Ian Reifowitz: Obama's America at the Debate: Immigrant Kids "Understand Themselves as Americans" HuffPost's QuickRead... Loading... HuffPost's QuickRead... Loading... 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Hilda Solis HuffPost Social Reading Some error occurred Login with Facebook to see what your friends are reading Enable Social Reading i Settings Read Share Settings Share everything I read Share only things safe for work Dont share what I'm reading Read Share History Learn More Ian Reifowitz Author of 'Obama’s America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity' GET UPDATES FROM Ian Reifowitz Like 20 Obama's America at the Debate: Immigrant Kids "Understand Themselves as Americans" Posted: 10/17/2012 9:44 am React Important Funny Typical Scary Outrageous Amazing Innovative Finally Follow Barack Obama , Mitt Romney , Presidential Debates , Elections 2012 , Immigration , Obama's America , Politics News share this story Submit this story digg reddit stumble At last night's debate , President Obama said the following: "For young people who come here, brought here oftentimes by their parents, have gone to school here, pledged allegiance to the flag, think of this as their country, understand themselves as Americans in every way except having papers, then we should make sure that we give them a pathway to citizenship, and that's what I've done administratively." This remark, which refers to the Americans covered by the Obama administration's actions to provide work permits for young people brought here as children but without documentation, offers real insight into the president's inclusive approach to American national identity. Where some on the right would see nothing more than an "illegal immigrant," Obama recognizes a young adult who has been in this country, for example, for twenty out of the twenty-five years of her life and who has gone through an irreversible process of Americanization. That person is nothing but an American in terms of her national identity. He understands what it would mean to that person to be expelled from the only homeland she has essentially ever known. President Obama understands how national identities are formed, both on the individual and the societal level. He understand how and why an American comes to feel an attachment to this country and to his fellow Americans. The debate tonight was about many things, mostly about policy differences between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. For me, as a scholar of national identity, that one small remark stood out as demonstrative of something far larger. Only one of these candidates has demonstrated, for years and years, a public record of understanding how national identity works, and thus how to invigorate the national identity that binds together the American people. This Blogger's Books from Obama's America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity by Ian Reifowitz Follow Ian Reifowitz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ianreifowitz FOLLOW POLITICS Like 208k Get Alerts Mitt Romney Immigration Presidential Debates Barack Obama At last night's debate, President Obama said the following: "For young people who come here, brought here oftentimes by their parents, have gone to school here, pledged allegiance to the flag, think... At last night's debate, President Obama said the following: "For young people who come here, brought here oftentimes by their parents, have gone to school here, pledged allegiance to the flag, think... More in Politics... Virginia Electoral Votes Allocation Measure Advances In... Boehner 'Annihilate' Comment Points To Top Priority:... Paul Ryan: GOP Losses In 2012 Due... Deferred Action Immigrants To Be Given Driver's... Comments 86 Pending Comments 0 View FAQ Comments are closed for this entry Community Notice: We've made some changes to our badge program, including the addition of our newest badge: Community Curator. View All Favorites Recency | Popularity Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 total) arizcitizen 128 Fans 06:23 PM on 10/23/2012 WILLIIE SUTTON WOULD CONSIDER HIMSELF A 'WITHDRAWAL EXPERT' IF HE USED THE SAME REDICULOUS REASONING. THESE ILLEGALS ARE NOT USA CITIZENS, THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS AND NO MATTER HOW THEY TWIST THE WORDS, THEY ARE STILL ILLEGAL ALIENS. arizcitizen: WILLIIE SUTTON WOULD CONSIDER HIMSELF A 'WITHDRAWAL EXPERT' IF HE http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/arizcitizen/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_199150207.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USER BiggpussJr pissin em off one comment at a time. 557 Fans 04:44 PM on 10/18/2012 I thought that Americans consider themselves ......wait for it....AMERICANS.... he was talking about latinos who fly flags of Guatamala, Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, and Panama. I have NEVER seen an illegal fly an American Flag. So Mr. President you are WRONG AGAIN. BiggpussJr: I thought that Americans consider themselves ......wait for it....AMERICANS.... he http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/BiggpussJr/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197577423.html History | Permalink | Share it rhycochet is an illiterate, right-wing technocrat. 24 Fans 08:18 PM on 10/18/2012 probably because you never knew how many AMERICANS flying those flags are actually illegal. the president wasn't referring to those orange-peddlers you find on street islands and standing off the freeway ramp who can barely make out a sentence in english. but apparently, all illegal immigrants and their offspring should present themselves that such obvious ways, according to you. why were the jews forced to wear stars of david again? rhycochet: probably because you never knew how many AMERICANS flying those http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/rhycochet/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197655214.