And I’d want to understand how they feel about it. Is it intentional? Can they not help themselves with this behavior? What is it?
People generally don't walk around contemplating the societal implications of their actions, but for what it's worth I'll paraphrase what my relatives and others have had to say to me about it over the years. The mindset presented is I think to a large degree generalizable to different immigrant groups, but perhaps least so to Muslims for whom religion is a larger driver of behavior. Make of it what you will.
Q: Why did you come to America? And why [city] in particular?
A: We had a friend who said it was easy to find a job there.
Q: Did you always want to emigrate?
A: I didn't care either way. It was just for work.
Q: What did you think about Americans before you came here?
A: I thought they were all good looking like in the movies, handy like MacGyver, and smarter and harder working than us. How else could they have become so rich and built such wondrous technology?
Q: What do you think about Americans now?
A: They're fat, stupid, and lazy, and their food tastes like shit. The first time I saw a homeless person begging in the street I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought "You're not a cripple and are still young enough to work. Why the hell don't you have a job? You were born here! How could you have so thoroughly pissed away all your advantages in life to end up in this state?"
Q: If Americans are stupid and lazy, then where did all the technology come from?
A: The Americans a hundred years ago were different; they were like the ones I imagined in my head before. They came from poverty and built everything with their own hands, but their descendants are a bunch of spoiled brats who are letting it fall into ruin. This is an inevitable process with nations and families. My descendants will probably be like that too.
Q: Would you ever move back to your home country?
A: Of course not! It's hot and dingy and poor and [rant about local politics]. On second thought maybe when I'm old and retired. They treat their elders better there and don't throw them in nursing homes to rot.
Q: What do you think about the number of immigrants coming from your home country?
A: Obviously I don't want them all here; it was such a relief to get away from those people! But if my siblings or cousins want to come that's fine. Family is different.
Q: Do you want your children to be closer to American culture or their ancestral culture? What sort of future do you want for them?
A: What matters to me is that they have a good standard of living. Anyone who grows up here is going to be Americanized, but I speak my language to them because it's easier for me and because maybe it will give them international job opportunities in the future. If things remain fine in America they should stay, but if the economy is bad then they should leave and go someplace better.
Q: You're a naturalized citizen now. Does that make you an American?
A: What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I'm not an American! Don't insult me like that again.
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People generally don't walk around contemplating the societal implications of their actions, but for what it's worth I'll paraphrase what my relatives and others have had to say to me about it over the years. The mindset presented is I think to a large degree generalizable to different immigrant groups, but perhaps least so to Muslims for whom religion is a larger driver of behavior. Make of it what you will.
Q: Why did you come to America? And why [city] in particular?
A: We had a friend who said it was easy to find a job there.
Q: Did you always want to emigrate?
A: I didn't care either way. It was just for work.
Q: What did you think about Americans before you came here?
A: I thought they were all good looking like in the movies, handy like MacGyver, and smarter and harder working than us. How else could they have become so rich and built such wondrous technology?
Q: What do you think about Americans now?
A: They're fat, stupid, and lazy, and their food tastes like shit. The first time I saw a homeless person begging in the street I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought "You're not a cripple and are still young enough to work. Why the hell don't you have a job? You were born here! How could you have so thoroughly pissed away all your advantages in life to end up in this state?"
Q: If Americans are stupid and lazy, then where did all the technology come from?
A: The Americans a hundred years ago were different; they were like the ones I imagined in my head before. They came from poverty and built everything with their own hands, but their descendants are a bunch of spoiled brats who are letting it fall into ruin. This is an inevitable process with nations and families. My descendants will probably be like that too.
Q: Would you ever move back to your home country?
A: Of course not! It's hot and dingy and poor and [rant about local politics]. On second thought maybe when I'm old and retired. They treat their elders better there and don't throw them in nursing homes to rot.
Q: What do you think about the number of immigrants coming from your home country?
A: Obviously I don't want them all here; it was such a relief to get away from those people! But if my siblings or cousins want to come that's fine. Family is different.
Q: Do you want your children to be closer to American culture or their ancestral culture? What sort of future do you want for them?
A: What matters to me is that they have a good standard of living. Anyone who grows up here is going to be Americanized, but I speak my language to them because it's easier for me and because maybe it will give them international job opportunities in the future. If things remain fine in America they should stay, but if the economy is bad then they should leave and go someplace better.
Q: You're a naturalized citizen now. Does that make you an American?
A: What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I'm not an American! Don't insult me like that again.
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