View Content #11442
Contentid | 11442 |
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Content Type | 1 |
Title | Editorial: A Better Welcome for Our Nation's Immigrants |
Body | From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070204359.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 A better welcome for our nation's immigrants By Jeb Bush and Robert D. Putnam July 3, 2010 One important difference separates immigration then and now: We native-born Americans are doing less than our great-grandparents did to welcome immigrants. A century ago, religious, civic and business groups and government provided classes in English and citizenship. Historian Thomas P. Vadasz found that in Bethlehem, Pa., a thriving town of about 20,000, roughly two-thirds of whom were immigrants, the biggest employer, Bethlehem Steel, and the local YMCA offered free English instruction to thousands of immigrants in the early 20th century, even paying them to take classes. Today, immigrants face long waiting lists for English classes, even ones they pay for. Why is this important? A legal immigration system is the not-so-secret edge in a competitive, interconnected world economy. Immigrants enhance our ability to grow and prosper in the dynamic global marketplace. We will need every possible advantage to expand our economy amid its fiscal challenges. Moreover, the aging of our population places a premium on young, productive workers, many of whom must come from immigration. Read the full article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070204359.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 |
Source | Washington Post |
Inputdate | 2010-07-09 09:30:10 |
Lastmodifieddate | 2010-07-09 09:30:10 |
Expdate | Not set |
Publishdate | 2010-07-12 00:00:00 |
Displaydate | Not set |
Active | 1 |
Emailed | 1 |
Isarchived | 1 |