In regard to the comment from Xaleis, I have a hard time understanding why there are so many racist and anti-immigration groups here in the US, too! A majority of Americans descended from immigrants. (Unless, of course, you are a native American who, as Iqhaitu said, have historically been discriminated against, treated unjustly, and persecuted). I see the words “refugees” and “war” mentioned a lot in the Toulouse list, but less in the Bowdoin list. As mamadoud mentioned, many people in the US are insulated, to a certain extent, from the suffering of migrants and refugees. Our news coverage tends to be very America-centric. While the US news does cover some stories about migrants coming across the border of Mexico into the US, and the suffering they face, we don’t hear much about the enormous numbers of refugees migrating to Europe to escape war and persecution in their native Eastern, African, and Middle-Eastern countries. JustineA comments on the complexity of the issue. People want to help and welcome refugees, but can a small country like France accommodate so many people? The situation comes down to the sharing of limited resources. I think the US, as a larger country, may be in a better position to accept refugees, yet our current political administration is against that. I feel that the US could help accept many more migrants and refugees than we do. And, addressing Iqhaitu’s question: yes, I would consider a migrant an American. Immigrants built our country, continue to contribute to our society, and define our country.

I find it incredibly interesting to compare these opinions we have on human migration. Judging from the list, the American opinion for the most part centers on hardworking qualities and unforgiving circumstances of this group, whereas the French opinion highlights the presence of conflict and political stress. Its interesting how our Toulouse peers have listed synonyms of fear to describe both the migrants situation and their opinions on migration. I believe this strong emotion is only possible with close proximity to the action itself, watching how migration affects the economy and society around you on a massive scale. Perhaps this brings to light a shallow understanding we as Americans have purely as a result of geography. That being said, both countries are massively influenced by migration every year, it just seems like opinions about it all vary from culture to culture.

Ce que l’on oublie c’est qu’avant l’Afrique du Nord c’était les italiens espagnols et portugais qui immigraient en France pour qui on avait peu de respect

I wonder how much our views are affected by where we live. America is such a large country, geographically. For the most part, immigrants tend to find their new communities in cities. In suburbs and rural areas, people rely on what they read in the paper. Bowdoin students come from all over the country and world, so their perspectives may vary a bit more than the American population at large. As as resident of Brunswick (a small town, not a city), if I want to, I can turn a blind eye toward immigration and refugees (I know the two words are not always synonymous). Instead, I choose to read about the issues and, through my local church, I try to support groups that provide a safety network for the few families that have come to live in our area. (That’s one of my reasons for taking French!) But, I also know that in the small city of Lewiston, not so far from Brunswick, there was a lot of turmoil over an increasing tide of Sudanese refugees arriving there a couple of decades ago. The conflict brought out both the best and the worst of the Americans living there, from what I have read.

lholland mentions America’s indigeous peoples. To them, we may seem so much “a nation of immigrants” as “a nation of invaders or colonizers.”

Le point de vue des Américains et des Français me parait totalement différents. Les Européens associent principalement les migrants à la guerre notamment dans des pays d’Afrique. Tandis que les Américains, eux associent les migrants et la migration davantage à la recherche d’une vie meilleure mais rarement à la guerre.

Le point de vue des Américains et des Français me parait totalement différents. Les Européens associent principalement les migrants à la guerre notamment dans des pays d’Afrique. Tandis que les Américains, eux associent les migrants et la migration davantage à la recherche d’une vie meilleure mais rarement à la guerre.

I also think that the infrastructure for migrants is particularly weak. While some countries boast about allowing migrants into their country, there is sometimes almost no support for these migrants when they make their way into the country. Many non-profit organizations and such are very helpful, but there should be substantial outreach from the government that supports these migrants, not only welcoming them. It should be governmental institutions that work to aid migrants when they arrive at a country’s footsteps.