I Pledge Allegiance

A. Major funding for this program has been provided by friends of Iowa Public Television. It's. A simple up of Allegiance and one of special meeting today. But these are all I was new Americans men and women who have made a conscious decision to make this country this state. Their new home they come for opportunity and for salvation. But they also bring new experiences and expertise and perspectives that will change the face of violence forever. He had her.

As one journey ends soul begins another con comes an acute and her daughter have waited years for a chance to live in America today. That dream comes true. For Ariel. Sharon. B. No. In 1983 Conn. common scaped your homeland in Laos only to spend the next four and a half years in the limbo the Thai refugee camp. Today she is reunited with a brother she has not seen for nearly three years. But the joy of seeing family members again is often tempered with the realisation that much has been left behind. There is certainly a great deal of sadness that one experiences an ad having to

root behind their home. Their way of life the place that they may have lived in for generations. And the hope of being able to continue to live there is something that I think you can order in regular order and in people's hearts as they resettle here. We're. Going to. Do it. Thank you for helping Gabby hang for me. I mean I think if there's a war how could it be whatever i. Want. One thing that's important for an immigrant community is the really two dimensions one is that they need to reinforce themselves as a community to maintain this identity. And so they're bonds

that are built within that. But at the same time people are also receiving from the mainstream culture into which they've integrated. And so and of course they need to adapt into that environments and learn about its cultures and about its values and way of life and economy and so on. But at the same time they have something to offer also. In the 1970s I welcome thousands of Southeast Asians to the state in the wake of civil war in Cambodia Laos and Vietnam. Today agents top the list of why I was naturalized citizens. I sometimes probably amount to a marked difference in the Southeast Asians because there are more. Professional and highly educated folks coming out in the mid seventies who got out early and since I would say the late 70s on more of the people coming out of Southeast Asians are not ours and more of them tended to be farmers and and nonprofessional people.

Like. You but I. Was one of those people originally from getting resettled in California in 1988. He had few transferable skills little money and virtually no understanding of English. I don't wonder you know. That's right yeah yeah yeah. When the welfare checks stop coming and had not yet found a job he took the advice of a friend and moved to Sioux City where he soon found employment in a beef packing plant. The pay was low but so was the cost of living. Soon he was able to save enough money to start his own Asian grocery store and gift shop. Today bow shop is struggling but surviving but the desire to succeed can be grueling. Palau works from 12 to 16 hours a day seven days a week. His wife also works in the shop often bringing their children with her.

I think being able to survive and maybe be a couple steps above survival is what they're after. They accept that they're going to be at a lower status than they were in their native country. But again I think they do they more or less sacrifice themselves so that their children grandchildren can have a better life. Today. In fact a 1990 study found that nearly 18 percent of all U.S. immigrants are small business operators over double the percentage of native born Americans. It's small businesses that really make the difference in terms of economic growth. And most immigrants and refugees are more likely particularly as innovators and bringing new ideas from other societies and other economic conditions see things in a different way. Just as when we travel we come back we see our own society in a different way we see new opportunities. For. This kind of crowd. Oh.

Yeah. So that they do to the west. But John. I mean here they were. With you just like many refugees can come will need food stamps and medical assistance while she looks for a job. Well aid is necessary it is usually temporary. Of the 96 hundred refugees that have arrived in Iowa since 1975. Only five percent currently receive some form of government cash assistance. In fact immigrants tend to use the last of Social Services partly out of fear partly out of not knowing but many and their jobs actually pay taxes into the government and pay into Social Security fund and they never collect. So the results actually show the disproportionate they contribute to the economy rather than taking away. The hours. What. Kind of need the corniness is going.

To move when Tom been holding but finding work must be put on hold during a routine physical a medical problem was discovered with Khan comes liver possibly acquired during her long stay in Thailand until it is resolved she tends to the small apartment she shares with six family members. She also worries about her husband who fled to Thailand nearly five years ago by their man now I. Know that made me cry at how much he was still running up and I said I assume. Jonathan No but when she arrived at the refugee camp come comes husband was nowhere to be found and I'm going home to the raw highs absolute deaths in the whole lot. Are you you worried about his safety who inserted the wrong.

The idea of coming to the US started really when I was about 12 years old and I read in school for the first time in a speech by. President Abraham Lincoln. The Gettysburg speech and as a youngster you were at a tender age I was quite impressed with the notion of a government of the people by the people for the people. John Wang is typical of young professional workers emigrating to Iowa. In fact nearly 50 percent of our Ph.D. business students and I was State University are foreign born. Growing up in Malaysia Wang could have had a promising career in business in that country but teaching position at ISU in 1900 lured him away. Today Wang is chair of the marketing department of business school. Asians are increasingly filling positions of status in Iowa and Extension Service study of Iowa minority groups found that 40 percent of all Asian men held managerial or professional occupations. Only

20 percent of whites held similar professions. Rather than throwing up my arms I think people like you know we're turning an international background both in the education also my input export business experience and homecoming. I think what's happening in the state of Iowa. Marketing and marketing. Three other entities on campus are sponsoring this job to prove his point wrong teachers I was small business people how to do better business in China in his day long seminar Iowans are taught the finer points of Chinese culture and etiquette. It's not so much to make them into experts overnight to a quaint idea of business executives instead of you know some knowledge as to how the cultures are different.

