I’ll spare you what my brother said about Afghans seeking to emigrate here after the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
My brother lives in New Jersey, is an addict, has landed on the wrong side of law many times, and is on the far right. Basically the opposite of me.
I can just imagine where he’s getting his news. If any of you that have tried to talk logic with people like him, you know there’s really no point in arguing. People who have made up their mind – it would be easier to convince them the North was South.
The “evil immigrant” is a tired old trope commonly used by politicians and other low-lives to conjure up votes through fear. A fear a few years ago was Syrians and now will be Afghans.
Twenty years after 9⁄11 it seems like we never learned anything of the tremendous lesson that could have been learned from our grief.
We still are peddled xenophobic lies. Here’s a few immigration facts to combat those lies:
myth:
Immigrants are taking over
fact:
Immigrants actually only account for 13.5% of the total U.S. population, which is in line with historical norms.
myth:
Immigrants don’t help the economy.
fact:
Immigrant-owned businesses with employees have an average of 11 employees
myth:
Immigrants don’t work
fact:
72.5% of immigrants believe hard work is how you succeed in America and are responsible for half of the total U.S. labor force growth over the last decade
myth:
Immigrants are all Mexican
fact:
30% of immigrants come from Asia, and currently more are coming from China than Mexico
The best way to combat immigration ignorance is for the ignorant to get to know an immigrant.
Those who live in a homogenized community are at a disadvantage, it’s true. However, my brother and I grew up around immigrants from so many different backgrounds, so what’s with our divergent views?
It’s who we surround ourselves with currently and the media we consume. While he is consuming fear of the unknown, my consumption is compassion.
These prints are now available for purchase on our site.
—james lewis tucker
Flommist James Lewis Tucker is the artist and proprietor behind The Aesthetic Union, a letterpress shop and design studio that produces limited edition, minimalist and experimental prints. James is passionate about keeping the tradition of letterpress alive while utilizing modern processes which has helped The Aesthetic Union remain a hub for art, craft and design within a shrinking community of creatives in San Francisco. Copyright © 2021 James Lewis Tucker. Statistic sources.
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