Immigration to the United States

Chinese Immigrants in the United StatesAs the melting pot of different cultures and races, the United States has attracted hundreds of millions of immigrants by offering them opportunities to pursue a prosperous life, a new horizon to get in touch with the latest development of the every field, as well as an American dream that roots in the heart field of those who foster the spirit of individual striving in their heart and soul. This book relates the situations of Chinese American immigrants throughout the history.About 200 years ago, almost hundreds of thousands of Chinese working labors were shipped across the Pacific, who devoted themselves to the construction of the infrastructure of the States, including the famous Western Railway. Furthermore, the Chinese immigrants of the earlier times have laid the profound foundation of many industries, especially agricultural and textile industry. The Chinese exploited the barren and desolated western coast which were believed not to wo rth of a damn in the Europeans’ eyes at that time. Needless to say, it is the laboriousness, patience, as well as their sacrifice that boosts the country’s prosperity and richness. However, like many other minority races, Chinese people face severe discrimination and segregation which last for almost 50years. From abusive words to massacred, the Chinese people have suffered a lot in the early days. I think it is partly because of China was a week country，who was aggressed and bused by western powers at that time. Needless to say, a nation who can not guard its own land and sovereign cannot gift her citizens abroad a dignified life.The proportion of immigrants from Asia has shown an increasing trend in the last century. The second generation of Chinese immigrants in the States refers to the Chinese Americans during the 1920s to 1960s. Statistics show that the majority of them were well-educated and chose the science and technology as their bread of life. Pointing at such a phenomenon. In the traditional Chinese notion, acquiring a basic skill is fundamental to one’s life, especially for those Chinese Americans who have just rooted on the land no more than two generations. Learning science seems more practical than arts in their point of view. They have earned their livelihood with their intelligence and skills, many of whom have made outstanding contributions to the breakthrough of advanced technology. For instance, Yang Zhenning, Li Zhengdao, and Ding Zhaozhong. It was proved that they have made tremendous brilliant breakthrough s their own research and study, gaining great reputation and profits for the country. The Silicon Valley is the sweats of hundreds of thousands of Chinese Americans. Yes, occupying only 1.7%of the nation’s population, the Chinese colony has made a miracle and changed the world in a unique way.The third generation of immigrants seem to have a more liberal range of choices compared with their forebears. They have been doing actively in fields like arts, music, architecture, and politics, they are definitely more good at expressing their own ideas and determining what really interest themselves. Thenew generation have thoroughly toppled the images of Chinese bookworms in the Western’s eyes. I think the there are several reasons to explain such a dramatic reversion: first, the new generation are often born and brought up as native Americans, with assimilation and impact from the American education and their peers, they have been formed the same values and outlooks----a strong self-awareness, an ambition to lead a better life, and the courage to chase what really interest them. Chinese Americans have reversed to a more dynamic, creative and civilized colony that have won the applause of the world. Second, with the democratic process of American society, more opportunities have been opened up to Chinese Americans, including voting for a Senator, competing as an athlete in the international games, or devoting to occupations involving aesthetics and art. Those lucks which were absolutely beyond the imagination of the minorities only a few decades before, have favored the Chinese Americans today.Actually, Chinese people abroad still encounter a lot of harassment and vandalism, not only in public places, like bars, pools, halls, and city streets, but even in their own homes. As we know, Chinese people are diligent and hardworking in business, and they offer more competitive prices compared with other rivals, so there are numerous incidents of racist flyers, who urged boycotting the business of Asian stores, especially Chinese store. After their threats and blackmails, 90%of the Chinese stores experienced severe losses in business. It is just a example of discrimination to Chinese people. I think all the discrimination results from the lack of communication mutual understanding, people form stereotypes for each other. To some extent, whites believe that Blacks are all gangs, Yellows are all mean and stingy people. The calling of equality has been engraved from the Declaration of Independence, to every inaugural speech of more than 40 presidents, however, the most tough thing is to alter people’s mind and heart.However, the immigrant’s policy for Chinese people have been mor e brighter and brilliant than before, and the scale of immigrants is enlarging every year. Most Chinese immigrants are well-educated men, fostering a specific skill, going further studies abroad, or contributing to international business between China and the US. They are all encouraged to immigrate. Many native Americans are fear of loss of jobs due to the new immigrants. While the statistics show that, the group of people will contribute more to the growth of GNP of the States, and in turn, help to increase the tax income and the employment. Nowadays, president candidates attach more importance to the racial minorities. Though, they just occupy a small percentage, their power to vote is sometimes crucial when the vote reaches a climax.In fact, many new immigrants were striving a hard life when they first stepped onto the land. Though many of them are in high social status home, they had to earn their bread from the zero. Those who were once violinist had to do the washing work at restaurants to earn their fees of life. There are also many people who cannot bear the drop between home and abroad, that they addict to drugs, or even commit a crime. Most Chinese dreamed that life in Americawould be abundant and comfortable, and they would like to offer anything they have just to step onto that dreamy land. But they can hardly imagine the sufferings and the loneliness behind the smart immigrants. The psychological pressure they bear, I am afraid, is the very first thing that they should conquer.While absorbing new culture and being assimilated to new surrounding, the kids in the immigrant families are losing their mother tongue. Without much practical use, and even born in America, it is hard to maintain a language. Moreover, under peer pressure, many teenagers addicted to alcohol at parties, hanging out with their friends, only to wish that their different appearance can be ignored, and they are viewed as a 100% Americans, though sometimes, they are not to such kind of lifestyle. Such kind of behavior can only make themselves lost in the identical lost that is enforced by themselves. Many of them are very regretful when they look back to their track when they become adolescent years later. If they were young again, they would be very proud of their bicultural backgrouds, they would be proud to acquire their mother tongue, and to introduce it to his American peers. But now, they are only quite ashamed of telling their children nothing about their mother culture and mother tongue.Carrying the same American spirit, three generations of immigrants have led varied ways of life. And the torch of individual striving have lighten the darkness through all the difficulties and straits. The ideal of tolerating, accepting, and assimilating have been best practiced on this dream land, though many minority races have paid great price for it. However the agony of history is always compensated by the process of it. The values of Chinese Americans have also been reversed, from earning a hard life, to do respectable job but no voice heard, till forming an indispensable role of politics and government, the path took 200 years, and the level of democracy can never be too integrated. We are looking forward a brilliant future for this special colony and a more equal world.。