The new fish surfaced on the dining table. And it's something that you really want to have. Don't just pick up your chopsticks to. Study. For one. I am very proud of my Malaysian roots but I guess you know I came to a point in life that. I want I want to love and love it. And I'm not quite quite easily satisfied. And so this is really the sort of a dream and being and being an American it's a culmination really in a lifelong dream. John Wang's first taste of Iowa came nearly 16 years ago when he studied at William Penn college an Oscar loose. He came to Iowa by himself while his wife Ann waited for him in Hong Kong.

It was not easy. In fact I can still remember when I spent my first two weeks in Oskaloosa I looked out the window and saw nothing but the self-less doubled the feel in snow and I asked myself what am I doing here. And so. Being alone being lonely lost. But at the same time driven by his desire to to do something with my life. And as an American. And eventually came to Iowa where she and John were married. I grew up in Hong Kong and Hong Kong a British colony and. All these time I was going now I just don't feel I belong to Hong Kong you know every time I need anything. You know I think when you know and then have a sense of belonging. It. Helps with the cooking and

household chores. Unlikely tradition in their native lands Sami Elizabeth received much of John and attention and encouragement. Last year Elton was only eight years old when he won first place at the Ames district and a category normally open to only 10 year olds. I like. You. And I like having. You know. And work hard in the pool. Playing it. And. Like. And and then. Thank you. I cost.

My my. Two boys who are beginning to be able to understand things a little better now. I would constantly remind him that being American being Americans they have a special birthright second to no one else. Color creed sex that they can be anything you want to be and can do it love open and and. And daddy lives. And to dream dreams and to and to strive to achieve because those dreams come true. This is what I think you know the U.S. means to me. Last November John an officially became U.S. citizens. Like I told my students and I told. Many of our American friends to go. We made a conscious decision to be an American. You folks are less lucky than we are because you want Americans and you never really did exercise the choice we did and of the richer Rio crowd and we're thrilled that

we are better for it. On. Monday my uncle said you don't need to go or you have a job here why do you go. He had the idea that to you immigrate if you're not well off here than him no money said No don't. But did you want time to learning something new with bright people to patients. You know every day and that's still a destination why. People from all over the world I think I've talked it over here to learn something new which are not available in their own county. Antonio big he went against his uncle's wishes and in one thousand eighty one emigrated from Italy to the United States he wanted to study radiation treatment for cancer patients. He knew if he stayed in Italy his training would be less than complete.

But in the U.S. deals he can be on the cutting edge of cancer therapy. For that reason. Today he practices medicine in Iowa City and I kind of had to take him he's entirely isolated waste of the national health care system and everybody gets the same no quality care. But so much equipment is not the way it's widespread to drown to the county and would be very hard for a patient to get through. And I certainly do realize that the times for my own family is much better in here that could be somewhere else to the home sinking isn't much better than in other places say you can have a house warm house warm in winter and cool in summer. You can have a car you can go around that you can buy milk at any time of day and

night and you needed to know each other. As permanent residents legally Artie and his wife Rosanna are not required to become U.S. citizens except for voting or holding political office. They have many of the same rights as American born or naturalized citizens still. And Tony you'll see the need to take that next step. If I have the right to reside in you over what a bone head of state that I had to decide I think. You have also some responsibilities that to the law doesn't give me what I said was that if you decided you want to leave it here you want to do something for the place would have to that I want to stay right where you were going to stay kids to be. You just need to set up the steps. Sidney Cohen he was a buddy with me and that would be hard to lose it's my own tradition. Which is impossible to lose and the way I was brought up on shows that I know will

be American they are better born here than even here. But I would always unfortunately want to buy them. I will basically keep my home to the nation when he steps back. They had. Their. Thing. That. They and. They and it is here in a basic anguished class that many illegal aliens like and I can real get a second chance at legal status under the second phase of the 1985 Immigration Reform Act. Undocumented aliens who have applied for amnesty must pass a test proving their knowledge of English and U.S. history and government. For that reason. Ana sees her English classes in Sioux City as a means toward legal employment. I told her that way I can go

on by you know pay more you know. Two kids in the hall and all the stuff from learning English and applying for amnesty can be an emotional experience particularly for spandex who wish to someday return to Mexico. I think a lot of them that come directly from Mexico and haven't been in the United States for a long time feel that way that they are turning their back on their mother country. And it came to us with her husband nearly seven years ago when her visa ran out. She never tried to renew it for fear that immigration might send her back to Mexico. The hardest part of coming to America was leaving behind a career as a registered nurse. Yeah like you know going to the new chapter of better opportunities and higher income in America were too tempting with a worker's permit and I hope to go back to school and eventually find a job as a nurse in Sioux City.

