President Lyndon B. Johnson's Remarks On Immigration
RESPONSE PAPER N°2, ROUSSEAU MARION, TD1
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill, Liberty Island, New York, October 3, 1968
Today’ society lives in a world of constant changes and progress which evolves through time. However, by observing several key moments in History, it would be interesting to speak about an evolution related to movements rather than related to the Time. Indeed, movements are the reasons human beings expanded on earth, discovered various cultures or had access to different knowledge. The History of the United States of America is a perfect example of the impact of movements through time. Those movements were the numerous waves of immigration which populated the American soil. Ever since, …show more content…
immigration has never stopped to be related to America: from the American Dream to Donald Trump’s xenophobia towards Mexican immigrants, immigration is a subject which will never cease to be discussed.
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill delivered at Liberty Island in New York, on October 3rd, 1968, permits to review different aspects of immigration. Indeed, in this extract, President Lyndon Johnson raised several reasons about the making of this Immigration Bill. However, in order to have a clear vision over the whole extract, those reasons can be split in six part:
1. What changes brings the bill? (l. 1-15)
2. In what this bill makes immigration accessible? (1. 16-27)
3. An illustration of past and 1965’s present immigration (l. 28-36)
4.
The paradoxical American behaviour towards immigrants (l. 37-46)
5. What are the motives of immigrants? (l. 47-51)
6. An illustration of those immigrants’ motives (l. 52-58)
Therefore, through the reading of this extract, it would be interesting to compare how immigration was perceived before the bill, through this period, and nowadays.
As the extracts begin, it is necessary to see which point of view President Lyndon B. Johnson adopts in his remarks. “It [the bill] does not affect the lives of millions. It will not reshape the structure of our daily lives, or really add importantly to either our wealth or power.” (l. 1-3) Since the United States’ President is supposed to represent its inhabitants as a whole; the President is also supposed to speak as immigrants’ ancestors and immigrants’ relatives who are living in America. Therefore, how can President B. Johnson, at the right beginning of this extract, asserts that this bill would have no particularly change in the daily life of United-States of America’s citizens? Regarding immigrants’ relatives who are allowed to live in the United States, this bill improved immigrant family gathering. Regarding immigrants ancestors, welcoming immigrants implies the creation of new jobs and therefore a boost in the job …show more content…
industry.
Thus, this introduction illustrates a lack of interests in immigration commitment, for the President didn’t consider it as a great change in the life of its citizens. However, the following sentences contradict President Lyndon passive point of view over Immigration: “I have come here to thank personally each member Member of the Congress who labored so long and so valiantly to make this occasion come true today, and to make this bill a reality.” (l. 9-10) Hence, by considering the realization of this bill as an “occasion”, the President recognized it as a special celebration.
Through those two opposite visions over immigration, one can think that President Lyndon’s commitment embodies American state of mind: if in the beginning of the extract, President Lyndon seemed to take some distance about the bill as the United States did about immigration in the past, he gradually became aware of the importance of the bill, and therefore, of the immigration in America.
Thereafter, the extract explains which differences can be noticed between the former immigration policy and the new one. The main innovation leans on the simple characteristics required to enter the United States: “[immigrants are] admitted on the basis of their skills and their close relationship to those already there.” (l. 17) Thus, while the Immigration Bill is likely to be considered as easier in order to enter, President Lyndon himself judges the previous policy as unfair: “The fairness of this standard is so self-evident that we may well wonder that it has not always been applied.” (l. 20-21) Indeed, in the third part of this extract, President Lyndon illustrates this lack of equity in the previous immigration policy through the denied entrance of immigrants “... from southern or eastern Europe or from one of the developing continents.” (l. 28-29) One could say those locations refer to Asia or Africa, which its inhabitants were most likely to not enter in America because of 1924’s Immigration Laws. Therefore, thanks to the Immigration Bill, immigrants over all over the world could anew enter in the United States, slowing building the ethos of the American Dream: anyone from anywhere could start a new life on the American soil.
However, the following part jumps out in the quest of welcoming immigrants. Indeed, if this fourth part contains some part of truth such as “Our beautiful America was built by a nation of strangers.” (l. 37), it also has an inaccurate statement: “From a hundred different places or more they have poured forth into an empty land, joining and blending in one mighty and irresistible tide.” (l. 37-38) Actually, this statement itself attests two clumsy ideas.
First, President Lyndon referred to the American soil as an “empty land” which can evoke an idea of unpopulated soil. Yet, even when Christopher Columbus “discovered” America in 1492, he surely did notice the Natives Americans and so the Pilgrims Fathers in 1620. Therefore, not only this idea of “empty land” disrespects Native Americans’ existence by ignoring it for the sake of pretending having populated a uninhabited ground, but it also conveys a paradoxical attitude. Since the Immigration Bill’s stake is to invite immigrants to come in the United States to build History, how, as foreigners, immigrants are supposed to feel accepted and credited when the Native Americans had been erased of American History through President Lyndon’s remarks?
