Here are some thoughts dedicated to Donald Trump, whose grandfather emigrated from Kallstadt/Germany to the United States, and Nigel Farage, whose ancestors were French Protestants (Hugenots) who later emigrated from Germany to the United Kingdom.
What drives immigration?
Nathan Milstein, one of my favourite violinists, emigrated from Odessa (then part of the Russian Empire) to become a US citizen and spent his last years in London. He was once was asked by a journalist why there were so many excellent Jewish violinists. Milstein, after some hesitation, answered that he knew “bad Jewish violinists” and “good ones”, but that this had “nothing to do with race”, but with “social conditioning”.
He obviously alluded to the special conditions under which Russian Jews in the 19th and early 20th century were banned from permanently living in proper Russia and its major cities, and were instead confined to the ‘Pale of Settlement’. This was a special region in Russia’s West, comprising today’s Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine. Many Jews were living in poverty in the countryside, but some of them became members of the ‘middle class’, living in cities like Odessa, where some 30% of its population were Jewish.
To make a living and ‘climb the social ladder’, Jews at an early age had to become ‘special’. Since the care of children, proper education and learning are hallmarks of the Jewish tradition, music – among other qualifications – offered a road towards this goal. Child prodigies (Wunderkinder) like pianist Vladimir Horowitz from Kyiv or violinist Jasha Heifetz from Vilnius thus became world-acclaimed musicians, particularly after they had become immigrants to the United States.
Foreigners enrich their new country
These examples from music show how emigration from social poverty and isolation, lead to immigration into richer, more promising countries. Very often these people were regarded as ‘bloody foreigners’ and had to work hard to overcome prejudices and make a living. When we study the history of immigrants, particularly to the United States, we find astonishing stories of dedicated work and final success. The United States, a country largely composed of immigrants from Europe, is a good example of how ‘foreigners’ have not only benefitted themselves, but have contributed to their new homeland. The story of Donald Trump’s family fits this pattern.
As far as historical immigration to Britain is concerned, Robert Winder’s, Bloody Foreigners: The Story of Immigration to Britain is, according to the Literary Review, a “brilliantly argued, well-researched and challenging work”.
Returning to musician refugees, there is the impressive story of three violin/viola players from Austria and Germany, fleeing from the Nazi persecution. Norbert Brainin, Sigmund Nissel, and Peter Schidlof were first imprisoned as ‘enemy aliens’ (aka Jewish refugees!) and after the war, together with the UK-born cellist Martin Lovett, formed the Amadeus Quartet, a world-famous group for forty years, of which the British society became immensely proud.
Brexit and football
One could tell many other stories of the immense contribution immigrants have given to their new host country, such as East Europeans coming to Britain after their home countries had joined the EU in 2004. And here is the truly ‘grand success story’ of Brexit, to which Nigel Farage has contributed quite significantly: after June 2016 hundreds of thousands of Poles, Romanians and others returned home, leaving huge employment gaps in British farming, housebuilding, pubs, restaurants, hospitals, care homes etc. What an ‘achievement’, Mr Farage!
The most recent European Football Championship 2024 has provided another success story of immigrants: The two celebrated ‘Wunderkinder’ of the Spanish champions team, the just 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and the 22-year-old Nico Williams, are the sons of African immigrants to Spain. For their parents, living in poor conditions in dubious suburbs, their children’s success became the pathway to social respectability and prosperity. The fans all over Europe, even perhaps some Englanders, in football stadiums, public viewing places and on television celebrated these youngsters’ amazing achievements. Just another facet of the rich story of immigration.
So why do the likes of Farage and Trump hate immigrants?
It seems that the Bible, notably the letters of Paul, could help: Saul, a native Jew and Roman citizen, was a fervent persecutor of Christians in his youth. After an enlightenment experience he became a no-less-determined believer and supporter of various Christian communities, as his biblical letters document. He died as a martyr of his faith. This conversion from Saul to Paul has since been considered the archetype of a fundamental human change of heart.
Farage and Trump, descendants of immigrants, must have been aware of their family histories. This makes their ‘reconversion from Paul to Saul’ – from a descendant of immigrants to a hater of immigrants – all the more remarkable. It simply shows their personal egoism and ruthlessness – no good prerequisites of a respectable politician. Their example should serve as a severe warning.
Wouldn’t it be good for the established and rich countries to fully recognise the positive side of immigration – instead of just trying to fight it? It seems high time to accept the fact that the era of ‘independent nation states’ and ‘homogeneous societies’ is truly over (if they ever have existed in the past). Building walls, chasing boats or deporting some people to Rwanda will not stop immigration. Instead, our aging societies need more younger people to fill the employment gaps, care for the elderly and pay for their pensions. This will certainly further change the established Western societies, and it indeed poses huge challenges to our systems of education and general welfare.
Trump, Farage and other proponents of fighting “bloody foreigners” should be regarded what they truly are: outdated, ignorant populists, playing with the fears of ‘normal people’ to satisfy their unsatiable hunger for personal glory. Responsible politicians should talk about the truth: the problems and challenges, but also the prospects and benefits of immigration.
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