Yeah I'm going to try to do it anyway. I think it now I got my favors I can you know do it. They're going to I think they're going to have me to you know get my job and start again. It is a big culture shock and some cannot adjust and so when they are torn between Am I going to make enough money so that I'm going to be able to weather the storm and still send money home. And look to the future that because I am going to go back some of those stay for a period of time and then to return after an awful bills or obligations to the amnesty program. She has a choice of becoming a U.S. citizen but Mexico does not recognize dual citizenship. And that could be a difficult bill the Swallow I don't know. The only thing they just run on living here and working here I'm not going to be a sadist and I really don't know.

Well I don't want to lose my Mexico City and say and I'm proud to be sick and I just want to keep it that way. Then I'll be their Mexican. OK Mrs warning as you can see him and may think. I'm a moron there now. Do you swear to tell the truth of any statements you make on this application for naturalization. So help me God. He never been a member of the Communist Party. Sure you don't get me somewhere. Tonight just for us. OK. More points than prostitution illegal gambling. You know he's on his own he's got to come by himself. Good moral character. A working understanding of English and knowledge of American history and government. Just a few of the requirements the Immigration and Naturalization Service puts on the new immigrants who want to become U.S. citizens. And Losman only Adam passes the test. A lifelong dream could be shattered. U.S. citizen. That means I'm part of this

land. Born in Romania when only learnt to hate his country's communist government. As a young boy he still remembers the day when the state took control of his father's farm. I see him the first time my father tears in her eye and I said I can't believe it can be happen something like this. But there was a point in my in my decision and some day I will leave. Some day I will try to find another life where you can do anything you want to do with your life and you can take a decision and this dream for the freedom that was growing growing growing every day in my in my life. That day finally came in one thousand eighty one women only then an auto mechanic was given permission to tow a tourist car across the border into nearby Hungary. But once he

left Romania he knew he would never return. Eventually he escaped to Austria where he found political asylum. It's sometime and I I don't realize how I can do something like that because I left from India and I think there was a midnight and my children there was sleeping in their bedroom. And I just walked in bedroom and I I gave a little kiss not to wake them up and and after that I leave. But I can I can talk to them. I can. Then nobody knows nothing about it. She gave me also wants to become a U.S. citizen. But if she had a choice she would return to our homeland of Iran. Her father once an officer in the Shah's army was considered a traitor by supporters of the Ayatollah Khamenei and shaders father or any of her family returned to Iran.

She just says they would be imprisoned or worse. Why are they killed. Because he was against Khomeini and he was police too so they took him to jail and they killed him. They kept hoping we kept going back. But it was like two three years ago that everybody just thought oh no we are losing our country. Even though they're very much appreciative of being here and having new opportunities there's also a strong sense of guilt like Ruy was I selected to be here why was I allowed to to live. In the case of many refugees actually fear of persecution or fear for their lives. A 16 year old girl when she entered the United States she is today a mother and wife college student part time model and I was sitting. Someday she hopes to have a career in nuclear medicine and sees American citizenship as a way of improving her chances of getting a

job. It would appear that she has adjusted well to life in Iowa but appearances can be deceiving. At that time because it was just such situations when they came to United. And people just looked at us really bad. They call us camel Jack you go back to your country. Let our hostages free. And at that time we told them that it's our government. We know that our government is bad it's crazy. Bigotry plays a relatively small Iowa Iranian community has convinced that she will never be able to call the Midwest her home. She remembers her early days of isolation in Iowa. It was very lonely. Nobody was there if I say I say if I fall down. Nobody is there to take your hand or if you need any help there wasn't anybody to help you my home.

The more so I missed the bus. Iran is my home. Everything my friends my family and I I never forget a Iran I born there I lived I was I lived there for 16 years and I can never forget. Following his escape to Austria when only Adam resettled in Texas the hot climate and high unemployment rate became unbearable. With nothing to lose and only started driving north looking for a more suitable place to live. Where he stopped was Muscatine Iowa. There he found a job in a local factory and began saving his money so that he could bring his children to America. But he also spent much of his time trying to learn English. Many times I cried because I didn't understand nothing and I said what I'm going to do what I'm going to do with my promises to my children.

Eventually the newly learned English and remarried following the divorce of his Romanian wife he also bought a house in Muscatine a house where he was able to bring his children. Four years after leaving them in Romania in 85 February Valentine's day they arrived in Chicago. So I knew it only one month before that time they were calm. Everybody was very happy today when only two children are grown and served in the U.S. Air Force in Texas and Arkansas. I would like to do something for the standee So I started with my my kids. I send them to the Air Force for the set of these I encourage them. I didn't send them I didn't force them but I encouraged them I show them. I feel that that happiness it's all over everything it's it's just that now I can say

even if it's if I'm bleeding here I can say America is heaven. Tell me what you say right. I hereby declare. I know that I absolutely and entirely in his house. Citizenship is offered not from sympathy but respect for this is a nation of immigrants. And as much as any descendant of the Mayflower is an American so too are the travelers of Mexico Iran and Malaysia in search of something better to change and revitalize this land as immigrants always have. So why. Because these are Americans. Major funding for this program has been provided by friends of Iowa Public Television.