Second, it would be interesting to focus on the next part of this quotation: “... joining and blending in one mighty and irresistible tide.”(l. 37-38) This part clearly carries the idea of Melting Pot through the notion of “blending in one”. However, it appeared nowadays that the Melting Pot’s theory isn’t confirmed in reality. While it is supposed to emancipate one immigrant’s culture, United States cosmopolitan society is above all a civilization built upon assimilation of one’s culture while simultaneously integrating land of refuge’s one. Therefore, this part of the extract illustrates the complexity of the United States through President Lyndon’s paradoxical approaches, for it analysis through time uncovers two opposite point of view: 1965’s one and the one we have today.
Indeed, this opposition of points of view between past and present is also noticeable in the following part.
Although both in past and present the Statue of Liberty embodies the liberty for the immigrants and the Pursuit of Happiness, what President Lyndon considered to be a motive to immigrate to America in the past can be interpreted differently nowadays. To illustrate this statement, it is necessary to consider to following quote: “... those who do come will come because of what they are, and not because of the land from which they sprung.” (l. 50-51) Here, President Lyndon claimed that immigrants’ main motives to come to the United States were to live the American Dream. Thus, if in the past the main idea that conveys immigrants was the movement of ‘going to’, nowadays, the movement of ‘leaving from’ appears to be more accurate, for what immigration with Syrian refugees conveyed. Therefore, immigrants’ motives can be questioned regarding which point of view is
adopted.
Finally, the ultimate part of this extract gathers in the end, the previous ideas that were present through the analysis of the whole extract. First, it illustrates the idea of clumsy speech ─“... were they [the earliest settlers] strong enough to clean the land, (...)?” (l. 52-54)- which can here evoke the Trial of Tears. Second, it illustrates the past various waves of immigrations ─“(...) men named Fernandez and Zajac and Zelinko and Mariano and McCormick.” (l. 57-58)- which evocates the following respective nationalities: Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, Italian and Ireland-Scotland. Lastly, it reminds as well the idea of Assimilation: while keeping origins from their lands of birth, immigrants became as well Americans ─“Neither the enemy who killed them nor the people whose independence they have fought to save ever asked them where they or their parents came from. They were all Americans.” (l. 59-60)
To conclude, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill has various reading-level regarding when this extract can be read. In 1965, President Lyndon’s remarks surely embodied a haven for immigrants with its evolution of foreign acceptance. However, in hindsight with the actual events that are happening in Today’s society, this extract has as well some drawbacks regarding the lack of acknowledgment of past history.
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill, Liberty Island, New York, October 3, 1968
Today’ society lives in a world of constant changes and progress which evolves through time. However, by observing several key moments in History, it would be interesting to speak about an evolution related to movements rather than related to the Time. Indeed, movements are the reasons human beings expanded on earth, discovered various cultures or had access to different knowledge. The History of the United States of America is a perfect example of the impact of movements through time. Those movements were the numerous waves of immigration which populated the American soil. Ever since, …show more content…
immigration has never stopped to be related to America: from the American Dream to Donald Trump’s xenophobia towards Mexican immigrants, immigration is a subject which will never cease to be discussed.
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill delivered at Liberty Island in New York, on October 3rd, 1968, permits to review different aspects of immigration. Indeed, in this extract, President Lyndon Johnson raised several reasons about the making of this Immigration Bill. However, in order to have a clear vision over the whole extract, those reasons can be split in six part:
1. What changes brings the bill? (l. 1-15)
2. In what this bill makes immigration accessible? (1. 16-27)
3. An illustration of past and 1965’s present immigration (l. 28-36)
4.
The paradoxical American behaviour towards immigrants (l. 37-46)
5. What are the motives of immigrants? (l. 47-51)
6. An illustration of those immigrants’ motives (l. 52-58)
Therefore, through the reading of this extract, it would be interesting to compare how immigration was perceived before the bill, through this period, and nowadays.
As the extracts begin, it is necessary to see which point of view President Lyndon B. Johnson adopts in his remarks. “It [the bill] does not affect the lives of millions. It will not reshape the structure of our daily lives, or really add importantly to either our wealth or power.” (l. 1-3) Since the United States’ President is supposed to represent its inhabitants as a whole; the President is also supposed to speak as immigrants’ ancestors and immigrants’ relatives who are living in America. Therefore, how can President B. Johnson, at the right beginning of this extract, asserts that this bill would have no particularly change in the daily life of United-States of America’s citizens? Regarding immigrants’ relatives who are allowed to live in the United States, this bill improved immigrant family gathering. Regarding immigrants ancestors, welcoming immigrants implies the creation of new jobs and therefore a boost in the job …show more content…
industry.
Thus, this introduction illustrates a lack of interests in immigration commitment, for the President didn’t consider it as a great change in the life of its citizens. However, the following sentences contradict President Lyndon passive point of view over Immigration: “I have come here to thank personally each member Member of the Congress who labored so long and so valiantly to make this occasion come true today, and to make this bill a reality.” (l. 9-10) Hence, by considering the realization of this bill as an “occasion”, the President recognized it as a special celebration.
