Myths and heroes: Is America a “Welcoming Nation of immigrants” ? Or is it just a myth?

The notion I will deal with is Myths and Heroes.

To begin with, I would like to give a definition of a Myth and a hero.

A myth is a story that may or may not be true. There may not be records or other proof that they happened, but at least some parts of myths may be true. Some myths may have started as ‘true’ stories but as people re-told them some parts may have been changed by mistake, or to make them more interesting.

A hero is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

In relation to the notion, the subject of my presentation will be the United States: A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS

and I will attempt to answer the question: IS America a “Welcoming Nation of immigrants” ? Or is it just a myth?

First of all I would like to say that the United States has known four waves of immigrants from the XVII century to the XXth century. These waves show how attractive was and is this country.

The most well-known wave is the Pilgrim Fathers wave between 1609 and 1775.

The article about “Why the Pilgrim Fathers left England” show us that The Pilgrim Fathers were traitors, a band of renegades defying the authority of King James I. Because of their persecution, they resolved to settle in the English colony in North America. In 1620, they embarked in the famous boat of the Mayflower. They hoped a perfect free life, that was for them a pure life under god rules. In spite of problems that were waiting for them as the cold weather, they succeeded thanks to their imagination. This success illustrates the quote “America is exceptional”.

Moreover, Ellis Island is a small island in NY Harbour which has played a crucial part in the history of THE U.E. Between 1892 and 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the U.E through Ellis Island. In fact, it has been estimated that nearly half of all Americans in different parts of the U.E today can trace their family history to at least one person who passed through the Port of NY at Ellis Island.

The American Land, a Bruce Springsteen’s song, perfectly illustrates the importance of Ellis Island on welcoming poverty-stricken immigrants. The singer emphasizes that Nowadays as hundred years ago immigrants who live in dire straits risk their lives to reach America. One of the most famous quotes of Bruce Springsteen is: America is a Nation of Immigrants.

However, Springsteen’s vision of America is biased because he doesn’t consider xenophobia and racism which exist in this nation.

We know that the Statue of Liberty, the most universally recognised symbol of the U.E , represents the American values: freedom, liberty and hospitality. Nevertheless, in the Cartoon by Joe Heller Arizona the cartoonist criticizes racism and racial profiling in States like California and Arizona. Arizona's law orders immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there's reason to suspect they're in the United States illegally. It is humorous because the border patrol officer does not recognised Lady Liberty in the car and he asked her: where is she from?, just because

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