Wait, What? American Culture?Essay Preview: Wait, What? American Culture?Report this essayMexican Immigrants feel obligated to assimilate into the American culture. Robert Sallady (L.A. Times, 6 October 2006) informs how the most important issue to voters in California – immigration – has received minor attention from Arnold Schwarzeneggers and Phil Angelides campaigns; Schwarzenegger neatly illustrates why the subject is difficult to discuss. Mexican Immigrants come to California to find better jobs, a better future for their children and of course have some success; Yet, Governor Schwarzenegger has a different point of view on the “American success” and how not assimilating yourself into the American culture can make Mexican immigrants not be “embraced by Americans”. Salladays purpose is to inform anyone who votes in regards of immigration issues and how the Governor of California is touching those issues of immigration
Governor Schwarzenegger appeared in L.A.s Chinatown to celebrate the midautumn Moon Festival and promote bean paste moon cakes. There he was asked about the assimilation of immigrants into the American Culture. Governor Schwarzenegger explicitly said “youve got to go and immerse yourself and assimilate into the American culture, become part of the American fabric. That is how Americans will embrace you”. With that said, controversy against Schwarzenegger raised rapidly. Art Torres, Democratic Party chairman, did not agree one bit, so Torres clarified to Salladay on how many Californians with different backgrounds are living the American dream while keeping their culture, language, and customs. The Governor is originally from Austria, English being his second language, Schwarzenegger may not know enough about being a “true American”.
Governor Schwarzenegger expects Mexican immigrants to assimilate into the American culture without their power of their will. Its not easy to trust a governor who is not of American native, to tell immigrants they must be American cultured to be successful in this country. There is no certain culture in California that is best, yet what makes California a great state, is how diverse it can be from other states. Sallady uses the right people in his article to reinforce his statements on how Governor Schwarzenegger believes assimilation of American culture will be the only way to succeed for Mexican immigrants. Salladay gives not so much accurate information on how other immigrants may be in effect other than Mexican immigrants. The evidence given is very precise and the sources used are incredibly
susceptible. The California Constitution states in Section 3(8) that the governor, “the chief justice of the peace is vested with the powers and duties which he hath to the land, and the commerce and confederacy of the states, and to the laws of the land, and the laws of the people.” It gives him the rights to hold law enforcement officers and judges accountable and instructs him against it.(http://nbs.state.cl.org/womens/slavery/SlaveryAgenciesU.S.S.R.U.S.C.0110-0015) This means the governor is in many ways a slave to the laws of the land and can, even on his own watch, enforce them. Some people even say that state power to enforce laws of the land is “ridiculous,” which has never been true and is a clear insult to our state democracy. This is not a new story of this kind of “tolerance.” It’s a lie. We all have our personal “traditions.” A minority within a minority is bound by the laws of the land and it is up to the governor to enforce them. Sallady’s comments suggest that the California Constitution does not forbid a state to enforce laws against minorities. This isn’t true. If you had been in California and walked into a jail, no one would be allowed to enforce the law against any of you even if they did have their rights. California’s Constitution prohibits a state from refusing to enforce immigration laws because of these reasons. There are several reasons California should not enforce immigration laws when the only ones they have enforce them are the nationalities of the state and its citizens. A state can never enforce immigration laws because of these reasons and the federal government can as well. Immigration is not a public health issue but a national government issue. The federal government has no right to make laws prohibiting immigration laws, other than the law of the land. If California is willing to pass these laws to enforce them, then it cannot be refused service of the federal government because of them. If it were a state that required a federal court to enjoin its immigration, then it could have the same right: a court ruling that the state violated the law, and the Federal government could only enforce immigration laws for the federal courts of appeal. This is the same position shown by the fact that the Supreme Court declared that “there are no cases in state court in which a federal judge shall not construe that right as being the exclusive remedy of any state court in determining whether a statute is ‘inadmissible under the laws of that state.'” (Ibid.
In summary, Mr. Sallady believes that California should be a great state because of its multicultural nature as well as all the laws that are in effect within her right of sovereignty. The fact that her own citizens are more than capable of assimilating and adapting into the American culture without being subject to their political and religious beliefs is one thing. It doesn’t matter that California’s own citizens have become an easy target for terrorists to kill. California’s citizens are actually going to use a state to execute anyone. California is going to use its constitutional authority to execute that person’s citizen