Session on National Identity
Topic: American Identity & Dream Act
Location: Table I & K
Convened: at 4:30 by Jennifer Byrne and Isabel Castillo
Attendees and Affiliations:
Aaron Koepper Bisakha Tamang Kristen Wall Sharon Kniss Jim Hollowood Marvin Lorenzana Larisa Zehr Harry J. Showalter Nancy C. Showalter Sarah Hooley Alicia Horst Vin Narayan Trevor Chase Emma Sheeny Judith Quintar Beth Taylor Janina Prado Liz Coates Adib Amini Amanda Shomo Christa Brown Rick Brigman Tim Ruebke Meredith Roof David Kreider Valentina Sokolyuk Viktor Sokolyuk Tim Good Alan Vanell Elizabeth Phelps
Notes:
Has anyone heard of the Dream Act? Isabel explained the Act. She gave a brief autobiography:
“I was brought to the States when I was 6 years old. I attended school up through high school, when I realized I was undocumented. I really wanted to go to college. My guidance counselor didn’t know how to help me. I qualified for many scholarships, but since I didn’t have a social security number I didn’t qualify. I had to waitress to earn money for college. I enrolled at EMU (as a private university they can accept undocumented students – make the call themselves) and graduated in 2007 and graduated magna cum laude.
But I can’t use my degree because I don’t have a social security number. Each year 65,000 students graduate from high school who are undocumented and can’t go to college because they can’t access loans or scholarships (this varies by State – in some states you can still get in-state tuition even if undocumented).
The Dream Act is bipartisan legislation that would help people like me. It’s not amnesty and it’s not a free pass. There are requirements such as having a high school diploma, good moral character. To me – I’m as American as most Americans, or even more American than some. Here I have a social work degree that I can’t put to use. In 2007 the Dream Act failed to pass by like 6 votes. This is home to me. I don’t want to risk not being able to come back. If you support the Dream Act – six votes! It was so close! They’re not putting it up to vote again until it has solid support. It’s your voice that counts.
Sign the online petition at www.dreamact2009.com, call your senators or congressmen, write letters. If you are really involved in a university you can spread the words about the Dream Act. Educate others about it.
Sometimes it is presented as a “benefit” to attract undocumented immigrants to the US. They see it as a “perk” diverting taxpayer dollars. The Obama administration has tabled immigration issues due to the health care reform issue, and because the Dems are very divided within their own party on immigration reform. If we push for the Dream Act as a stand-alone bill, not lumped together with other immigration reforms.
This issue is very relevant locally; ESL teachers in Rockingham county know many, many children who are in this situation. They may get their diploma or GED, but then what? This is very important legislation. An HHS student who was threatened with deportation last spring had her deportation deferred for a year so she has more time to get residency. The United We Dream Coalition helps many such students work together to take political action.
Tom Brenneman: We often think of these things in terms of labels – is this organization pro-immigrant or anti-immigrant? Maybe it’s neither. Sometimes the positions are framed as pro-law and order/national sovereignty, vs. pro-anarchy. We have made immigration a national security conversation at every level. It’s important to talk about the labels – how are we talking about it overall in our community? What kind of conversation do we want to have about it? Local law enforcement here has a contract to enforce customs and immigration law. These are people without a country.
Jennifer Byrne: What is something you have heard about the debate in Harrisonburg, and how was it cast? What do we think about how the issues are being presented to us? Where are we starting from?
Student: Herndon, VA – even in high school there were lot sof people who were illegals and had nowhere to go after high school, and so just get into trouble because there’s nothing for them to do.
Isabel: It’s important to look at the Dream Act as an education issue, not an immigration issue. It’s about giving bright students a chance to give back to the community. It’s an education issue.
Jennifer: Instead of looking at this particular policy as pro- or anti-immigrant, is there a way to look at it differently?