Through those two opposite visions over immigration, one can think that President Lyndon’s commitment embodies American state of mind: if in the beginning of the extract, President Lyndon seemed to take some distance about the bill as the United States did about immigration in the past, he gradually became aware of the importance of the bill, and therefore, of the immigration in America.
Thereafter, the extract explains which differences can be noticed between the former immigration policy and the new one. The main innovation leans on the simple characteristics required to enter the United States: “[immigrants are] admitted on the basis of their skills and their close relationship to those already there.” (l. 17) Thus, while the Immigration Bill is likely to be considered as easier in order to enter, President Lyndon himself judges the previous policy as unfair: “The fairness of this standard is so self-evident that we may well wonder that it has not always been applied.” (l. 20-21) Indeed, in the third part of this extract, President Lyndon illustrates this lack of equity in the previous immigration policy through the denied entrance of immigrants “... from southern or eastern Europe or from one of the developing continents.” (l. 28-29) One could say those locations refer to Asia or Africa, which its inhabitants were most likely to not enter in America because of 1924’s Immigration Laws. Therefore, thanks to the Immigration Bill, immigrants over all over the world could anew enter in the United States, slowing building the ethos of the American Dream: anyone from anywhere could start a new life on the American soil.
However, the following part jumps out in the quest of welcoming immigrants. Indeed, if this fourth part contains some part of truth such as “Our beautiful America was built by a nation of strangers.” (l. 37), it also has an inaccurate statement: “From a hundred different places or more they have poured forth into an empty land, joining and blending in one mighty and irresistible tide.” (l. 37-38) Actually, this statement itself attests two clumsy ideas.
First, President Lyndon referred to the American soil as an “empty land” which can evoke an idea of unpopulated soil. Yet, even when Christopher Columbus “discovered” America in 1492, he surely did notice the Natives Americans and so the Pilgrims Fathers in 1620. Therefore, not only this idea of “empty land” disrespects Native Americans’ existence by ignoring it for the sake of pretending having populated a uninhabited ground, but it also conveys a paradoxical attitude. Since the Immigration Bill’s stake is to invite immigrants to come in the United States to build History, how, as foreigners, immigrants are supposed to feel accepted and credited when the Native Americans had been erased of American History through President Lyndon’s remarks?
Second, it would be interesting to focus on the next part of this quotation: “... joining and blending in one mighty and irresistible tide.”(l. 37-38) This part clearly carries the idea of Melting Pot through the notion of “blending in one”. However, it appeared nowadays that the Melting Pot’s theory isn’t confirmed in reality. While it is supposed to emancipate one immigrant’s culture, United States cosmopolitan society is above all a civilization built upon assimilation of one’s culture while simultaneously integrating land of refuge’s one. Therefore, this part of the extract illustrates the complexity of the United States through President Lyndon’s paradoxical approaches, for it analysis through time uncovers two opposite point of view: 1965’s one and the one we have today.
Indeed, this opposition of points of view between past and present is also noticeable in the following part.
Although both in past and present the Statue of Liberty embodies the liberty for the immigrants and the Pursuit of Happiness, what President Lyndon considered to be a motive to immigrate to America in the past can be interpreted differently nowadays. To illustrate this statement, it is necessary to consider to following quote: “... those who do come will come because of what they are, and not because of the land from which they sprung.” (l. 50-51) Here, President Lyndon claimed that immigrants’ main motives to come to the United States were to live the American Dream. Thus, if in the past the main idea that conveys immigrants was the movement of ‘going to’, nowadays, the movement of ‘leaving from’ appears to be more accurate, for what immigration with Syrian refugees conveyed. Therefore, immigrants’ motives can be questioned regarding which point of view is
adopted.
Finally, the ultimate part of this extract gathers in the end, the previous ideas that were present through the analysis of the whole extract. First, it illustrates the idea of clumsy speech ─“... were they [the earliest settlers] strong enough to clean the land, (...)?” (l. 52-54)- which can here evoke the Trial of Tears. Second, it illustrates the past various waves of immigrations ─“(...) men named Fernandez and Zajac and Zelinko and Mariano and McCormick.” (l. 57-58)- which evocates the following respective nationalities: Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, Italian and Ireland-Scotland. Lastly, it reminds as well the idea of Assimilation: while keeping origins from their lands of birth, immigrants became as well Americans ─“Neither the enemy who killed them nor the people whose independence they have fought to save ever asked them where they or their parents came from. They were all Americans.” (l. 59-60)
To conclude, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill has various reading-level regarding when this extract can be read. In 1965, President Lyndon’s remarks surely embodied a haven for immigrants with its evolution of foreign acceptance. However, in hindsight with the actual events that are happening in Today’s society, this extract has as well some drawbacks regarding the lack of acknowledgment of past history.