is important that Veterans should be proud of their service and should identify themselves as veterans by joining their local branch of VWF.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Latino Immigration: For & Agaisnt
Someone who has recently become infamous for his "anti-immigrant" attitude, is Mitt Romney, and then of course, his opposition Newt Gingrich.
Although this is on a news reporting wesbite, it's just the video I want to view.
Mitt Romney is an American politician, and is now a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nominations.
Mitt Romney has explained his views in a way that has been understood that he will make Immigrants lives so unbearable, that they will choose to self deport. Yes, he will give legal immigrants work permits for 11 months, but illegal immigrants will not. Romney's hope is that when the 11 month work permit runs out, immigrant Latinos will consider their lives dependant on their work, and if they can't work in the USA, they will return to where they came from; thus sieving all immigrants out of American, particularly Latino/Hispanics because in 2000 it was seen by the US Census Bureau that 35.3 million people in America were Latino/Hispanic. This figure is projected as 102.6 million in the year 2050.
Newt Gingrich, has dubbed Romney "the most anti-immigrant candidate" out of all four contenders for the Republican nominations. That is quite a sweeping statement to make, in a Hispanic heavy Florida.
It is unclear to how Gingrich feels on the tender topic of immigrants in America, but to take up such a stand and pick out a fatal flaw in Romney's campaign would paint him in a slightly more pro-immigrant light.
However, Gingrich is probably just being clever and using Romney's unfortunate circumstances to bring him (Gingrich) the heavy Hispanic vote.
Whilst in Florida however, Gingrich ran a spanish advert, claming his dedication to the Hispanic community.
Eva Longoria (Actress) has also taken a stand against Romney's campaign.
"85% of Latino Voters support the #DREAM act, 100% of Romney doesn't!"
Friday, 3 February 2012
Anti+ Pro Latino Immigration
Anti Latino Immigration
Federation for American Immigration Reform -www.fairus.org/site/PageNavigator/about.html
The website provides data from 1961-1996 to show how many illegal immigrants were apprehended. The membership organisation is a national, non-profit, public-interest, who share a common belief that our nation's immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national interest. They seek to improve border security, to stop illegal immigration, and to promote immigration levels consistent with the national interest—more traditional rates of about 300,000 a year. This is an anti- Latino Immigration website and I found an article that they have published on their website called ‘US Mexico Illegal Immigration Border Fence & Border Patrol’. The article states that the main problem with illegal immigration is that the border fence and patrol operations are unsubstantial as it is allowing ‘more than one million Mexicans annually.’ The F.A.I.R organisation article mentions the ‘voluntary departure’ where it critically highlights the U.S government’s weakness. The website highlights their Goals, Objectives, what they Advocate and also they have laid out ‘Seven Principles if True Comprehensive Immigration Reform’.
The website provides data from 1961-1996 to show how many illegal immigrants were apprehended. The membership organisation is a national, non-profit, public-interest, who share a common belief that our nation's immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national interest. They seek to improve border security, to stop illegal immigration, and to promote immigration levels consistent with the national interest—more traditional rates of about 300,000 a year. This is an anti- Latino Immigration website and I found an article that they have published on their website called ‘US Mexico Illegal Immigration Border Fence & Border Patrol’. The article states that the main problem with illegal immigration is that the border fence and patrol operations are unsubstantial as it is allowing ‘more than one million Mexicans annually.’ The F.A.I.R organisation article mentions the ‘voluntary departure’ where it critically highlights the U.S government’s weakness. The website highlights their Goals, Objectives, what they Advocate and also they have laid out ‘Seven Principles if True Comprehensive Immigration Reform’.
First Principle: Cut the Numbers
Second Principle: No Amnesty or Mass Guest-Worker Program
Third Principle: Protect Wages and Standards of Living
Fourth Principle: Major Upgrade in Interior Enforcement, Led by
Strong Employers Penalties
Fifth Principle: Stop Special Interest Asylum Abuse
Sixth Principle: Immigration Time Out
Seventh Principle: Equal Under the Law
Second Principle: No Amnesty or Mass Guest-Worker Program
Third Principle: Protect Wages and Standards of Living
Fourth Principle: Major Upgrade in Interior Enforcement, Led by
Strong Employers Penalties
Fifth Principle: Stop Special Interest Asylum Abuse
Sixth Principle: Immigration Time Out
Seventh Principle: Equal Under the Law
Pro Latino Immigration
We Are America- http://weareamericastories.org/about/
The small group say that they ‘raise the voice of immigrants in the national dialogue around our country’s broken immigration system. We lift up the personal stories of immigrants across America to put real people and communities back into national discussion on immigration policy’. The group does have a video of a young immigrant’s story, which tries to win over the watchers emotions as the immigrant shares its concerns. They also have written stories from people who face deportation. The website almost has a homely kind of feel to it, as they encourage people who have compelling stories about immigration to tell their story. Also the website relies on ‘the word of mouth’ as they want people to tell friends and family of the website and also the stories in hope o build awareness to their cause.
