By Rupa Ranganathan
The Los Angeles Times blog speaks about how the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce joined the march this year for National Immigration Day, on May 1st, which Lou Dobbs will insist is actually National Law Day initiated by President Eisenhower in 1958. Sometime back, Bill Gates told Congress in a testimony that “for America to remain globally competitive Congress must increase funding for science and math education, basic science research and raise the cap on green cards and H-IB visas”. At a time when all eyes are on the economy, jobs and lower fuel or food prices, who will map out the future of American enterprise, innovation, or scientific advancement that was the envy of the world? With a declining dollar and the ravages of mortgage meltdowns, a short term look that takes aim at immigrants or outsourcing only limits our vision and growth.
About year ago, NPR featured a success story of a former illegal immigrant Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa who came to this country under very trying and modest circumstances as a farm-worker and realized another stellar immigrant dream. This former illegal worker became a leading brain surgeon at Johns Hopkins who is conducting cancer research and completed his medical education at the prestigious Harvard Medical School.
While politicians sway public opinion to the left or right of this issue repeatedly, businesses recognize the value of extending open arms to immigrants that work tirelessly to enrich the scientific, social and economic fountainhead of America. But, more than businesses, community organizations and grassroots institutions pour their goodwill, knowledge and warmth to immigrants all the time and contribute towards transformation of individual lives as well as that of the economy working quietly in their little counties. One such organization that comes to my mind is the Literacy Volunteers of Morris County, that painstakingly seeks to help immigrants discover their true potential and get situated in the new country of residence.
Corporate America and various business entities like the LA Chamber of Commerce recognize the importance of initiating appropriate reforms to get the most out of immigrants who have their eye on “The American Dream.” Immigrant cultures bring to the country diversity of skills and cultural values. But more importantly, immigrant lives share the philosophy of Hope and Determination which must form the bedrock of progressive nations. With the price of fuel and food skyrocketing, immigrants fall easy prey to attacks from social and political pressures. Yet the grit and determination of numerous immigrant achievers can greatly fortify a nation, whose very foundation nurtures immigrants chasing “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Additional References
Farmworker to Surgeon: Immigrant Lives Dream
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10013111
May Day March Smaller but Festive, LA Times May 2, 08
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayday2-2008may02,0,7551702,full.story
Literacy Volunteers of Morris County
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