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST PUNDIT spytheweb 1370 Fans 09:58 PM on 10/19/2012 "A 2009 Pew Hispanic Center report found that over half of Latinos living in the U.S., between the ages of 16 and 25 identify their nationality by their family’s country of origin. 20 percent of those surveyed identified themselves simply as Hispanic or Latino, while less than 20 percent call themselves “American.” http://www.examiner.com/article/is-this-pizza-chain-really-promoting-illegal-immigration spytheweb: "A 2009 <a href="http://www.pewhispanic.org/">Pew Hispanic Center</a> report found that over http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/spytheweb/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_198030427.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Steven Way 1 Fans 03:48 AM on 10/19/2012 Ya I can't stand all those immigrants flying their flags. Every time I see them lining the streets promoting their home countries, I wish they would just go back. And those damn parades and all that green beer! Bunch of drinkers. Steven_Way: Ya I can't stand all those immigrants flying their flags. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Steven_Way/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197750520.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Karissa36 Saving lost boys and fighting pirates. 384 Fans 02:38 PM on 10/18/2012 So if I rob a bank, my kids can keep the money? How about if I bring them along? (I have at least one kid that would be a decent get-away driver. No license, but that's no big deal for illegals.) Does that make it all OK? This college fund planning can be brutal... Karissa36: So if I rob a bank, my kids can keep http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Karissa36/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197523766.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… alpina 329 Fans 01:07 PM on 10/18/2012 If I "understand myself" to be a Martian, or from France, does that make it so? We have laws in this (and other) countries about who is and who ISN'T a citizen, not fairy tales and wishes. alpina: If I "understand myself" to be a Martian, or from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/alpina/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197483650.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Texas rebel 206 Fans 10:04 AM on 10/18/2012 These kids might understand themselves to be American, but in fact they are foreign nationals illegally in this country and need to be deported. Texas_rebel: These kids might understand themselves to be American, but in http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Texas_rebel/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197407109.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program jweider I know where my towel is 178 Fans 10:00 AM on 10/18/2012 "Americans in every way except having papers" And we are all millionaires in every way except having money. jweider: "Americans in every way except having papers" And we are http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/jweider/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197405560.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Armando Cedillo 191 Fans 11:56 PM on 10/17/2012 So Ian, would you have no problem with repatriating the adults who smuggled these quasi-Americans into our nation against our will? Do you have any doubts as to the culpability of sentient adults who willingly circumvent border inspection points or stay past their visa expiration date? Armando_Cedillo: So Ian, would you have no problem with repatriating the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Armando_Cedillo/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197324538.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USER nasknit Freedom isn't free. 802 Fans 11:34 PM on 10/17/2012 "Immigrant Kids "Understand Themselves as Americans" " REALLY? So, IF someone thinks they RULE the world, WE should "make it so"? nasknit: "Immigrant Kids "Understand Themselves as Americans" " REALLY? So, IF http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nasknit/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197319363.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Brobdingnag 52 Fans 09:09 PM on 10/17/2012 Offering citizenship to unlawfully present children allows them to sponsor their unlawfully present parents. This creates an incentive for future and even more illegal entry and presence. It just perpetuates the problem but ironically is sold as a "solution". Notice how the emphasis by Democrat politicians is on getting them citizenship (so they can vote Democrat). What you call an "inclusive approach to American national identity" can also be viewed as debasement of American citizenship and rule of law. Brobdingnag: Offering citizenship to unlawfully present children allows them to sponsor http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Brobdingnag/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197277772.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… iuriggs6 Sure thing. Shoot, Timmy. 238 Fans 01:11 PM on 10/17/2012 Thanks to the criminal activities of their parents these young people are receiving amnesty. iuriggs6: Thanks to the criminal activities of their parents these young http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/iuriggs6/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197109877.html History | Permalink | Share it This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program Chief Johnson2 74 Fans 07:35 PM on 10/17/2012 In our country we don't punish people for their parents crimes. Chief_Johnson2: In our country we don't punish people for their parents http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Chief_Johnson2/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197250025.html History | Permalink | Share it iuriggs6 Sure thing. Shoot, Timmy. 