Meredith Roof: it’s a teriible human, social, and everything else kind of waste. Isabel is one of the finest students I’ve had, and to think of her fighting for her eduation after she and we have invested so much time and energy into her – we NEED her to foster this intercultural society that we have. She needs to be one of the leaders. And if she can’t even get a job, how is she to assume her position in the world? It’s a waste or Isabel, a waste of our money, what are we doing? Tom: You are a leader now. I just want to recognize your leadership now.
Viktor Zokolyuk (Refugee Resettlement): Education plays an important role – whether its is formal education or education of the community. We need to reach out to employers, politicians, and to the immigrant community – help them realize that citizenship will help them and their neighbors – what is the purpose of them being in the United States? Who is the United States? It is a big enough hope for everyone, a big enough democracy. It was built by immigrants, it is strong by being multicultural, and will be strong if we stay together. If we can bring to the light every session that the courthouse has where new immigrants become citizens, if we had wider publicity of citizenship ceremonies, maybe that could help us tolerate each other better and to understand. I’m working with lawfully admitted immigrants, but in some communities, maybe not ours, there is the perception that if you speak with broken English you are an illegal immigrant. That’s not right. Education and education again – we need to bring to light what immigrants are doing. 75% of our clients become US citizens as soon as they are eligible. Along with refugees and asylees, there is a great group of immigrants who came to build this country. We need to bring to light the positive, not just the negative.
Isabel: What came to my mind when he was talking was in the Daily News-Record all the negative stuff about gang members, try to make articles about the positive, and not just the undocumented, the successful business owners, great students, etc. Changing the picture and not just the negative stuff. Ms. Roof was asking how can we help – getting a city resolution for the Dream Act, or writing letters to the editor – there are different things that you can do to help.
Kristen Wall: Thank you so much for sharing your story, I’m very touched. My hope is to talk amongst ourselves about what does it mean to be an American? What is an American identity? How do we define what it means? I’m glad you brought up the multicultural issue –I see us as being at a choice point in terms of how we conceptualize American identity and who we are becoming. How do we highlight the history that we are all part of? How do we create an identity that all of us belong to? That is humane and includes everyone who feels identity?
Viktor: That would be very interesting to hear! Everyone can tell I am not from the Shenandoah Valley as soon as I open my mouth! Even though I am a citizen, and almost all my adult life is here, I still see the world from the point of view of an immigrant. How do you see that picture right now? In 1992 there were only 5 foreign languages spoken in Harrisonburg City Schools. Now there are over 40. What do you think about that? Does it make us stronger/better or make us weaker/worse? It would be very interesting for us to hear.
Rick: If there are opportunities for the immigrants who come in, it makes us better, but if not, it creates problems. I’ve been living in this area for 2 years. And I would say that 90% of the input I have received about immigration in this area has been negative. This needs to get out into the community – the positive things that people are doing.
Chris Peak: An interesting thing – the language of fear. As Americans our identity feels challenged by the word immigration; we are made to feel that we are losing our identity. It is misconstrued in the media, that we are going to have to change our values and who we are. The media creates fear of accepting multicultural people into the community that it will change who we are. It’s about Americans addressing the people who are putting out the issue of fear. We need to come with a more open mind towards how we are portraying these words – immigration and multicultural action. It’s hard for me to get engaged with the media and with my community because there is such fear. What is the ritual that people need to undergo to “become like us”? We have to realize that our identity as Americans is changing and needs to change. This impacts how the world looks at us – as defenders and as protectors – there’s a good side to that, but there’s also that language stimulus that is negative.
David Kreider: As an American who grew up elsewhere, my whole childhood and youth was in Israel – and in the mix of that there was a real ambivalence about what Americans represented in that conflict. I was embarrassed about who I was. I grew up more aware that we are a global human family and we are beautiful by virtue of the diversity that we represent. What our country honors is equal opportunity, to pursue our dreams. That is what is good about us. I don’t feel we should look at our identity as something special. These lines that define nations are somewhat arbitrary and should not divide us. We are a human family together. Just because we happen to be born in one country or another should not provide special privilege. As Americans we should work to break down these artificial lines of distinction that nationality represents. It’s not a valid point of distinction.
