CAUCUS+I Presentation

Home Debate Timeline Caucus Presentations

Our Ideal Society: Everyone is welcome initially, but success is the direct result of hard work.

Reyna, John, Catherine, Max, and Blaine

VISION

In our ideal society, every person is welcome, including immigrants from all countries. This diversity creates strength, unity, and a wide variety of viewpoints and cultures. Immigrants will be required to undergo a shorter citizenship process, and will receive initial benefits from the government to help them get started in America; after this, every citizen has to responsibility to work hard and earn their status. Every individual, regardless of gender, wealth, ethnicity, or religion, will be as successful as they make themselves; how well they do will be a direct result of how hard they work. Racism is not tolerated, and every person is viewed as equal under the law. Since everyone is created equal, every person shall be given an equal opportunity to succeed in our society.

ARGUMENTS:

Argument One: Immigration

Immigrants help a society in many ways, and since they strengthen our economy and our communities, we propose that all immigrants from any country can enter America without a fear of racism, with the knowledge that they will be seen as equal under the law, and that they will have the same opportunities to succeed as any other citizen. Immigrants come to our country in search of a better life than they had before, and they are willing to work as hard as they must in order to create that more fulfilling and better life; this display of dedication and nationalism should spur us to encourage immigration. Contrary to popular belief, “low-skilled immigrants usually fill gaps in American labor markets and generally enhance domestic business prospects rather than destroy jobs” (Yglesias). This is because immigrants are complementary workers—they add value to the work of others—while natural-born citizens usually fill higher-end jobs.s we learned in Katie Van Winkle’s timeline topic, people in the Know-Nothing-Party “could not foresee that the [children] of poor immigrants would become some of the most productive citizens any country has ever known” (PBS). This is still a highly debated topic, however in our ideal society, it would not matter whether the parents of the children were legal or illegal immigrants. “As [minors], these [children] were brought to the United States by their parents; they had no choice … [and] no say in the matter.” Therefore they should have the same rights as the children of natural-born citizens, including the right to an education, giving them and their families a chance to have a successful and rewarding future as American citizens and an opportunity to create for themselves a better life. The government should give immigrants a break, give them benefits, and help them out, because they have the knowledge that once they have started a new life here, the majority of young immigrants will become productive and successful citizens. Typically, immigrants quickly adopt the American lifestyle, and although many Americans discriminate against minorities such as immigrants, as you can see in Barbara Kingsolver’s novel //The Bean Trees//, in many cases immigrants end up becoming better, more active Americans than natural-born citizens. immigrants are valuable to our society; they are a vital part of American culture, and we should welcome with open arms those that are kind and dedicated enough to contribute to, strengthen, and enhance our society.

Argument Two: Racism

In our ideal society, race is not a distinctive characteristic and does not affect the quality of a person’s life. Everyone has equal opportunity and protection regardless of background or culture. Our society does not give advantages to only specific people, such as the effects of affirmative action. “Affirmative action is counter-productive because it characterizes minorities as being in need of special treatment” (1-Minute Debates). Also, in the novel //The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,// the main character Junior, is Native American and attends an all-white school. There are several instances where the teachers treat Junior poorly or not as well as the other students based on his race and general discrimination against him. This would contradict our society’s values, since all persons are treated equally and have the right to a feel safe in a learning environment. In the 1948 Shelley v Kraemer case, an African-American family is taken to court because they were unwanted in an all white neighborhood. In our society, the law protects everyone along with their rights in liberties. This instance violates the 14th Amendment. Therefore, “there should be no restrictions on races for property ownership and that states cannot make laws that are unequal for certain people” (Limotta). Persons in America have a human right to property and the pursuit of happiness, and should be able to take full advantage of the liberty. Our main value is that race should not be recognized as something that makes you different or gives your disadvantages in life.

Argument Three: Hard Work

Societies are held together and strengthened through hard work. Everyone is equal and should have the same opportunities to a job and education if they work hard. You shouldn't get special benefits or be discriminated against because of your religion, race or gender. Sarah H stated in her timeline project that most racism began against African Americans, with an "...early beliefs that African Americans are lesser than a human". Considering our society is based off of equal personhood, the only deciding factor in how successful one will be is how hard they work. In the book __Warriors Don't Cry,__ segregation became illegal but the white people still didn't want Melba to attend Central High even if she was willing to work hard to attend there. This doesn't create an equal opportunity to get into school. Since education is based on a system of merit, and the eventual goal is getting a job, then jobs should also be given to those who work the hardest and accomplish the most. A society that rewards hard work will have motivated and succesful citizens who in turn improve the whole country. Affirmative action is unfair, makes it certain people think that can slack off and still achieve because they have special benefits and that is not what America is about.


 * Citation: **

Kingsolver, Barbara. The Bean Trees. New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1988.

"Know-Nothing People." // PBS //. PBS, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2011. < [|http://www.pbs.org] >.

Limotta, Elizabeth. "1948 Shelley v Kraemer." //Buccholtz Sidor American Studies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. < http://buchholtzsidoramericanstudies.wikispaces.com >

Melba, Pattillo Beals (1994). //Warriors Don't Cry.// New York, London, Toronto, Sydney: Washington Square Press.

"The Constitution of the United States,"opening statement of the Decoration of Independence.

Yglesias, Matthew. "Immigration Is Good for America." //ThinkProgress//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2011. < [|http://thinkprogress.org] >.

Web. 27 Oct. 2011. < http://www.wikispaces.com >. ||
 * Sarno, Andrew. "1954 Brown V. the Board of Education." //Wikispaces//. N.p., n.d.

Rights and Protections as All American Citizens." //Wikispaces//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. < http://www.wikispaces.com >. ||
 * Kern, Alex. "Minor Children of Illegal Immigrants Are Entitled to the Same

** Significant ExclusionsSociety Today--*-Significant Inclusions **