The ebb and flow of migration

A major WAIS concern is the way a nation views its history and hence its role in the world. Conflicting views of this are a deep cause of wars. Hence our interest in history textbooks. How do Americans view their history? Consider the History Channel. Practically all the programs are about wars in which the US showed its military might. Good, violent TV, meant to encourage a cult of victory, not an interest in peace. The big exception is the Classroom Hour, broadcast in the early morning when few people are watching. What is the opposite of "prime time"?

This morning the Classroom Hour was devoted to a splendid program on the history of the Statue of Liberty. One scene showed President Roosevelt there proclaiming that the Goddess of Liberty and the Goddess of Peace are the same. It encouraged my dream that Stanford's Hoover Tower will become, as President Hoover hoped, a symbol of Peace to balance the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast. Most of the program was devoted to a touching account of the masses fleeing Europe for America in search of opportunity.

By chance I then turned on C-Span and caught an excellent session of the US Senate devoted to the outmigration from the heartland of the US by people in search of opportunity on the two coasts, The Senators from North Dakota, Byron L. Dorgan and Charles Hagel, gave exemplary speeches, bearing out their claim that the people of America's heartland are well-educated but have to leave in search of opportunity. They stressed the way the US government could help the heartland's infrastructure (roads, communications, etc). Having just listened just to a senate hearing stressing big increases in military spending, aid to Israel etc, I could not help thinking that the government may have its priorities wrong.

The session on outmigration was illustrated with a map showing in red the areas losing population. All the areas along Canada's prairie provinces were marked red, so I suppose a similar phenomenon is taking place in Canada. In consequence, Anglo-America is being divided into two growing areas, one on the east, one on the west coast, with an ever emptier area in between. The state of Washiugton and British Columbia have more intercourse than either does with its national capital. Anglo-America may develop into East and West America, with a no man's land in between. The capitals are in East America, and West America will feel more and more alienated from them. The least that can happen will be more stress on states' and provinces' rights.

Should this trend be stopped, can it be stopped, and how? America's heartland is the real America, The two coastal regions have large unassimilated minorities, whose loyalty to America may be shallow. This is especially true of Mexican Americans, who naturally feel the pull of their motherland next door. Conflict of loyalties could become a problem, depending on developments in Mexico.

In brief. this is an important and complex matter. In sum, I urge Senators to support the Dorgan-Hagel proposals.

Ronald Hilton - 2/14/02