Immigration in video cartoons

Migration has become in recent years a hot topic on the agenda of many governments, organizations, fora, groups, societies and even individuals. It is a multifaceted phenomenon and all its various aspects are to varying degrees subject to public scrutiny. Media, politicians, NGOs, international organizations, academia and many others have long-term dedicated efforts to research, debate, argue and condemn migration. It is not surprising that references have occurred in such instances as video cartoons. Below, a selection of such mentions, which I think apply beyond the US context.

1. The need for low-skilled, foreign labour is often not acknowledged at policy levels - see for example the restrictions imposed by various EU member states on the circulation of low-skilled migrants from other EU countries, and especially those that joined the union in 2004 and 2007. Such limitations - against an increasing domestic demand and various push factors in countries of origin (among other factors) - often lead to irregular employment of migrants. The below clip speaks out: employment of immigrants is a matter of agreeing the right terms between demand and supply!


2. Communication. Language is one of the biggest obstacles to migrant integration. In certain theories about/approaches to migrant integration learning the language of the country of destination begins at home. Yet, the process of integration can be described as a bi-directional one: the host country can also undertake efforts to facilitate the migrants' incorporation, including speaking the migrant's native language. In some cases, a migrant's ability to speak the language of his/her country of destination might have an impact on the attitudes of the guest society towards migrants.


3. Immigration debate. When a conversation involves two speakers that are uninformed about who the others are, what their intentions, customs, socio-demographic characteristics are, the debate is death. The importance of cultural mediators should not be overlooked but in the same time their selection should pass the objectivity test before! And not least, whenever a Parliament or a Congress or a Government continues to debate legislation that will affect the lives of immigrants, it is important to remember that we might as well be a nation of immigrants (just go back to your history classes).

To be continued