238 Fans 08:05 AM on 10/18/2012 That's correct, we reward them instead. iuriggs6: That's correct, we reward them instead. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/iuriggs6/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197374888.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… rubbercow 188 Fans 11:08 AM on 10/18/2012 We also don't reward the parents for their crime. rubbercow: We also don't reward the parents for their crime. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/rubbercow/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197431476.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… James Greybush The rules should be the same for everyone 60 Fans 12:56 PM on 10/17/2012 obama said these 30 year old 'children': "Understand Themselves as Americans". I thought they were all scientists and doctors. Why can't they understand that NO, they are NOT Americans and never will be. Americans take charge of their own lives, they don't beg for scraps at the dinner table. They dont break the law and blame someone else. These people will never know what its like to be American. James_Greybush: obama said these 30 year old 'children': "Understand Themselves as http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/James_Greybush/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197103954.html History | Permalink | Share it This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program Chief Johnson2 74 Fans 07:34 PM on 10/17/2012 They will be Americans on papers, too, and you can't stop it. Chief_Johnson2: They will be Americans on papers, too, and you can't http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Chief_Johnson2/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197249794.html History | Permalink | Share it James Greybush The rules should be the same for everyone 60 Fans 01:36 PM on 10/18/2012 i don't have to stop it. the legislation is fatally flawed anyway, thats why dream act hasn't passed in over a decade of trying. It is too broad and covers too many people to ever get enough support. James_Greybush: i don't have to stop it. the legislation is fatally http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/James_Greybush/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197496583.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… arizcitizen 128 Fans 06:44 PM on 10/23/2012 WELL SAID. arizcitizen: WELL SAID. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/arizcitizen/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_199153699.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… John P Miller Historian, Truthseeker 1457 Fans 12:37 PM on 10/17/2012 I agree with you that only President Obama has the real insight for these young people & their future in America. Romney appeared to share this view at one time, but now would deport them instead or in one of his classic ideas they would self deport. John_P_Miller: I agree with you that only President Obama has the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/John_P_Miller/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197095986.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… huffposer 83 Fans 11:55 AM on 10/17/2012 We all "understand" that they are lawbreakers and deserve to get sent back to the countries from whence they came. huffposer: We all "understand" that they are lawbreakers and deserve to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/huffposer/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197078234.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST BLOGGER Ian Reifowitz Author of Obama's America 202 Fans 01:01 PM on 10/17/2012 Let's be clear: someone is twenty-five years old, was brought here illegally as a five year old by their parents, has now graduated from college, has no criminal record, and has no memory of living anywhere but America, and speaks no language other than English. You would send that person "back" somewhere else? Obama's policy affected people like the one I described. hp_blogger_Ian Reifowitz: Let's be clear: someone is twenty-five years old, was brought http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/hp_blogger_Ian Reifowitz/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197105925.html History | Permalink | Share it HUFFPOST SUPER USER lrobb Gold Standard = four paws and a tail 787 Fans 01:25 PM on 10/17/2012 Unless and until the federal laws are changed, absolutely yes. A government where laws can be ignored at will is called anarchy. lrobb: Unless and until the federal laws are changed, absolutely yes. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/lrobb/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197115802.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… rubbercow 188 Fans 02:37 PM on 10/17/2012 Mr. Reifowitz, Respectfully. The propositions included in the DREAM Act are so wide open to manipulation and fraud that they cannot be taken seriously. I live in a neighborhood that is 92% Latino according to the last census. The children of illegal immigrants, whether born here or not, certainly speak the language of their parents. Do you honestly believe that the moment the parents crossed the border they stopped speaking their mother tongue or that the children instantly became unable to communicate with their parents? Of course not. The claim that these "kids" don't know any other language is false. Further, the transport of cultural norms is extremely strong within this community. Without making a value judgment I can tell you that fraud, cheating, lying and deception are quite common in this group and most of the time the individual does not even realize that those behaviors are wrong. Why should they? This is SOP in many of their home countries. There is also a decided reverence of the homeland. The Mexican flag, for example, is flown in lieu of the US flag on most homes and businesses in my neighborhood. Believe it or not, I have actually had a schoolboy flip me off for hanging a US flag on Memorial Day. If all of those seeking amnesty were outstanding people who were eager to assimilate we would not be having this discussion. rubbercow: Mr. Reifowitz, Respectfully. The propositions included in the DREAM Act http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/rubbercow/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197145012.