“MINARI” in light of the Immigration Crisis in America
As a first-generation Korean immigrant, I was so proud when the Korean movie “Parasite” won the Oscar for the best motion picture in 2020. Then, came “MINARI,” a beloved movie nominated for the 2021 Oscars that tells the story of a Korean immigrant family and their struggle and pursuit of the “American Dream” in a rural town in Arkansas. MINARI brought back memories of my early years as an international student who was determined to make her dream a reality in Fort Worth, Texas in the 1990s. A $.99 Texas cheeseburger was my go-to meal, and I commuted to campus by a garage sale-bought bicycle amid unbearable summer Texas heat.
There have been extreme views that plagued and divided this country in recent years on varying issues such as social justice and equality, COVID mask mandates, school openings, immigration, and more. Absent facts and willingness to debate on both sides, these views were highly politicized by the cable networks, politicians, social media, activists, and anyone willing to cancel others with differing views.
MINARI, although a movie about the Korean immigrants, not only spoke to me but also to my neighbor, Anu from India as well as my friend, Anna whose ancestors from Scotland settled in America in the 1860s. We want to see more movies like MINARI. To us, America is not perfect but is undeniably one of the greatest countries on this planet. This country was built by many immigrants, and there are so many more lining up for a chance to immigrate to America. I, too, joined these dreamers for equal and fair opportunities that would reward dedication and hard work. In “MINARI”, Jacob, the husband played by Steven Yeun, tells his skeptical wife of their new life in Arkansas, that he wants to build something that his kids can be proud of, referring to his plan to build a farm and grow Korean vegetables. Armed with a good work ethic and a sense of pride in their work, many immigrants were able to build their new life. So did I.
In today’s polarized country, I want to challenge two radically dangerous views about immigration, “all immigration is good,” on one end, and “all immigration is bad,” on the other end. Having lived in this country for 28 years, I view America as a country for those armed with a good work ethic and intrinsic motivation to build something that they and their families can be proud of. But I don’t think America is a country for those who don’t share this core belief. So instead of narrowly focusing on whether we open or close our border and increase or decrease an immigration quota, can we first and foremost debate and align on guiding principles for our immigration policy? What are the core values are we trying to uphold?
