americans vs. foreigners ( was : Oracle and Non-Green Card Indians )

Let me start by saying that this mail is not intended to flame anyone, these are my own observations, which are very consistent in most areas of the united states. It just pains me to see people getting worked up over immigration for the wrong reasons. I also realize that each person has a unique identity, regardless of race or religion. I also know that this newsgroup is the wrong place to discuss these issues, but I simply had to put my two cents in here.

I'm a green card holder, originally from india. I work for a software consulting firm in Texas, which has some multinational clients. We are aiming to be a top systems integrator firm in the next few years. Most of the times when we have a new opening for a HIGHLY QUALIFIED individual, we find that there are very few americans who apply for the post. The 'foreigners' that get hired are paid EXACTLY THE SAME salaries as their american counterparts, if not more, due to their high demand. When people start noticing that there are a large number of outsiders in the firm, they tend to start feeling insecure, and this is the root cause of the racist comments that follow.

One other observation - most of the positions of database administrators, 24 hr. support personnel, and various other critical areas are filled by foreigners ( let us not narrow our focus to indians ). Why is this so ? Are americans not capable of handling demanding work ? Or is it that they do not want to ?

Since we are a client oriented company, all people that are placed at the site have to undergo an interview with the customer, before they can be placed. Why do they clients who are mainly american, choose these foreigners ? Is it because they are charged less ? I don't think so. It has to do with qualifications, and the ability to think clearly, and to do whatever it takes to get the situation resolved ( also known as hard work ).

I am not saying that all americans are dumb and all foreigners are smart. Intelligence has nothing to do with nationality. My project team consists of five other americans, and we work excellently as a team. If I ever opened up a company, I would hire the most qualified individual, regardless of race, who would help my company become more successful, rather that some unmotivated individual who is interested in a 9 to 5 job five days a week.

How does the author of the original post define american ? Is he a native american red indian ? Or did his ancestors immigrate to the US a few decades ago ? When I become a citizen tomorrow, will I still be viewed as an immigrant ? Or do I become 'as american as apple pie '? What about naturalized citizens from europe ? Was the original post racist, based on color of skin ? Would the author have posted the same letter, if all the indians at Oracle were british with white skins instead ?

I have lived in a couple of countries outside the united states, and let me say here that the key to survival in the years to come is to take a more global view of the world market. This is what most american companies are doing today. I would not like to see the US lose economically, because they focus so much on what is within, and are not even aware of the developments taking place in the outside world. I am eventually going to be an american citizen, and I fully support that local qualified people should be given first preference for jobs, before looking elsewhere. It should also be clear that just because an individual has graduated out of college, it does not become their birth right for companies to give him or her a job. People don't owe anyone anything.

Work hard, remain competitive, keep yourself updated on what is happening in the industry today, and you will become extremely successful in your career, and will never have to feel sorry for yourself and resort to attacking other people because you see them getting ahead of you in life. Racism and immigration are sensitive issues, and instigating unbiased people ( because an individual has nothing better to do ) will only breed more hatred, and will not resolve anything. Keep another thing in mind - it is not helpful to one's career to complain about things - provide solutions to other's problems, and you will be the most respected person around.

I have been in the same contracting position sitting in the same chair for the last two years, and this is what I have been doing. I can assure you that I did not just make this up.

1. Sybase Database administrator.
2. PL/SQL programmer and pseudo Oracle Database administrator.
3. data migration coordinator for north america.
4. Data modeller LBMS Systems Engineer, ERwin, soon moving to accelerator.
5. SAP R/3 - ABAP programmer ( curently attending training ).
6. Misc Windows Products Installation, Evaluation, Testing and co-ordinating implementation.
7. Misc hardware and software upgrades for the user community
8. Used to provide 7x24hr beeper support.

I am interested in knowing the qualifications and experience of the original poster. I am connected with people around the US, maybe I can help him find a job with a company that he will be interested in ( no kidding ).

Regards,
Sanjay Akhare

-------Original Post Follows----------

Subject: Oracle and Non-Green Card Indians From: smith_at_netcom.com ( David Smith at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) Date: Thu, 10 Nov 1994 09:45:52 GMT
Message-ID: <smithCz1psH.ByA_at_netcom.com>

Oracle Corporation, currently hires enourmous amounts of Indians, who do not even have a green card, but have come to the U.S. under some ridiculous law that permits it on the basis that they have critical skills (Computer Science) that cannot be met by Americans. You will find them, not only programming or what have you, but also manning the technical support lines in large numbers. Seems odd to put recent immigrants on a phone support line, but Oracle knows that a desperate immigrant fleeing his impoverished country, will work for less, and they will save a few pennies. Sadly, there is such a surplus of Americans looking for Computer Science type jobs, that a 2 or 3 line classified ad looking for a programmer or network person etc., will draw 200 resumes in a week, and a large amount of those being from Computer Science graduates who have been unable to land their first job. Is is morally right to allow Oracle to save a few bucks while Americans with Computer Science degrees are unemployed. Would the average American Computer Science graduate really be unable to man Oracle's tech support phones? Would they be worse at it? Are the Indians racially superior? I ask you Oracle advocates of the world. Received on Sat Dec 03 1994 - 20:00:22 CET