This Is Not Necessarily an a Paper. It Is Only a Sample

SAMPLE PAPER

(THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY AN "A" PAPER. IT IS ONLY A SAMPLE)

A brief look at history shows that migration has always been a part of the human existence but immigration issues arise when borders to nation-states are factored into the equation. In the United States, the most well known form of immigration is the immigration of people of Mexico to the United States. Most individuals, both immigrants and layperson in the U.S., are aware that the high number of immigrants is the result of economic conditions in Mexico. Less people are aware that the trends associated with the United States’ policies toward immigration are part of trend of exploitation resulting from the colonization of the American continents. The following is a discussion that places predominant thoughts on immigration and immigration policy in the context of colonization as defined by scholars and activists.

Colonization of the Americas

Before 1492 Indigenous societies were widespread, diverse, and vibrant. Contrary to popular belief, Indigenous societies functioned at a level of complexity and sophistication comparable and sometimes exceeding European societies. A testament to the level of advancement of Indigenous societies is apparent when their contributions to contemporary society are pointed out. For example, the United Statesí government was inspired by and model after the Iroquois government. The Indigenous peoplesí cultivation of tomatoes, potatoes, and chili peppers is a brief list of foods contributed to the global diet.[1] In the American Holocaust, David E. Stannard, a scholar of American History, wrote extensively about the flourishing Indigenous societies prior to the arrival of Europeans. Stannard wrote the following:

Consistent with the great diversity of their natural environments, some of these original inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere lived in relatively small communities that touched only lightly on the land, while others resided in cities that were among the largest and most sophisticated to be found anywhere in the world.[2]

The extent of knowledge required in politics, ecology, and geography to maintain aspects of society such as governments, agriculture, and languages is a demonstration of the Indigenous peoplesí complex and developed societies.

Although Indigenous societies were flourishing prior to 1492, nothing could have prepared them for the colonization of the Americas which began with the arrival of the Europeans. Diseases such as smallpox, measles, bubonic plague, diphtheria, influenza, malaria, yellow fever, and typhoid sweep across the continent killing large portions of the previously unexposed Indigenous populations.[3] The diseases often preceded the explorers usually crippling the Indigenous peoplesí defense against invaders. With this in mind it is not surprising that Indigenous peoples were not able to fully defend themselves when they finally came into contact with the invaders. The following is a brief description of a typical encounter, Stannard writes:

Just as the Spanish soldiers seem to have particularly enjoyed testing the sharpness of their yard-long rapier blades on the bodies of Indian children, so their dogs seemed to find the soft bodies of infants especially tasty, and thus the accounts of the invading conquistador and the padres who traveled with them are fill with detailed descriptions of young Indian children routinely taken from their parents and fed to the hungry animals.[4]

The atrocities of disease and systematic killings caused a number of peoples to become extinct. During this time of horrific killings, languages and knowledge were entirely pushed to extinction or permanently altered. It is estimated that nearly 100,000,000 peoples were annihilated.[5]

Centuries have passed since the time of ravaging diseases and relentless killings but colonization does not end with the initial acts associate with establishing colonies, and the exploitation of resources. Colonization is the processes by which Indigenous peoples are exploited and subjected to the rule of a colonizing nation. It also includes resulting actions to maintain that subjugation. Through these processes Indigenous peoples are purposefully exploited with the intent of obtaining the Indigenous peoplesí lands and resources for economic gain. To validate its unjust actions, the colonizing nation imposes its laws, religion, customs, language, and history. The compounded effects of the occupation of land, the theft of resources, and the imposition of the invading nationís worldview ultimately undermines the Indigenous peoplesí way of life and knowing. According to Kenneth Morrison, a scholar in Religious Studies, colonization resulted in the dismantling of Indigenous societiesí ìleadership, kinship relations, and confidence in their way of life.î[6] Furthermore, through colonization, the Indigenous peoples are altered mentally and physically and these effects manifest themselves as contemporary social ills such as alcoholism, poverty, incarceration, health afflictions and domestic abuse. Waziyatawin Angela Wilson, a historian, defined colonization as the ìÖthe formal and informal methods (behaviors, ideologies, institutions, policies, and economies) that maintain the subjugation or exploitation of Indigenous Peoples, lands, and resources.î[7] The argument has been made by many contemporary scholars regarding the unjust occupation of the North and South American territories. Well known Tunisian activist, Albert Memmi made the following observation:

It is impossible for him [the colonizer] to be aware of the constant illegitimacy of his status. It is, moreover, in a way, a double illegitimacy. A foreigner, having come to a land by the accidents of history, he has succeeded not merely in creating a place for himself but also in taking away that of the inhabitants, granting himself astounding privileges to the detriment of those rightfully entitled to them.[8]

The evidence is overwhelmingly in support of contemporary and historical colonizationís detrimental impacts on the Indigenous populations.

