The Emotional Immigration Debate: Listen to Burn the Boats!
The topic of immigration has caused a lot of passionate discussions. Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a few fiery exchanges online or debated it at the dinner table. At the end of the day, many people have intense viewpoints on it.
But how long have similar emotion-packed interactions been burning in this country? And what has it all led to?
What did this all look like many years ago, and why?
No matter what side of the discussion you fall on, check out the latest episode of the Burn The Boats podcast, where host Ken Harbaugh welcomes journalist and author Ray Suarez to discuss his new book, We Are Home.
The book explores the stories of immigrants in America and sheds light on the polarizing nature of it all.
As you listen, you might find yourself nodding in agreement and saying, "Yes! Exactly!" Or you might vehemently disagree with some of the points made, shaking your head and muttering to yourself. But either way, you’ll find yourself glued to the conversation.
It will make you think. And if you listen long enough, you’ll hear perspectives from these immigrants and their harrowing stories.
“Some of the people that I profile came illegally, some of them came as refugees, and some of them came as legal immigrants,” you’ll hear Suarez say. “They came in all different ways, from all different kinds of places, and for different reasons.”
And what he says next will give you pause as you absorb it.
He also illustrates how immigration has been a recurring topic in American politics, with ties to the nation's evolving identity.
Did you know that the stability of the economy impacts the immigration debate? Suarez takes us back in time to the 1990s to make an interesting point.
But he doesn’t stop there.
We travel even further back in time. Discover the common concerns shared by newspapers in New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia during the late 19th century.
And what will people be saying 100 years from now about the current debate?
In this episode, Harbaugh and Suarez chat about the cycle of resistance and (eventual) acceptance that immigrants often go through. At first, people might be skeptical of newcomers, but over time, they end up becoming a big part of American culture.
Have you noticed that? Is there anything popular you love that’s been shaped by people who weren’t born in our country?
Suarez also shares inspiring stories of immigrants who exemplify the American dream despite facing painful obstacles.
As the country grapples with issues of identity and ethnicity that will rage on past any election, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at how history has shaped the debate.
Give it a listen. We feel pretty confident that you’ll be discussing it soon after.
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