People come to America
from many different places,
I have lots of friends
of many different races.

Ceilidh's from Ireland,
we have loads of fun,
she taught me Irish step-dancing
we dance till day is done!

Jessica's from Columbia,
she speaks Spanish,
to speak two languages
is my wish.

Anastasia is from Russia,
I adore her nesting dolls,
I looked for them
in all of the malls.

Cara and Cady are from China,
Cady's grandma grows bamboo.
They both love Chinese New Year
and I do too!

Murat is from Turkey,
his wedding I did love,
when we left the church,
fireworks blasted 'bove!

Nicole is from Israel,
she is thirteen.
When she had her Bat Mitzvah
she looked like a queen!

If I didn't have these friends,
how boring life would be!
I'm glad America has immigrants
as you can plainly see.

Mom's family is from Poland,
Dad's from Italy,
if my grandparents didn't come
there would be no me!

Based on a true story!

I am glad America is a nation of immigrants. When the original immigrants came to America, they came here seeking freedom of expression, religious freedom, and freedom from oppression. This helped to form our constitution, which gives us those same equal rights today.

The diverseness of the people who came here for opportunities brought about a culture that the world had not previously seen before. It also gave us ideas that would have never come to light otherwise.

Living with other cultures teaches us new things and makes us more tolerant and understanding of our fellow man. The education we give each other makes us more open to new ideas and better technology. Our nation is the strongest and best because of our unity.

In America all religions are practiced freely. Our different beliefs are acknowledged and respected. This makes us strong and proud. Our way of life is often challenged though. Freedom is always at stake from those who wish to dominate. Brave immigrants past and present, who took the chance of coming here for a better life; help keep our country free and strong. Once they have enjoyed the freedom we have, they are willing to stand up and fight to keep that freedom.

Mutual respect, which all people can enjoy here in this country, is why we (all cultures) come together so readily, when any part of our nation is in trouble. It is living proof that despite our differences we are all Americans at heart.

In early September my teachers asked, "Do you think America is a melting pot or a salad bowl?" After thinking about it, I decided America is neither. America is not like a melting pot because all the cultures do not blend together and become unnoticeable. However, America is not like a salad bowl because cultures do not stay as distinct as lettuce and cucumbers in a salad. I thought America should be described as a chunky, minestrone soup. The ingredients stay distinct, but as the soup simmers, the ingredients like cultures interact and blend with each other.

The different spices and vegetables that go into minestrone soup are like the immigrants from different places around the world. the immigrants spice up the soup and make it flavorful. With the exception of Native Americans, we were all once immigrants. The best secret of a minestrone soup is that it never stays the same. As immigrants come from all over the world, they contribute to the taste of the soup. They bring their language, traditions, foods and customs and their various dreams for a better life of freedom and opportunity. They also add their ideas for a better America and make contributions to our society.

I am proud to live in a country where people can be free and where everyone can contribute. I am glad America is a nation of immigrants because without them, America wouldn't be a chunky bowl of delicious minestrone soup.

As Immigrants traveled over the rolling sea, checked in at Ellis Island, suffered through minimum wage jobs, and endured criticism from the people around them, they had no idea they would change American people, and America itself forever.

America is like a giant mosaic- the most beautiful in the world. If the mosaic was all one color, the beauty would be gone. The pieces are all beautiful in their own way. Not one piece is more important than another. Not one piece shines more brightly than another. The mosaic is perfect, and without Immigrants, this could not have been accomplished. So much of our lives would be different if it wasn't for the diverse nationalities, and the Immigrants that traveled from those nations. Every time you eat a plate of spaghetti, think of an Italian Immigrant. Every time you bite into a bar of chocolate, think of a Mexican Immigrant. Every time you look around your community, and see people nationalities, who have different religions, who have different customs, think of an Immigrant who bravely traveled from their hometown, to bring us those unique ways of life. These Immigrants enriched and influenced our lives in so many positive ways.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce...Russians, Cubans, Asians...This is America, a nation of immigrants. Many people say America is a melting pot, everybody coming from different nations but melting into America. We are all proud to be Americans, but I think of us not as a melting pot, but as a salad bowl.

A salad bowl is made up of different vegetables, each with it's own distinct flavor. When you take a bite, you still taste each individual vegetable, but mixed all together, the salad is delicious. Each American has his own distinct identity yet mixes together to create our wonderful America, a country made up of different people, with different cultures and backgrounds.

Being a country of immigrants makes America a dynamic place to live. We are rich with unique cultures. I have a friend whose family comes from India, and I am fascinated by her stories about her family's home country. Because of immigrants, there are different foods in our country, different clothing, different songs, and different ways of dancing.

My father and his family came from Cuba, and my mother's family came from Russia. I am grateful that my country welcomed them here in the United States of America. On our Thanksgiving table is not only the traditional turkey, but frijoles negros, and kugel pudding. It makes me realize what a remarkable country I live in, as we all, Jews and Cubans, sit around a long table with the salad in the center representing our country, and share our cultures.

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