U.S. Immigration and Immigration Policy is Colonization

If colonization deals with the subjugation and purposeful exploitation of Indigenous peoples for economic gain, then recent attempts by the United States government to deal with immigration is seen in a different light. Recently, the debate on immigration has been revolving around the possibility of a guest worker program, which is comparable to other historical attempts such as The Bracero Program of 1942. How are such attempts a form of colonization? Recall that colonization is the exploitation of Indigenous populations for economic gain. The United Statesí only attempt at dealing with immigration is on the level of worker rather than a people with real human needs. Since the Statesí only concern is economic gain this has been the driving force behind all attempts at dealing with immigration. The following places emphasis on this point:

By definition, guest workers are admitted on a temporary basis, contracted to employers. They have no right to settle in communities, send their children to school, practice their culture and religion or speak their language. They canít vote or exercise fundamental political or labor rightsÖThe assumption is that they are here to work and only to work.[9]

The federal governmentís discussions on immigration are premised by this notion of exploitation of Indigenous peoples for economic gain. ìUS policy treats migrants as individual workers, ignoring the social pressures that force whole communities to move...î[10] The idea of superiority of the State is expressed through actions like The Bracero Program. ìIn its capacity as guardian the State makes the decisions regarding its role as host and patron and vice-versa ñ in its roles as host and patron it makes decisions indicating its superior role as guardian. This can be most clearly seen in its political and administrative practice.î[11]

Not only are the United Statesí acts of colonization expressed through policies but it also apparent in its notions of borders. The Americas, prior to the arrival of the first Europeans, existed without line describing territorial ownership. The Indigenous peoples unfortunately were subjected to the Western ideas of land ownership and borders. The use of borders to mark territory has been successful in separating and differentiating Indigenous peoples from non-indigenous people and also differentiating Indigenous peoples as immigrants. In the case of the United States and Mexico, ìÖWestern cartographic practice has been employed as a way of inscribing earth in graphic narrative and symbol to maintain controlÖThey are boundaries that demarcate, differentiate, and separate.î[12] Unfortunately, Indigenous peoples south of the United Statesí self proclaimed boundary were immediately deemed immigrants. Indigenous peoples south of the border from this point on were simply dealt with as immigrants rather than original people of the territory. Now, as the United States gets richer they ìÖtighten their borders with dubious rationalizing discourses they increase their measures of surveillance, another characteristic of colonial practice.î[13] The only time Indigenous peoples of Mexico are worthy of a second look is when the United States can justify the continued exploitation of Indigenous peoples for economic gain. If the government of the United States is to ever resolve ìimmigration issues,î its intent must be one that considers the human need of the people rather than their economic worth. Until this is accomplished, immigration and immigration policy will continue to be a futile effort.
Bibliography

Alfred, Taiaiake. Peace, Power, Righteousness: an Indigenous manifesto.

(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999).

-- -- Wasase: Indigenous Pathways of Action and Freedom. (Peterborough: Broadview Press, 2005).

Brosted, Jens and et al., eds. Native Power: The Quest For Autonomy and Nationhood Of Indigenous Peoples. (Bergen: Universitetsforlaget As, 1985).

Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth. (New York: Grove Press, 1963).

McGuire, Sharon and Jane Georges. ìUndocumentedness and Liminality as Health Variables.î Advance in Nursing Science, 26(3).

Memmi, Albert. The Colonizer and The Colonized. (Boston: Beacon Press, 1965).

Morrison, K. M. The Solidarity of Kin: Ethnohistory, Religious Studies, and the Algokian-French Religious Encounter. (New York: State Universtiy of New York Press, 2002).

Stannard, David. American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992).

Wilson, W. A. Indigenizing the Academy: Transformative Scholarship and Empowering Communities. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2004).

-- -- ìIndigenous Knowledge Recovery Is Indigenous Empowerment.î American Indian Quarterly, 28 (3 and 4).

Wilson, W. A. and Michael Yellow Bird, eds. For Indigenous Eyes Only: A Decolonization Handbook. (Santa Fe: School of American Research, 2005).