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The American way of life and the end of Western Civilization

By Patrick Osio, Jr./HispanicVista.com

  May 17, 2007

 

 

The American way of life and the end of Western Civilization

By Patrick Osio, Jr

 

US immigration policy, since the country’s birth, is based on what is good for the country, and not what is good for the immigrant. While properly controlled this policy has served the nation extremely well. Today’s immigration problems are not due to faulty policy, rather because a breakdown of that policy beginning in the early 1950s, was not only not fixed then but continued to be disregarded as a potential destructive force to the nation’s historically successful immigration policy. 

 

The breakdown can no longer be ignored, so the country has entered in a long-drawn-out and heated debate in what seems too many of us, misguided and futile attempts at finding remedy to guide the country back into the immigration policy that is best for the country.

 

Today’s debate includes as a point of argument for what is “best for the country,” that counter the threat to the “American way of life,” and failure to include these counter measures foretells the eminent “end of Western civilization.”

 

Advocates of these issues have not provided a precise definition of what is the “American way of life” and what sectors of the US population are currently participating in this way of life, and what immigrant groups are not considered capable or wanting to share in the American way of life and thus should be excluded from immigrating. 

 

And, should one assume that “end of Western civilization” suggest that Western civilization refers to European roots and their descendants, so those not of European descent will be the ones bringing an end to Western civilization?

 

The further difficulties stem from a small but influential personages and groups in both the public and private sector clamoring for the “quick fix” – round up those here without documentation, and seal the border with Mexico to stop illegal border crossings – methods first tried by President Eisenhower and other administrations since him with dismal failure.

 

The immigration reform debate begins again in the Halls of Congress. One camp adamant that the border be sealed, and that under no circumstances are those already here be given an opportunity to stay; and that if US businesses pay better there are enough US citizens and legal immigrants to fill all jobs. While the other camp suggests that those already here be given a path to eventual citizenship and that the nation should instituted an enforceable guest worker program for those industries needing low cost labor. 

 

But still not part of the debate are the two main points consistently heard from numerous House Representatives and Senators opposed to allowing for a path to citizenship or in favor of a guest worker program - the “American way of life” and “end of Western civilization.” – Exactly what do they mean by this, and should US immigration policy deny immigration to people from specific countries, ethnic groups or races, based on these two issues?

 

The American way of life can mean different things to different people. In fact, most Americans are hard pressed to provide a definition that is consistent with their neighbor’s definition.

 

I grew up believing that in America it made no difference who or where you came from; that through hard work, determination and either natural or learned ability one could become anything, be rich, or even President. In America we are all free to worship in a church of our choice, to speak or write our mind, to vote for whomever we wanted and that we were free to be different. A teacher stressed the “different” to me because to him, that the US is made up of so many races, religions, and ethnic groups is the greatest thing about the US.  I have always assumed that this is the American way of life. Am I wrong?

 

And to me, the greatest paradox to the “end of Western (European) civilization” spoken of today, took place when European immigrants abandoned their roots and countries, and therefore, Western (European) civilization, to carve out a “new” civilization in the US. The “civilization” they left, stayed there.

 

Are we to not consider the US as its own “civilization”? Has not the long struggle to create this formidable country earned the right to be declared one of the greatest civilizations in the history of mankind?

 

Or are the word “Western” or “European” civilization proxies for the word “White” civilization and those to keep out of the US are to be the non-white?

 

I for one welcome a debate on this subject.

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Patrick Osio, Jr. is the Editor of HispanicVista (www.hispanicvista.com) and columnist with the San Diego Metropolitan Magazine (www.sandiegometro.com). Contact him at: POsiojr@aol.com

 

(The opinions expressed by Patrick Osio, Jr. are solely his and do not necessarily reflect those of HispanicVista.com, editorial board of advisors or it’s contributing writers.)

Patrick Osio, Jr. has written a short but intensive manual on the Mexican perspective on numerous issues between our two countries. The manual is an in depth primer on the culture and protocol for better understanding Mexicans that in turn allows establishing personal and business relationships, and how to avoid the most common faux pas that can ruin relationships and business deals.

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