Tom: What makes us Americans? Geography? The Constitution? What are Valley values, and does that make us Valley people? Have you heard that? Civic responsibility, be kind to your neighbors, hold hands, look both ways before you cross the street, what are these elusive values? I was born near Iowa City, Iowa, but I don’t know what it means to be American.
David: Does everyone else have the same values?
Meredith: I find a paradox in what Chris was saying – in being afraid of different cultures overwhelming and taking over our country – and yet to me is the most fundamental thing about being American is that we are all immigrants and we all have a dream; bring us your poor and wretched, and let us make something of ourselves. All of us, no matter how frightened we are, we all still believe that, and I reflect on Richard Rodriguez: he is Mexican American and grew up in LA, and said “I am chinese” because he grew up in a Chinese community. He said we are all Brown, because nobody is truly white or black. But there is a Brown American, that is different from being a Brown something else. We are made on dreams that we can all share. We are all human and all equal. But a big part of the American dream is that we have to work for it.
Rick: There is a larger perception that America is white, blue eyes, if everyone would admit it. Prior to coming to the Valley we lived in the United Arab Emirates. That perception is international – my wife was in a taxi, and the taxi driver didn’t believe she’s American; her family is from Mexico. We looked at a woman with blonde hair and he said “SHE is American.” She was probably Russian – who knows? But that is the perception. Flying back and forth to the ME I would go through security and my wife would be pulled for search. Every single time without exception.
Chris: Doesn’t that just outline how we need to change that perception on a world scale? Who is defining where they’re from? It’s ambiguous. This outlines how important something like the Dream Act is. Immigrants who are undocumented ARE part of the American culture; they come up through the school system and they need to get jobs to show that American is Latina, is brown haired, can be anybody.
Susannah: Not only is it a justice issue, it’s the right thing to do, it’s an issue for us to think about in terms of – it’s human capital that’s being wasted. Kids who grew up here and whose parents are from another culture are THE most employable, and they’re the BEST resource that we have, and we’re wasting it, because they can move easilty between cultures. So it’s also an economic issue. As well as a human rights issue.
Jennifer: In thinking about how things are framed, we should think about framing the Dream Act as being NOT about giving someone something for free, but you have to frame it differently. People are contradictory in their views. Same thing with Official English policies. The same people who are most adamant about legislating English only, are also the same people who are against funding language instruction. It can be cast as this issue of “look, if you’re worried about people functioning within this society, then here’s something we can do about it.” Isabel said “I feel like I’m as American as everyone else” – it IS important to define what do you mean by “American?” What “values” are we talking about? And how are they threatened by someone coming from another country? Think about the framing – it can be terribly important.
Rick: Isabel, can you explain what you meant about being “more American?”
Isabel: I just feel like if I went back to Mexico right now, I couldn’t function. I’ve lived here 18 years!
Rick: I see the families of the kids I work with appreciating America much more than their “American” neighbors. They are willing to work harder and longer maybe more than American-born. Maybe you appreciate the opportunities and freedoms even more, that we take for granted.
Isabel: Maybe if I was documented from the beginning, maybe I wouldn’t be so motivated to work hard.
Tom: Has anyone taken the citizenship exam online – and failed? It’s pretty compelling. This concept of values and identity – I’ve been hearing the word “opportunity.” And doing all you can with that. It seems to be an inherent, cross-cutting value. We have a compulsory education system that you go to jail if you don’t go, but that kicks you out when you turn 18.
Alan: I think in school I was taught a very ethnocentric view of what it means to be American, as European. We are taught that America is the greatest country in the world, that we have the best values in the world. But by society and in the media I’m African-American. If you’re a minority you have an ethnic identity, that’s not as American as white American.
Jennifer: Is it that you feel you don’t fit in?
Alan: No, not necessarily. Through our society when we talk about “America” and “Americans” we end up hyphenating and labelling ethnicity.