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… Loading comments… Loading comments… Loading comments… Loading comments… There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… voyager48 Illegitimi Non Carborundum 276 Fans 11:09 AM on 10/17/2012 Obama flat out ignores the fact that the illegal immigration door is still wide open. Until it is shut there can be no meaningful discussion about those here illegally nor can the issue be resolved. voyager48: Obama flat out ignores the fact that the illegal immigration http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/voyager48/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197059027.html History | Permalink | Share it This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program Chief Johnson2 74 Fans 07:25 PM on 10/17/2012 False, the border is safer than ever, and net illegal immigration is close to zero. Chief_Johnson2: False, the border is safer than ever, and net illegal http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Chief_Johnson2/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197246748.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… randyjet 288 Fans 11:07 AM on 10/17/2012 Unfortunately this is simply bait and switch tactics. The DREAM act mandate does NOT only refer to those who have been here most of their lives. A person who came here at age 16 is also elegible and there is no reality that a kid that old has no memory of their native country or thinks of themselves as American. The FACT is that most of these kids are NOT American at all, either legally or culturally since most of them speak their native language at home and even speak English poorly. Thus the problem of drop outs since they have a hard time learning English. THAT is the majority of the so called Dreamers. They are NOT all the valedictorians of their class, in FACT, they can get a GED in Spanish and French, so they do not even have to be fluent in English to meet the requirements of getting defered action. randyjet: Unfortunately this is simply bait and switch tactics. The DREAM http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/randyjet/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197058409.html History | Permalink | Share it This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program Chief Johnson2 74 Fans 07:23 PM on 10/17/2012 Care to cite where did you get your statistics regarding your statements, like "most of them speak english poorly" or "That is the majority of the so called Dreamers". Chief_Johnson2: Care to cite where did you get your statistics regarding http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Chief_Johnson2/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197246332.html History | Permalink | Share it randyjet 288 Fans 08:33 PM on 10/17/2012 I guess you have not seen stats on the drop out rates for illegals, and forget that bilingual education has NOT produced students who are fluent in English. I live on the border and most folks speak Spanish on a day to day basis. American kids do speak English well, but illegals who have come here recently do not. You also forget that the GED does NOT require fluency in English at all. So according to the provisions, a "kid" of 16 can come here illegally, take the GED test in Spanish, enroll in some course and take TEN years to get a two year degree in Mexican American studies. THAT is NOT advancing our national interest which is the SOLE reason for immigration as the late liberal Barbara Jordan pointed out. randyjet: I guess you have not seen stats on the drop http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/randyjet/obamas-america-at-debate_b_1972421_197267269.html History | Permalink | Share it This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 total) new comment(s) on this entry — Click to refresh Loading comments… Sponsor Generated Post Obama is WHO? Secret Service Codenames Declassified (INFOGRAPHIC) Quick Read | Comments (302) | 01.21.2013 2012 Election Results Obama Romney Electoral Votes (270 to win) 332 206 Obama leading Obama won Romney leading Romney won Battleground States Obama Romney Virginia 99% Rpt. 51.2% 47.3% Florida 100% Rpt. 50.0% 49.1% N. Carolina 100% Rpt. 48.4% 50.4% Ohio 100% Rpt. 50.7% 47.7% New Hampshire 100% Rpt. 52.0% 46.4% Colorado 100% Rpt. 51.5% 46.1% Wisconsin 99% Rpt. 52.8% 45.9% Iowa 100% Rpt. 52.0% 46.2% Nevada 100% Rpt. 52.4% 45.7% Popular Vote Obama Romney Total 65,367,939 60,707,106 Percent 51.0% 47.3% Senate 33 out of 100 seats are up for election. 51 are needed for a majority. Democrat leading Democrat won Holdover Republican leading Republican won Democrats* Republicans Current Senate 53 47 Seats gained or lost +2 -2 New Total 55 45 * Includes two independent senators expected to caucus with the Democrats: Angus King (Maine) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.). House All 435 seats are up for election. 218 are needed for a majority. Democrat leading Democrat won Republican leading Republican won Democrats Republicans Seats won 201 234 Click for Full Results FOLLOW US Connect with your friends Check out stories you might like, and see what your friends are sharing! 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