Sunday, May 15, 2011

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother By Amy Chua

I read a book entitled Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. This book has received much publicity lately, so it sparked my interest. I found this book very fascinating because it discusses the manner in which one mother, who is Chinese-American, decided to raise her two daughters. It is well known that Chinese parents believe that the best way to raise children is by emphasizing skills, strong work habits, and  rigorous academic training. This belief is in contrast to Western society, which encourages children to pursue their true passions. I found Chua's story very intriguing, but somewhat sad, because she did not allow her two daughters Sophia and Lulu, to partcipate in many fun activities that other American children engage in. For example Mrs. Chua did not allow her two daughters to ever attend a sleepover. She never allowed them to try out for a school play. Finally, she only permitted them to play the piano or violin: and the girls could not choose their own extracurricular activities. The author's method of child rearing backfired on her when her younger daughter Lulu refused to partcipate in a music concert in Budapest, on the day of the recital. When Lulu and Chua's husband began to break down, Mrs. Chua realized that she could not control every aspect of her children's lives. The book was very interesting because it also made me realize that raising children requires love, patience, and a great investment in time.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Do Immigrants benefit America?

Immigrants have benefited the United States, however they have not harmed it in any way. There was a huge change in immigration until the 20th century when immigrants were mostly Europeans. Today in the U.S, immigrants come from all over the world. Many come from Mexico, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In my opinion, I believe that we should legalize the illegal immigrants coming into the U.S., because there are so many job opportunities available. Immigrants are willing to take jobs that Americans will not take such as construction, housekeeping, and yard work.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Illegal Immigration- Should we legalize it?

The issue of illegal immigration has been a significant issue in the United States in the last twenty years. In 2005, the U.S. census data revealed that illegal immigrants constituted about 30% of all foreign born residents. The U.S. Department of Labor in 2001 calculated that 50% of all agricultural workers were illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration is defined as the act of living in a country without permission of the government. Most of the illegal immigrants who come to the U.S. enter our country without any proper documents. Lawmakers are beginning to make an effort to enforce immigration paperwork requirements, mostly as a result of the fears related the September 11 terrorist attacks.