Immigration Issues

The Associated Press combined with MSNBC posted two news videos describing ethnographic behavior and the studies surrounding the immigration issues the country is currently facing. Both news videos were posted on the MSNBC website on June 7, and June 8, 2006. One news video was, "Bush continues immigration push," and the other video, "Bush says deportation 'Ain't gonna work'".

Both videos touched on immigration assimilation, changing immigration laws, and American support. New organizational systems, laws, and immigration behaviors were focused on as the impact on immigration has become a popular field of discussion in American views and the views of lawmakers. It seems America is at a point where decisions have to be made in order for economists and businesses to move forward.

Field research in this example is an accumulation of data from polls, Capital Hill numbers and statistics, and the American peoples' views. The ethnography of this issue deals with the understanding of the American and immigrant culture and how each culture views the other. While the newscasters were American, and while the news stories stated facts and factual events, it was difficult not to feel the whole story was being communicated accurately.

Cultural Knowledge (Newman, 2003)

In the recent news, cultural knowledge has been taught and expressed through "symbols, songs, sayings, facts, ways of behaving, and objects [such as] telephones, [TVs] and newspapers (Newman, 2003, p.367). The cultural knowledge expressed in the news videos and taken down in notes were: the boarders, the angst and attitude toward change, the political cartoons, English as a second language, low wages and economic awareness, and the facts showing a division in D.C. The Americans and immigrant culture are learning about each others' similarities and differences by watching these news clips. We are all forming opinions and adding onto, or taking away from the already formed opinions. Much of today's voting population is receiving and learning their culture through the television.

Explicit Knowledge (Newman,2003)

The explicit knowledge in the news videos center around the events most Americans and immigrants can easily identify with in their life experiences. Examples of explicit knowledge are the border patrols and custom officers we encounter when traveling, the fences or walls surrounding a border, Mexican migrant workers not proficient in English, and the demonstration events recently held in Washington D.C. Explicit knowledge may be more familiar in one culture over an other depending on the event described. While the immigrant demonstrations may have been familiar to the Mexicans and the Mexican Americans, the demonstrations may not have been as familiar to the Americans.

Tacit Knowledge (Newman, 2003)

American business owners and some other southern border Americans understand the tacit knowledge described in the news videos. An interpretation of the news videos could lead the audience in two directions. One direction is a sympathy direction where viewers understand the non-spoken behaviors and work ethics of the immigrants. Another direction, may be the misunderstanding of the alien culture and the alien culture's intent due to the language barrier. Viewers may interpret the news videos as benign, or if affiliated through taxes and businesses, may feel slighted or taken advantage of due to economic theory.

Sense of Belonging

Many issues in the news video dealt with a sense of belonging. This 'sense of belonging' was expressed on both sides of the border. Americans interpret a sense of belonging by rite of passage, birthright, and a patriotic attitude. Americans speak English. Americans, especially older ones in the videos, demonstrated a sense of belonging through achievement. Mexicans, and Mexican Americans interpret a sense of belonging as something temporary, such as migrant work or work visa oriented. The division is clearly expressed in the news videos as a barrier to change.

Online surveys

Online surveys, telephone votes, and cellular texts, are becoming the opinion polls of the future. On this website, and related to the news videos, was an online survey taken by 39,607 online internet users as of June 19, 2006 (6:00pmEST). The survey below represents the people on MSNBC that wanted to participate. Although internet voting is not considered scientific, many readers perceive the statistics as valid and reliable.

Should the government force new immigrants to learn English before becoming citizens? * 39607 responses

Yes, learning the language most citizens speak is an important step to assimilating America's culture.
92%

No, America is the land of freedom. The government should not interfere by imposing a language on its citizens.
8.3%

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13188997/

In summary, this qualitative study was helpful in understanding how culture can impact the personal lives of so many people. The controversial division of political sides on Capital Hill demonstrates importance on different levels. The state representatives, schools, local businesses, and even the President are using this cultural event as information on future change. Studying the behaviors, knowledge of culture, and ethnography of people will help this issue get resolved.

References

Newman, W. L., (2003). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative

Approaches, Fifth Edition. Allyn and Bacon. Pearson Education, Inc.

MSNBC News (2006). Retrieved off the world wide web June 19, 2006.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/.