New Immigrants in the United States

Today, Lindsay Peterson of The Tampa Tribune posted and article on immigrants in the United States (to read the short article click here: Immigrants Feel Unwelcome). 

According to Peterson, immigrants are increasingly feeling inhospitably and unsympathetic attitudes. Sociologists are noting that America's welcome is becoming artificial. When surveying 1,300 immigrants in South Florida, many felt unwelcome. Many of the immigrants stated "being harassed and feeling humiliated by immigration officials [in] airports". 

In another study, between 35 and 40% of immigrants who reported these feelings to officials were less likely to feel at home in the United States. The Census Bureau says 38.1 million or 12.6% of America's population is foreign-born (of the foreign-born population, 48% were Hispanic).

Peterson wrote U.S. officials are preoccupied with national security and worried about illegal immigrants. The unwelcoming attitudes towards the newcomers leave them less likely to get involved. These people are the ones bringing life back into communities that are falling apart and are taking the jobs no one else would want. 

The 1900s marked the beginning of the "melting pot". Since then, the separation between native and foreign cultures has begun to diminish, but some walls still remain. I think American's are being cowards for separating themselves from newcomers. Everyone in the United States is entitled to equality and freedom; this should include respect and understanding for others. Some of us are scared to look at things with a different perspective. Differences in language, customs, gestures, etc of other cultures shouldn't be weird just because of its unfamiliarity. And whenever we're not used to something or think it's strange, we instantly think our culture is better.

I simply don't get it. I really don't understand why we can't just see each other as different, but entirely equal and just as great. It's okay to have difference; we should want differences otherwise everyone in our country will be indistinguishable.

It's typical to take the ethnocentric attitude toward other cultures but it needs to stop. I think everyone looks at groups other than their own with skepticism; but despite being uncertain of people different than us, we should all keep open minds and know diversity is something this country should strive for.

It's 1:30 a.m. and I have Spanish homework left to do so tonight's blog is going to be a bit different. No New York Times and no lengthy post. 

Two words, cyber-bullying. It is defined as "an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself" (Define Cyber-Bullying).


High schools students are preoccupied with a million things: waking up in the morning, picking out clothes, scrambling to get homework done, cramming for tests, getting to classes, and managing a social life. Whenever we get a spare second, we're texting. Whenever we have a few minutes to kill, we're on Facebook. Everything is discrete when it is being shared through texting or laptops. A lack of verbal communication increases the chances of cyber-bullying. According to National Crime Prevention Center, 40% of teenagers reported being bullied online (National Crime Prevention Center). 


I watched a video posted by an organization called A Thin Line (watch it here: Ryan's Story), which was filmed by Frontline. Ryan was a young boy in middle school who experienced excessive cyber-bullying. Students at his school repeatedly insulted him and Ryan was never able to escape. One of his online friends supported Ryan in ending his life.  

The consistent harassment led to Ryan's suicide on October 7, 2003. He was thirteen. His parents never knew the real story until they dug through Ryan's secretive online life, when Ryan's friends spilled the truth.


Cyber-bulling was at an all time high in 2004 with a victimization rate of 40.6%. Today it has decreased to 10.8% (Cyber-bulling Research and Facts).


I think harassment goes unnoticed and untold. Students keep it to themselves, but re-live it every single day. Insults are things people remember. They stick. Being online with friends makes it convenient to say things you'd never say to their face. I have never been cyber-bullied or been aware of anyone who has. I do know that fights between friends are intensified when you can hide behind a text or instant message, instead of being face to face. 

We are shaped by our society, family, school, and friends. Your actions do affect the lives around you. Joking and sarcasm aren't excuses. Make an effort to hesitate before you hit send. Realize your words will have a lasting impact on the people you're talking to, especially negative comments. Understand when you're the victim, you take the words you're told seriously.

Keep your mouth shut if you don't have anything nice to say; it's not that hard.

Evolution of Hello

Around a year ago, Sarah Kershaw of the New York Times wrote an article on changes in greetings among teenagers in America. Today, just giving a hand shake or a high five comes across as standoff or distant. For our generation it is becoming socially expected to greet each other with hugs (to read the full article click here: For Teenagers, Hello Means 'How About a Hug?').

Kershaw addresses that hugs are no longer strictly romantic, but a greater way of connecting to one another. Parents of today's teenagers are accustomed to handshakes and high fives rather than intimate and physical contact. According to a parent she interviewed, they feel as if they're "tourists in a country where [they] do not know the customs and cannot speak the language". But parents aren't the ones who are uncomfortable with the evolution of saying hello, it's the schools. 

Some teachers and staff against public displays of affection loathe the new trend of physical contact. Staff and teachers think it undoes the professional and academic environment in schools. They're also worried that hugging can lead to sexual harassment and inappropriate touching. Other critics think hugs start to lose their meaning and importance as they become more prominent. However, kids disagree; hugging isn't romantic or sexual, but "simply the 'hello' of their generation". 


Sociologists are studying the factors that could be behind this evolution. Some have noticed that current teenagers commonly grew up in organized groups (such as after school playgroups) that were closely overseen by parents. Those groups could be the reason behind increased cooperation among teenagers today than in other generations, along with more dedication and loyalty to a group. Another sociologist, Amy L. Best of George Mason University, thinks it is a continuation of the less formal greetings that started in 1970. The evolution of the American greeting is becoming less restrictive on touch boundaries. 

The unwritten rules that hugs have to be between a boy and girl or two girls are disappearing. It is becoming more socially acceptable for anyone to hug someone. With new "bromance" hugs, experts are seeing a greater comfort level for boys to express emotions. Not to mention, texting and Facebook have increased physical separation. Hugs may be making up for the lack of human contact in communication between teenagers. In addition, hugs could be a sign of increased acknowledgment of emotions and the need to be cared about in this generation.

Considering I'm apart of the generation this article is on, I can honestly say that it has point. I don't remember the last time I shook one of my friend's hands or just gave them a high five. To me, greeting a friend that way is cold and remote. I think a quick high five or a professional handshake is borderline too formal to do between friends. Hugs have never taken away from the "professional" environment in school. To be blunt, I think it is ridiculous for schools to have rules banning or regulating public displays of affection, especially hugs. Rules against extreme forms of PDA are understandable because it's disgusting and awkward to see people making out in front of hundreds of kids at school; no one wants that.

It's expected for everything to evolve as time goes on. I think people need to accept that our generation isn't an exception. Our lives and the way we do things are going to be different than our parents, and that's something adults are going to have to try to understand. 

The point is, hugs are more emotional than shaking a friend's hand for three seconds. They are simply a more sympathetic way of letting a friend know you're happy to see them and that you care.


go go go! Free Hugs Campaign