An important point that is made in this reading is the recognition that transnationalism is not a new movement as many people argue and believe, but rather it has always been prevalent and is just seen more now than ever before; this is why so many people believe that it is a new phenomena.Looking back at the ways of past immigrants we see that this concept of transnationalism has always been present. Close ties between immigrants and there home countries have always remained. Immigrants would come here in hopes of making enough money to one day return back to their home countries much more better off than when they had left. The money that was made in the United States was split between their basic living necessecities in the United States and their investments back home, which included paying off loans, buying homes, and sending money back home in order to support the families that many had to leave behind.
Transnationalism is definitely much more visible now and there are many factors of why this has been able to happen. Perhaps the most important and most influential factor is technology. The amount that technology has improved over the years has greatly changed the very nature of transnationalism. As Foner states, “Technological changes have made it possible fir immigrants to maintain more frequent and closer contact with home societies, and in a real sense, have changed the very nature of transnational connections.” (176). Technological advances make things that once would have taken weeks to do now so readily accessible that it can be done in a matter of minutes or even seconds, even trips that once would have taken months or weeks now only take a few hours. My family has felt this influence since we’ve been able to keep in touch with our family much more easily through email and videochatting. This has changed the nature of everything and has helped to contribute to transnationalism being something that is now acceptable, whereas in the past it was looked down upon, as it was seen to be taking away from the American identity and American pride. This new acceptance of transnationalism is seen in all of the ethnic festivals and parades that now take place. These parades and celebrations of ethnicities are promoted by the city and they glorify the multi-ethnic nature of the city.
Something that I found very interesting was when Foner says “as they extend their stay and as more family members join them, they become increasingly involved with life and people in this country. Ties to the homeland seldom disappear, but they often become fewer and thinner over time.” This is interesting because you would think that things would be similar to the way things were in the past, when everyone would want to just leave America after they made their money and go back to their home country. However I can see how now since people are getting more involved in the country and others are more accpeting of transnationalism that the longer you remain in the country the least likely you are to go back to the country you left. I see this with my family. My dad would joke around saying that he was going to take us all back to Portugal and I used to actually believe him. Now I realize that my father would never actually do this, especially because of all of the things that he already has here. Still he says that once we all get married and move out he will be gone, but I’m sure that once he starts having grandchildren and getting our careers, there’s no way my dad’s going to want to leave all of us behind.
Does this mean that transnationalism is going to eventually stop happening? Well no, I don’t think so. I feel it will always still be present, but maybe now since its more accepted we will see more people choosing to remain in America rather than return to their home countries, but this won’t take away from the pride people have in their home countries.