The small group say that they ‘raise the voice of immigrants in the national dialogue around our country’s broken immigration system. We lift up the personal stories of immigrants across America to put real people and communities back into national discussion on immigration policy’. The group does have a video of a young immigrant’s story, which tries to win over the watchers emotions as the immigrant shares its concerns. They also have written stories from people who face deportation. The website almost has a homely kind of feel to it, as they encourage people who have compelling stories about immigration to tell their story. Also the website relies on ‘the word of mouth’ as they want people to tell friends and family of the website and also the stories in hope o build awareness to their cause.
‘Share these stories with your friends and family at the dinner table, at work, or at local community meeting… or through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. When people use hateful language to talk about immigrants you can send them links to some personal stories from this site, and figure out other ways to use the power of personal testimony to change the discussion among your fellow Americans.’
Hispanic/Latino Immigration.
http://www.nclr.org/
The NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is the largest national latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. The aim of the organisation is to improve opportunities for Hispanic's, working on a variety of different issues such as health, housing, education, workforce development and youth leadership. The website put their point's across convincingly, with statistics to back their points. For example the number of Hispanic-owned businesses is rising dramatically. It grew by 44% from 2002 to 2007, compared to 15% growth in the number of firms owned by non-Hispanics. Approximately 2.3 million businesses—8% of all U.S. nonfarm businesses—are owned by Latinos. This shows the NCLR's efforts in securing the Hispanic populations worth in American Society by presenting the ways in which the Hispanic people contribute to the U.S Economy - not just as a cheap labour force as they are primarily thought to be. The NCLR website puts across the view of the American Dream being achievable for Hispanics, although it does apply to those who are willing to learn English. They state that they are grateful for the opportunities America has given them, but believe that these opportunites should not be any lesser than those of White Americans.
http://www.alipac.us/content/
ALIPAC, is an immigration enforcement and border security advocacy organization, who state that they are anti-racist but simply believe more should be done to reduce illegal immigration in America. They put their points across effectively although slightly bias, as they do not mention the positives immigrants can bring to the population instead focusing on how immigrants are taking jobs away from 'pure' americans, who have a greater right to the jobs. Here they quote that 80% of the American population are against illegal immigration. You can tell that the website feels strongly about their views, wishing to show readers the problems illegal immigrants are creating, thus gaining greater support. We can see this through links such as 'contact law enforcement, government agencies, law makers, media, and other organizations', aiming to get as many people to get involved in order to make a difference.
The NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is the largest national latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. The aim of the organisation is to improve opportunities for Hispanic's, working on a variety of different issues such as health, housing, education, workforce development and youth leadership. The website put their point's across convincingly, with statistics to back their points. For example the number of Hispanic-owned businesses is rising dramatically. It grew by 44% from 2002 to 2007, compared to 15% growth in the number of firms owned by non-Hispanics. Approximately 2.3 million businesses—8% of all U.S. nonfarm businesses—are owned by Latinos. This shows the NCLR's efforts in securing the Hispanic populations worth in American Society by presenting the ways in which the Hispanic people contribute to the U.S Economy - not just as a cheap labour force as they are primarily thought to be. The NCLR website puts across the view of the American Dream being achievable for Hispanics, although it does apply to those who are willing to learn English. They state that they are grateful for the opportunities America has given them, but believe that these opportunites should not be any lesser than those of White Americans.
http://www.alipac.us/content/
ALIPAC, is an immigration enforcement and border security advocacy organization, who state that they are anti-racist but simply believe more should be done to reduce illegal immigration in America. They put their points across effectively although slightly bias, as they do not mention the positives immigrants can bring to the population instead focusing on how immigrants are taking jobs away from 'pure' americans, who have a greater right to the jobs. Here they quote that 80% of the American population are against illegal immigration. You can tell that the website feels strongly about their views, wishing to show readers the problems illegal immigrants are creating, thus gaining greater support. We can see this through links such as 'contact law enforcement, government agencies, law makers, media, and other organizations', aiming to get as many people to get involved in order to make a difference.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Week 3 - Hispanic/Latino immigration
http://www.as-coa.org/group.php?id=22
This is the website for the Americas Society and is pro Hispanic and Latino immigration. They focus on the social and economic benefits that are gained by immigration. This group supports the integration of Hispanics and Latinos into the society of local communities. Research that the Americas Society has carried out in 2007 has found that the best place for integration is in: Atlanta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Omaha, Nebraska; and Portland, Oregon. However they do not give specific reasons for why this other than state that the society has held public and private meetings to help further integration. Why they may not focus on helping immigrants to immigrate they do provide help for existing immigrants to assimilate into their local communities.
