Prairie Fire - The Progressive Voice of the Great Plains

The Economic Benefits of Immigration

New immigrants taking the oath to become U.S. citizens at a public ceremony. (P_Wei/iStockPhoto.com)

Americans today would like to see stronger economic growth. But they are at a loss as to where that growth might come from. One answer is unexpected: immigrants. Indeed, the hidden advantage of immigrants is that they contribute mightily to the U.S. economy.

Immigrants remind us of the promise of economic advancement. It is hard to leave one’s native land and make out for a new country with a foreign culture. But the allure of growth has led immigrants to flock to America’s shores. Immigrants cling to the belief that in America opportunities exist that will allow them to improve the lives of their families.

"Hacking at Books": A Nebraska Forum on Digital Humanities

From left, Rob Shepard, William G. Thomas and Brian Sarnacki share ideas during the forum’s digital poster presentation. (Matthew Lavin)

By Matthew Lavin

In the wake of President Barack Obama’s electoral rout over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney last fall, the concept of data mining has become conversationally ubiquitous. The 2012 election result, however, is just one example of what might be characterized more broadly as the digital turn in American culture. This turn has included streaming video and smartphones, but it has also involved the collection of sophisticated information and the leveraging of that information in service of various agendas.

In the higher education, a related movement known as digital humanities (DH) has garnered increased attention in recent years. Multiple definitions and characterizations of DH exist, but the most prevalent is the application of computation methods to humanities research.

Such a definition demands specification. What kinds of computational methods? What kinds of applications? What insights are you offering? Why should anyone outside your discipline care about what you’re doing?

A group of digital humanities scholars gathered in Lincoln, Neb., this February to discuss some of these important issues. “Hacking at Books,” a Nebraska Forum on Digital Humanities, was the 2013 edition of an annual, thematic exploration of DH issues hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Digital Research in the Humanities. Previously called Nebraska Digital Workshop, it has been held since 2006.