Why have so many immigrants sought out new lives in America? | Judge Stephanos Bibas
About this video
Judge Stephanos Bibas, whose father immigrated from Greece about 60 years ago, reflects on how the son of an immigrant could become a federal judge. He says that in America a funny name, accent, foreign origin or poor start does not dictate your future. He feels blessed and sees his job as a way to give back to the country.
You'll be able to
- explain what Judge Bibas's story shows about opportunity in America.
- describe what Bibas says does not determine a person's future in America.
Key words
- Immigrant
- A person who moves to a new country to live there permanently.
- Federal judge
- A judge in the national (federal) court system of the United States.
Transcript
My own father was a immigrant from Greece about 60 years ago and talked to him about what drew him to this country from Greece and how his son can be a federal judge. He's just as much an American as anyone else and he's very proud about it. This is not a country where because you have a funny name or a funny accent, do you come from a different country or you were born poor, that dictates what your future is, that there's a lot of freedom as an American to choose your course.
I'm very blessed. I didn't have any connections or any lawyers in my family, but I was blessed in America to be able to get here. Part of my job is to give back to this country that's given so much to me and my family.
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