http://www.conservativeusa.org/immigration.htm
This is the site for the Conservative Caucus who are anti-immigration. They make petitions to fight against laws and reforms that may help and favour immigrants and immigration. They currently have a petition to stop illegal immigration. This is a bulletin that they have on their site; '200 Million Immigrants in 20
Years:The Bush/Senate/Democrat Immigration Plan Must be
Defeated'.
The website presents many facts. For example, they say that 600,000 illegal immigrants that have been ordered to be deported are still living in the US. There is a particular strong feeling to stop social security to illegal immigrants as this is costing money for taxpayers and the US economy. An example given is that legal immigrants go back to live in Mexico and get illegal immigrants living in the US to claim of their social security number.
I find the anti immigration site to be more successful in presenting their message. This is because they have presented many facts to back up their statements which fight for their cause. The pro immigration site is very basic. They make statements but have not put relevant supporting facts to support their statements, but do give links to further relevant articles. Also on the anti-immigration site there is more of group feeling to it as they have a page where people can make donations to their cause, thus getting more people involved.
This is the website for the Americas Society and is pro Hispanic and Latino immigration. They focus on the social and economic benefits that are gained by immigration. This group supports the integration of Hispanics and Latinos into the society of local communities. Research that the Americas Society has carried out in 2007 has found that the best place for integration is in: Atlanta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Omaha, Nebraska; and Portland, Oregon. However they do not give specific reasons for why this other than state that the society has held public and private meetings to help further integration. Why they may not focus on helping immigrants to immigrate they do provide help for existing immigrants to assimilate into their local communities.
http://www.conservativeusa.org/immigration.htm
This is the site for the Conservative Caucus who are anti-immigration. They make petitions to fight against laws and reforms that may help and favour immigrants and immigration. They currently have a petition to stop illegal immigration. This is a bulletin that they have on their site; '200 Million Immigrants in 20
Years:The Bush/Senate/Democrat Immigration Plan Must be
Defeated'.
The website presents many facts. For example, they say that 600,000 illegal immigrants that have been ordered to be deported are still living in the US. There is a particular strong feeling to stop social security to illegal immigrants as this is costing money for taxpayers and the US economy. An example given is that legal immigrants go back to live in Mexico and get illegal immigrants living in the US to claim of their social security number.
I find the anti immigration site to be more successful in presenting their message. This is because they have presented many facts to back up their statements which fight for their cause. The pro immigration site is very basic. They make statements but have not put relevant supporting facts to support their statements, but do give links to further relevant articles. Also on the anti-immigration site there is more of group feeling to it as they have a page where people can make donations to their cause, thus getting more people involved.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
This picture shows people recognising and remembering the roughly 500 people that die each year attempting to cross the border. http://www.bnhr.org/The Border Network for Human Rights is an organisation dedicated to promoting equality for marginalised communities such as Hispanic immigrants that have crossed the border. The BNHR attempt to solve issues, such as unauthorised immigrants, by communicating with local authorities and pushing for new legislation such as the DREAM act.
http://www.defendcoloradonow.org/index.html
Defend Colorado Now on the other hand is against illegal immigration as it believes it causes many problems. This website itself does not give any impression of friendliness and looks very curt. It has articles on the ‘True costs of Immigration’ etc which emphasis their belief that immigrants who are not here legally should not receive any state benefits. They believe that anybody in America who has not entered through the correct pathways should be removed.
The two sites could not look or feel more different. BNHR is warm and seems very professional with news banners and blog sites inducing a feel of the community. Defend Colorado Now however is not at all welcoming and attempts to make its point through the use of long articles
which aggressively put their points across.
Understanding Stereotypes K9-12
Discovery Education is a website that specialises in providing resources
such as lesson plans for teachers. It also has learning resources for students
and parents. The website itself is both friendly and user-friendly and the
information provided is clear and concise.
The Lesson plan I decided to look at is about 'Understanding
Stereotypes'. While this is not specifically about immigration, it does tackle
factors involved such as racial stereotypes. The topic, which is set over three
days, investigates what stereotypes are, asks students to think of examples and
requires them to think about how stereotypes affect people.
While it doesn’t necessarily look at the history of immigration and
other important things, it could be used as an introduction to that kind of
sensitive subject.
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