Writers, philosophers, professors, and politicians have referred to the United States of America as "a nation founded by immigrants." This fact can hardly be refuted -- especially considering the existence of the term "Native American." America has dealt with the question and issues resulting from immigration since its birth in the 18th century. The most cancerous aspects of America's response to immigration are bigotry and racism, and they are flaring up again, this time in reference to Muslims.

America's unofficial "open-door" attitude during the colonies' infancy worked to bring the new nation out of economic obscurity. Yet the American legacy, built on the backs of immigrants, has not been historically favorable to its creators. Quakers in colonial Massachusetts were subjected to auto-de-fé ("act of faith"), a ritual associated with the Spanish Inquisition that involved public penance of condemned heretics and apostates. The Blaine Amendments, whose adoption in many states was made an explicit condition for entering the Union, were motivated by anti-Catholic animus and remain on the books in several states today. Anti-Irish sentiment permeated the U.S. during the Industrial Revolution; the Catholic Irish who immigrated to America in the late 1850s faced "No Irish Need Apply" (NINA) notices in New York City shop windows, factory gates, and workshop doors for years.

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The beginning of last week was dominated by the MTV Movie Awards. For all the griping about the gratuitous profanity and Twilight victories, the show did produce some genuinely funny moments. This award show is never about the actual awards and acceptance speeches (though Ken Jeong's emotional speech stood out). It's about the comedy sketches. And lucky for MTV, they had Aziz Ansari on hand as host. Aziz got to shine as Precious, in the Human Giant reunion, and in his short but solid sketch with Zach Galifianakis. He was admittedly overshadowed by Tom Cruise as Les Grossman who opened the show and delivered a high point in his dance with J. Lo. When it came down to it though, the hands-down highlight of the night for me was Aziz doing his R. Kelly impersonation, climaxing with the cathartic "Fuck You BP" refrain.




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My latest book, If You're Not First, You're Last, hit the NY Times Best Sellers List this week. It also became a top seller at Wall Street Journal (#2), at USA Today (#3), #1 Amazon Business and #1 Barnes overall. This book comes at a time when we all find ourselves in an economy that is very difficult and unemployment numbers make real the possibility of a double dip recession. It is at this time that individuals seek real solutions not just theories. Most businesses have cut expenses as far as they can and now the same company is forced to look at what we it must do to expand and grow. The individual household has cut everything it can and now after almost two years of not spending is having to look at how long it can go without doing so. At some point you can't save anymore or you will literally disappear from the landscape. Those that are unemployed have either become dismayed and given up hope or they will finally do what is necessary to get work!

Which brings me to the main concept of the book. The ONLY solution at a time of economic contraction,(and really any time) is to make every thought and action one of expansion rather than contraction, the goal of domination rather than competition, of being FIRST - understanding that every other positions are punished and at risk. During economic implosions like the one we are experiencing the natural tendency of organizations and individuals is to respond by shrinking - this is a mistake! Now is the time to advance, conquer and take market share from those that elect to retreat. Now is the time to separate yourself from everyone in your sector through your actions. The only way to survive and prosper when things around you are contracting is to get expand and it is impossible to expand while contracting.

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Ironically, in a weekend that banked on 1980s nostalgia, this weekend brought back the summers of my youth in a different way. Back when I was growing up, June was THE month of summer. Sure studios would release a big title over Memorial Day and/or the Fourth of July weekend, but the (alleged) big 800 pound gorillas debuted in mid-to-late June. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Batman, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Jurassic Park, The Lion King... the film that most expected to rule a given summer was usually released in the heart of June. Alas, since 1996 (when Twister, Mission: Impossible, and Independence Day crushed everything else released that summer), the studios have banked on early May, Memorial Day weekend, and the Fourth of July weekend (which would occasionally include the very last day of June), and the Warner Bros' mid-July slot as prime real estate. This June, at least over the next two weekends, mid-June is once again a release-period to be reckoned with.