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March 21, 2010 was the landmark day in the history of United States
when more than 100,000 people converged at the ground in front of the Capitol
Building to demand for Immigration Reforms.
(Photo: ummid.com) |
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United States as I see ... |
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 World not
a paradise like Washington: Courtesy, US Foreign Policy:
I was the last minute inclusion in the 3-member team that was
visiting United States as part of the International Visitor ....
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History
has it that Christopher Columbus was navigating to India when he
accidentally discovered America. Not aware that the land he is
landing on accidentally would one day become the most sought after
place for people from all across the world. Everyday, they would
come to America – not by accident but by choice - and would pump in
their bloods day in and day out - to make the land once devoid of
life, the world power and epicentre of the world politics. Be it a
Church or a Masjid, worship places for Jews or other religions, a
workplace or an office, a school or a meeting ground, a street or a
market, everywhere in the United States, people of varying colors,
different ethnic identities, diverse religions and multi cultures
would be seen integrated as if the entire
world has converged to one place.
Today,
the United States takes pride in terming itself as the Country of
Immigrants. Proudly – and rightly - it demonstrates to the world how
successfully the country has accommodated – rather integrated into
one nation - people from all parts of the world and of different
cultures. However, it is only after invaluable personal sacrifices
from early migrants – and sometimes even by those who are migrating
today - that the United States has been able to earn this status.
Otherwise, it was never easy for the early migrants to earn a place
for themselves among the white Americans. In fact their experiences
are so bitter that today when the situation is claimed to be better
than the one earlier, they fail to realise the change.
Speak
to Shonee Henry – an early migrant from Philippine and it would be
revealed to you how she was called the names just because she was an
immigrant and her English language accent was hard on the ears of
white Americans. Till she worked hard, promoted herself to the top
position in the organisation where she was once humiliated, and then
attained a high profile job to become the Commissioner at the
Department of Human Relations at San Diego in California.
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Shonee Henry |
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"I
was called the names merely because I was an immigrant and my
English language accent was hard on the ears of white Americans." |
You
speak to Omar Ansari, who migrated to the United States in 1962
from Malegaon and became an example for others in the Muslim
majority town in North Maharashtra in India and it would be revealed
to you how he faced hostilities from his neighbours when he
purchased a house in a locality in New York and decided to settle
there. Things changed for him only when he demonstrated remarkable
restraint, and after he behaved with them in a manner his religion
has advised him to.
Despite
the bitter experiences, however, going back to their native
countries has been the agenda of neither Omar Anari nor Shonee
Henry. Ask them, if they ever intended to go back and they will
reply with a big NO. Omar Ansari sounds more adamant. “I am a
better American”, he says. Ask him to reason and he would say, “Because, I am
an American by choice, not by compulsion or birth.”
The
Afro-Americans, however, are not as lucky as the Asians. The United
States has elected a black President – something really remarkable,
encouraging and a matter of pride for the community. But the
year-old stereotype against the Afro-Americans ceases to die even
today. Yes, the days of ‘Dogs and Blacks are not allowed’ are
nowhere to be seen in the United States. But, the Afro-Americans
face prejudice and hostility in the American society even today, is
a fact. It was really painful to learn about the conversation
between an Afro-American and a white American. The Afro-American
while talking to the fellow American was wondering over the way he
is frequented by people asking him if he could provide drugs. And
sometimes, people coming to him and asking if he needed weapons. He
was at pains to describe why he has to face such a fate when same is
not the case with other people.
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Dr. Farid Zahic |
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"After migrating to the United States, I not only earned my
livelihood but also the honor and dignity." |
Contrary to this, there are also the people like Dr. Farid Zahic - a Respiratory Therapist, who migrated from Bosnia and
settled in Utica in the New York state. There was a time in Bosnia,
he reveals, when he was beaten and subjected to humiliation merely
because of his ‘Muslim name’ and ‘Muslim Identity’. The United
States, however, not only provided him with the shelter and means of
living, but also the honor and dignity. Today, while peacefully
working for his family, Farid Zahic has also been instrumental in
building a beautiful mosque for the Muslim community in Utica.
Likewise are the Japanese. Due to the infamous – rather inhuman –
bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – they were not comfortable with
the United States for quite a long time. But today, even they – like
Sister Hayashi - are migrating to the United States in large numbers
and forgetting their past, take pride in calling themselves as
Americans of Japanese origin.
The
stories go on and on, and with them come to the fore the fact that
despite the odds the United States has been very generous in
accommodating the immigrants. Unlike other countries, it has the
tendency to integrate people into one nation. It provides them the
liberty and individual freedom, and freedom for religious practice.
Not only commoners but the Imams whom we met admitted – openly and
without any fear and pressure - that the freedom of religious
practice that exists in the United States is seldom seen in other
parts of the world. Obviously, this is why the United States remains the
most favourite destination for them.
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Omar Ansari |
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"I
faced hostilities from my neighbours when I purchased a house in a
locality in New York and decided to settle there. Things changed
only after I behaved with them in a manner my religion has advised
me to." |
Nevertheless, the privileges that the United States provide to the
immigrants are not unreturned. It is the immigrants who are the
major workforce in the country and in return to what the United
States has given to them, they work very hard to keep the country
going and remain the world power. Hence, when the United States
takes pride in terming itself as the Country of Immigrants – it
admits that what it is today is because of the immigrants. Yet, the
general perception among the immigrants is that the United States is
not doing enough to realise their contributions. This is why on
March 21, 2010, we saw in front of the Capitol Building in
Washington DC more than 100,000 people demanding for the Immigration
Reforms. Among them were the people from different origins. Among
them were the people from various ethnic groups. Among them were the
people of varying colors. Among them were the people of diverse
religions. Among them were the people of different cultures. They
were all shouting slogans, quite sure and confident that their
demands would be met one day or the other.
Away
from the crowd and standing near the memorial built to commemorate
James Smithson – one of the philanthropists instrumental in building
the United States – I was wondering, how and when I would be given
my dues. I was thinking, after how much more bloodshed that the
people in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for that matter in Palestine,
Kashmir and Chechnya would be able to live in peace. I was thinking
of the rights of the people in Russia, Somalia, Uzbekistan,
Dagestan, Philippine and those ‘struggling to live’ in other parts
of the world. It was then that I saw a four-year old child holding a
placard that said, 'Standing on the side of LOVE'. The placard
reminded me the power of LOVE. The next moment my hope for a
peaceful and just world was revived ....
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Country of Immigrants, United States is a WORLD in itself
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