Kristen: I wanted to add that some of our story is that we were immigrants who came here willingly. But we have very different stories of people who came but not willingly. There are different archetypal stories. There are people who are citizens who did not come here willingly. How do we bridge with people who feel discriminated against? How do we make enough space for everybody? The statue of liberty and bill of rights are symbols of inclusiveness and welcome. How do we be real about current conflicts while having a vision of enlarging the pie for everyone?
Viktor: It starts in our families. Community reflects how the family talks. What I say in my house, my children bring out into the street. We have to look in the mirror first, and listen to how we talk with our families – what do I say to my wife about my neighbor? That is what my kids bring out. What is community? Community is you and I. It is my fault if I say something wrong. The place to make a difference is to start in my family. If I change, the community will change too.
Meredith: I think the church is another place.
Viktor: Church is also community.
Meredith: I would like to see more people join the intercultural faith coalition.
Isabel: I know NewBridges does a wonderful job of bringing immigrants to other places and just sharing our story. If you are interested, you can speak to Sam Nickels about having them come to your group or church and put a face on the issue.
Alicia: I’m the new director – it’s called Immigrant Learning Events – if you are interested please come and talk to me.
Vim Narayan: It’s going to be a huge grassroots campaign – there is not going to be a government initiative – individually as people it is our obligation – not a responsibility, because not everybody should have to be forced to provide a cultural experience or way of thinking if they don’t want to – but if we have a passion for it, we can achieve it – have a big discussion where we can share ideas. I’m Canadian, so I have no bearing on what it means to be American. I’ve never heard about having the church involved, so I’m curious to hear about how the church can help.
Meredith: There is an organization in Harrisonburg called the Interfaith Council, I think Rabbi Joe is the president now, we have people from all the churches come together and just discuss things, so that some of the leadership anyway is made aware of the issues, and can take an informed view back to their congregation. I agree with you – I don’t want to be forcefed anything, but if it’s about making information available…
Larisa Zehr: I’m a student at EMU. Something maybe you can identify with at my age, just being part of an international group of people – my parents are American, but my mom grew up in Tanzania – and not having a homeland or cultural identity is something I think a lot of people can identify with. In our interpersonal relationships, asking people where their “home” is – as an American, I feel more at home in an intercultural community like Harrisonburg – maybe there are a lot of people who feel that way. Maybe that can be a better way of integrating.
Vin: What I was going to add to that was that being at home in a multicultural setting – in Canada it’s always been like a racial/cultural thing – like, racially I’m Indian, but culturally I’m totally ingrained in the culture here. It’s like you’re piggy-backing on many different things. You get the best of both worlds and at the same time you can educate people on two different sides of you. I don’t think it’s bad to share, you just kind of do that if you’re from a different culture. I think once people realize that just cause you’re one color or one race, it doesn’t define you, we’ll be making a lot of different strides. But it’s hard to explain the fluidity and fusion between the two when you’re in between. People want to see you as one or the other – people need to figure out that we’re BOTH.
Tom: That’s another word that’s surfacing here: not assimilation – making someone like you – but all the indicators of the immigration policy institute is speaking English for integration – but it has to be a sensitive integration, not assimilation. The militant conflicts at the border around immigration – it was nice to come here and find a lot of the same, but what I don’t see is a daily rancorous debate around the issue. My point is that we’re doing integration really well, and there is so much more we can do. I love that we invest 11,000-13,000 per capita in our children in schools! There are so many practices we’re doing well that we can expand on! The international festival is great but it’s becoming the norm. This is tangential – but there was an article about a crystal meth bust recently; the bulk of the felons were Valley names, but the one Latino name rose to the top of the list. We’re not a Scottish-Irish community anymore. We’re integrating well but we need to do a lot better. We need to take the barrier away at Grade 12.
Meredith: Thanks to Kai for bringing us all together!
Action Items:
Several individuals committed to calling or writing their representatives in support of the Dream Act.
Follow-up Contacts: Jennifer Byrne and Isabel Castillo
