"You Don't LOOK Like An Immigrant" - Immigration Part 2 of 3

In my piece on immigration part 1, I tried to elucidate the circumstances in which I entered the United States as an immigrant and consequently, the extreme difficulty to do so in spite of my privilege, wealth and education. I revealed that my well meaning friends, after reminding them that my family represented one of “those immigrants”, made the profoundly telling comment, “well…you don’t LOOK like an immigrant”. I have also been “consoled” by friends, acquaintances and strangers that I am not the immigration concern, “because…well…because you are different”.
Returning to present time, there is great uneasiness amongst the candidates from both parties regarding the complex question of immigration. What are the sentiments of the vast American public that provoke the candidates’ cautious approach? As I list some of the more popular rhetoric, I will compare myself to the top three concerns regarding immigrants, because I am one –both an immigrant and a concern- whether I am blond or not, and then make a final decision about the validity of my friends’ comment (and my father consequently has heard the same and similar sentiments).

1) Public Opinion states: American culture, identity and practices are at risk and in some parts of the country, “America” can no longer even be identified.
Dana (an immigrant who doesn’t look like an immigrant-whatever that means) states: I bring with me ideas of a more socialist atmosphere with higher taxes to support universal healthcare. I often speak of anti-imperialism and of the egocentricity of the US. I help my neighbours, and as you can see, I spell my words with the letter “u”. I believe that we should travel to Cuba if we want to. I didn’t say the pledge of allegiance when asked to by a teacher. I eat French fries (and I have always, without reprieve, called them FRENCH fries) with gravy and ketchup. I call wheat bread brown bread. I believe military should aid in peace keeping, not militaristic rule. I love hockey…more than baseball. I think Hershey’s chocolate sucks. I have a Canadian flag on my bag, and walk brazenly through the streets of Salt Lake City. I call a garbage disposal, a garbarator. When I talk about things with an “a” in it I pronounce it “fleg” or “grocery beg”, and pasta and drama I pronounce with a short “a” sound rather than pawsta or drawma. I say foyer like the French say it. I call a winter hat a toque. My favorite colours - oh, there I go again with the “u” - are just red and white, no blue. I never watched Mr. Robinson…or is it Mr. Rogers?

2) Public Opinion states: American security is compromised when immigrants come across the border.
Dana states: I came across illegally. I had a nice car, a nice smile, and very little accent eh. Little did the border security realize that I would come across and whisper words of uprising and revolution. My platform? “NO HANDGUNS ALLOWED”.

3) Public Opinion states: Immigrants are taking American jobs away from Americans.
Dana states: I have worked since I came here. I took babysitting jobs away from innocent, American, neighbourhood, teenage girls. I took away the right of an American to be a first-hand sorter at a thrift shop…because every American wants the choice to sift garbage for something salvageable. I stole jobs left and right through college from home-grown Americans and worse yet? I took a spot in an American medical school away from an American.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate American or Americans...but I am Canadian, and I am proud of that, and bring my culture with me and am grateful for my time here. Nevertheless, it seems that I do fit into the seditious role that so commonly is uttered amongst the “real” Americans referencing immigrants. I return to the comment, “because…well…because you are different”. Am I? or am I accepted because I am not different?

I would argue that IF immigration fears and unease were truly represented by the 3 concerns listed above, then I too would be hated and alarming. And yet, I am not. My experience has been far different then a desperate mother being packed in between a car door and the siding in 120 degree heat for an opportunity to provide for her family. What is different? That I am blond? English speaking? Rich? Or is it just because I am white. The telling comment, “you don’t LOOK like an immigrant” reveals what I consider the primary concern driving immigration policy trepidation. It must be race at the core that stirs anger and fears. Otherwise it would naturally follow, that I too would be fulfilling each concern as illustrated above. So how does a politician say to his or her voters, you are racist. He or she can not, so everyone has decided to dance the salsa around the core issue of immigration.