I really liked the idea that everyone but the Native Americans are illegal immigrants. That is an incredibly valid point that I had never really thought about, what would the Europeans have done if the Native Americans would have been able to keep them out? What nationality would I be now? In that sense, how do we as Americans have any right to keep immigrants out of the country? I really do not think that we do, however if we let everyone in it would probably ruin this already flailing country. The wealth needs to be more evenly distributed throughout the classes, instead of keeping it tied up in the interests of rich business owners.
If I were a business owner, I would like to think that I would hire the hardest workers possible. If I could get these workers to work for a lower wage than the American workers who are unable to keep up with the immigrants than that would help my business. It’s just business right, nothing personal? I have never agreed with this statement, and if I ever own a business I will hire the hardest workers but also pay them fair wages.
I guess that I tended to believe that illegal immigration is a bad thing, but not necessarily because these immigrants can potentially compete for jobs with Americans. It is incredibly dangerous to illegally immigrate into the country. The fact that people are willing to put themselves and their families at risk is really disheartening to see, because as much as I love my country, I just don’t understand how bad it must be for people in their home countries to risk their lives in order to get over here. At the same time, I feel like the whole American dream idea is a type of propaganda. Our economy is not doing well, and the conditions that illegal immigrant workers face is terrible as well. I think that these immigrants really think that they can make a better life for themselves but this is not always the case.
Before this lecture I did not really have a solid idea about how I felt about immigration, and truthfully I still do not. It is a tough issue for the many reasons that Sam mentioned in class, but also because in my perfect world, people would be able to travel freely and live where they felt at home. I realize that this will probably never happen, but ideally that is what I would hope for.
In answer the posted question; no I would not actively try not to benefit from nepotism. I know that I am a good worker, and the relationships and reputation that I have built among my friends, family, and coworkers reflects this. In a way, even though nepotism already has given me a foot in the door, I have spent years building my character and to foster positive relationships, these did not just suddenly appear out of nowhere. Therefore, in a small way at least, I have earned what tiny advantages that I have.
While it is true that nepotism does give somewhat of an unfair advantage over other applicants who are not as connected, I think that it is fair to a certain extent. Most people will not recommend a friend if they do not think that can do the job. Because those who have that job are acquainted with the applicant they have intimate knowledge that may lead them to believe that they will perform the job well. Most people are not willing to risk their reputation in the company by recommending someone who they do not believe will be a positive asset. To me, this idea is the most in favor of nepotism. Employers often receive many more applications than they have either the time or the inclination to look through, and often the job is one that could be performed by any individual with the necessary qualifications. In this sense, it makes sense for the company to recruit an individual that has shown a good work ethic, not only through their resume but through what a current employee has seen and can attest too. It could almost be looked at as a kind of risk reduction strategy. Is that fair? No, it absolutely is not, but like many other instances, you have to look at the bigger picture and weight the pros compared to the cons.
I would like to start out by saying that I had no idea what the wide range of nepotism was before this lecture, and it really made me think about the connections that I have and how important they are. Every job with the exception of one has been gotten as least in part because I knew someone that put my resume in front of the right person, or someone who already worked within the company gave me an excellent recommendation, which then led to an interview. I always had to successfully finish the process, do well in the interview, pass whatever skill test that was necessary, but to initially get in I had to know that person. I actually would like to know what jobs I would and would not have gotten if I did not have connections. I also wonder if nepotism matters more or less in certain fields.
I am also semi used to communicating with people who speak a different language. For a previous job I had to figure out how to communicate with members of the immigrant Russian population of Centre County. There were times when it was extremely difficult and times when it was less so, but my experiences with the members of this population have always been very positive. While it can be difficult to communicate, communication is always possible I believe that these experiences have made me a better communicator overall. I have learned to pay more attention to nonverbal cues, and I think I can pick up on different cues that other people may not necessarily be able to. Communication does not merely happen with words, it is a process that involves your entire body.
I can think of a few instances of when I have felt uncomfortable around others who were speaking a different language. Most of these times have been in a service setting, either at a nail salon or at some sort of eatery. Once, a friend and I were getting a manicure and after talking a little with the manicurist we had settled into our seats and were just reading magazines while having our nails done. The manicurists talked to each other and one of the manicurists motioned to my foot and said something to her coworker. Then they chuckled and continued talking. That situation made me feel uncomfortable because I felt like they were saying something about me right in front of me, and I had no idea what they were saying. It usually does not bother me if the employees had been talking in their native language, I felt uncomfortable because I felt left out of a conversation that may have included me.
I think that this is a really interesting question because it is something that people really do not think about until they are in a situation. I think that it could be uncomfortable for some, but for me, I think that whether or not I would feel uncomfortable or awkward would depend on the situation. For instance if I were to be in a public place and overhear people speaking in different languages I would not feel uncomfortable. There have been many times when I have walked past different groups of people conversing in a different language. This is never something that bothered me; I have tried for years to learn Spanish, and would love to be able to be fluent in two or more languages. I think that it is an awesome skill to have. I have no problem with people speaking in their native tongue, and I think that it is important that different cultures keep their language alive.
Since then, my brother has dated a Black female and my parents have significantly loosened up. They believed they had to protect their little girl and they could not get past the color of my ex’s skin, but they believe it is acceptable for my brother because he can take care of himself. This is a terrible, annoying double standard but at least they are growing at least a little more progressive. Still, even at this point in my life I would have to be in a very serious relationship with someone of a different race before I introduced them to my parent’s or to the rest of my family. Now that I am no longer under my parent’s roof I have asked how they would feel about me dating someone of another race and they kind of shrug and say that I am an adult and I have the ability to make my own choices. I do think that if I were to bring someone of another race home they would give him a chance, but I’ll never know until I meet the right one.
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