Unfamiliar people

The United States has long been considered a nation of immigrants. Attitudes toward new immigrants by those who came before have been undecided between welcoming and exclusionary over the years.  In present day, with President Trump’s policies on anti immigration and strengthening the US/Mexican Border, America has been in huge debates whether Trump’s decisions are right or wrong.

After the inauguration of President Donald Trump, his first actions The executive order on border security, entitled “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements,” contains several sections which undermine human rights, including the expanded use of detention, limits on access to asylum, enhanced enforcement along the US-Mexico border, and the construction of a 2,000 mile border wall. Because of events happening in South America due to drug cartels there is a rise in  undocumented immigrants and many people in America fear this influx of immigrants moving in America. Americans fear that undocumented immigrants will take over jobs and take up US healthcare while avoiding taxes. Therefore, a large population of America support Trump’s decisions on building a wall. 

However, there are many people that are also against these actions Trump is making. According to a PBS article (Link) there are many benefits to immigrants living in America. One large myth is that undocumented immigrants take up jobs but according to the article, undocumented immigrants actually take up jobs that most Americans aren’t willing to take and they help boost up the economy. Another interesting fact is that immigrants are also a major factor to boosting the US population.

Either way, both sides have many valid arguments and America is still in dilemma. Every American should face this question. As a country of new beginnings and the “Melting Pot”, is it our duty as Americans to let undocumented immigrants into America?

Abandoning Meat? Should we convert to Veganism?

Meat is an important food item in American diet and culture. Remember those Fourth of July barbecues and you smell grilled hamburgers and hotdogs? Or sitting down with family and friends and eating wings while watching the Super Bowl? Meat is a part of American culture in many ways and lots of people enjoy eating chicken, beef, or pork. Along with meat being e,bedded in American Culture, meat has allowed humans to develop their brains. Meat also has many nutrients like protein and iron that are vital for growth. For centuries meat has been consumed by humans and it allowed us to grow.

But in today’s world, we are faced with moral codes, climate change, and rising obesity. There are now requests from environmentalists and the vegan community for people to stop consuming meat.  Meat can be considered like a double edged sword. It provides nutrients for growth, but meat is also produced in massive facilities unethically and cattle is one of the largest causes of climate change.  Cause large corporations need to maximize profits, the cram cattle into tight spaces and treat them very poorly. Cows are branded with a hot iron for indentification and chickens are crammed in small cages. Groups like PETA call for people to convert to veganism to combat these unethical processes. This article from The Economist explains other downfalls of meat consumption. In environment terms, roughly a fifth of all the world’s pasture has been degraded by overgrazing along with the belching and farts of animals forth remarkable quantities of greenhouse gases.

Of course, both sides have safe alternatives with their beliefs. You can buy meat from farm raised chickens or cows that aren’t treated inhumanely. In comparison, food scientists have been creating vegetable based meat that taste just like real meat. Both both options are fairly expensive so we can expect to see better changes in the future. With different arguments and debates circling around
America, there is a tough question Americans today have to face.

Should millions of Americans abandon decades of tradition and culture to meet ethical demands? How can we make a gradual transition for meat eaters to convert to veganism?

Family name

My Dad’s last name, Lim originated from a noble family. In Korean, the name Lim is pronounced 임(Im). Because the Korean language was created based off the Chinese language, caricatures from the last name “Im” affiliates with the Chinese language. My name isn’t necessarily named after someone but how some Korean names work are that they are named from a system of Chinese caricatures based on the cycle of life. So my name means “forest” in Chinese and my children’s names are supposed to be the next phase after “forest”.

My Dad originally lived in Seoul, which is the capital of South Korea. Because the name Lim is from a noble family, my dad and his family were fairly wealthy in Korea. They owned many small businesses like convenience stores and laundromats that brought in a lot of money. But my grandparents wanted my Dad and my Aunts and Uncles to have a better education and opportunities in America so around the late 70s, my Dad, his 5 other siblings, and my grandparents flew to America for a better life. There they landed in Chicago and became lower middle class in the south side of Chicago.

My dad identifies as Korean/American. My dad came to America early when he was 9, so he has been surrounded by American culture for a long time now. My dad loves a lot of things about America ranging from movies, sports, or food. But my dad believes the most important thing we should preserve is our past. Even though we live in America we shouldn’t forget who we are. So our family still follow a lot of Korean traditions, we eat Korean food for dinner, and we acknowledge some Korean holidays.

My dad moved to the south side of Chicago where there weren’t a lot of Asians around. When him and his brothers went to elementary school for the first time, there weren’t any translators for them so they struggled to learn in class and has to learn English themselves. My dad was the only Asian at his school so he was called a lot of racist names throughout elementary school and middle school. In high school, my dad started to start wearing clothes and accessories that were popular in America in order to fit in. There he was called a Twinkie because of his attempts to fit in.

My grandfather tells me all the time how the Lim family is supposed to be tough. The oldest ancestor that is known amongst our family is Im Gyeong Eop. He was a prominent Korean General during the 17th century. Therefore my dad and my grandfather believe we are supposed to be tough.