Becoming  American
Subtitle: why immigration is good for our nation's future
By: Fariborz Ghadar
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 207
ISBN-13: 9781442228948
Subjects: Emigration and immigration; Government policy; Immigrants; Economic aspects; Social aspects
Description: For policy makers, business leaders, and American citizens, immigration reform is one of the defining issues of our time. In turns both personal and analytical, remaining factual and well-argued throughout, Fariborz Ghadar's Becoming American makes the case for common sense immigration policies and practices that will not only help strengthen America's economy and role as world leader, but will also help millions of prospective immigrants and their families start making more out of their lives today, and for generations to come. The author is an Iranian immigrant who fled his homeland decades ago in search of a more stable and successful future. Weaving his personal story into that of the millions of immigrants facing unnecessary hurdles at the global level, he demonstrates the need for our governments and leaders to make policy decisions intelligently - not just based on current circumstances - but with an eye toward a future brighter than our current state of dysfunction, uncertainty, and regrettable bigotry towards those with funny names. Based on our nation's undeniable history as a nation of immigrants, we cannot fail to address the impact that immigration will have on our future if we want to accurately plan for a thriving, diverse and better tomorrow. Becoming American understand helps readers not only the mindset of America's immigrant populations, but makes the case for America once more as a place for the world's hardest workers, loftiest dreamers, and most prosperous people. -- Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Beyond the numbers; title: Debunking the myths ; Myth #1: America continues to be a nation of immigrants ; Myth #2: All immigrants want to come to the United States ; Myth #3: America already attracts the best and brightest immigrants ; Myth #4: Immigrants are a drain on the economy ; Myth #5: Immigrants are a threat to national secirity (that is, the war on terrorism can be own through immigration restrictions) ; Myth #6: Immigrants do not want to learn English ; Myth #7: Many immigrants are criminals; title: How did I get here?; title: What it takes to uproot yourself ; Immigration as a force of change ; Immigration laws ; Today's pariahs ; Immigration reform; title: How did she get here: Margaret Ghadar; title: Why do they come? ;Immigration's ebb and flow ; Silicon Valley: a microcosm; title: How did he get here: Zbigniew Brzezinski; title: Hard work makes for a successful career; title: How did he get here: Salomon Garay; title: Paying it forward to the U.S. Economy; title: How did he get here: Yoon-shik Park; title: The bimodal nature of immigrants; title: The lure of clusters ; Case study: Detroit's automobile industry ; Case study: Silicon Valley ; Technological revolutions ; Life science cluster ; Nanotechnology cluster ; Other revolutionary fields; title: A day in the life; title: Prejudice exits, but so what? ; The new enemy ; Racial profiling; title: Sticking to your own may work, but it's not easy; title: Assimilation is critical ; When assimilation doesn't occur; title: Next generation, and the next, and the next; title: How did she get here: Otessa Ghadar; title: Old country is old ; Benefits ; Costs; title: How did he get here: Michel Amsalem; title: Can you go home again?; title: Lessons for the next generation; title: Blueprints for policymakers; title: Would I do it again?