Where does their loyalty lie?
Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, and who has a new book out, discusses immigration issues with Shikha Dalmia of the Reason Foundation a "nonprofit think tank."
What is new and unusual about this discussion is that Krikorian says that highly skilled, highly educated immigrants have a bigger sense of their "nationality", meaning their birthplace, and are as likely, or even more likely, to avoid assimilation into the larger society than their lower-educated counterparts.
You can listen to the full debate (about one hour) here.
This is exactly the conclusion I reached, over several blogs and articles about Indian immigrants in Canada. An abridged version of my findings can be read here, including some relevant links.
I started this investigation by critiquing a book by an American writer of Indian origin, whose two books so far focused entirely on Indian issues, whether on Indian immigrants in the US, or on the sub-continent itself.
My finding was that writers, actors, designers, and other professional Indians are obsessed with India, and much of their life is focused on how to bring that Indianness into Canada. These are often children of immigrants, who at this stage wouldn't, or shouldn't, be called immigrants.
Krikorian is too generous in saying that it is probably the current American policies which makes this possible. But, I say it is the nature of the immigrants themselves.
How is an Indian, with the saris and tandooris (and all their wonderful culture in between) going to assimilate without consternation into a country which has zero resemblance or connection to his ancestral land (other than the much touted colonization?)
Even Easter European immigrants have some connection - at least in some of their arts and traditions. But then look at the Olympics. The Serbian swimmer (who lost a gold medal by the length of a finger tip) grew up in California.
At the highest moment of his life, he decided to compete for his "country" than for America.