*Disclaimer: I belong to no political party, I'm fairly liberal in many ways but there are few topics that I've been seen to be more on the conservative side due to personal experiences *
I'm American. Don't tell me that's politically incorrect because I have a good explanation why I'm an American. If I was to say that I'm a "United States-ian" or however the argument may be, it the same as saying...you're a Chian,Engish,Ish...it's not the full name of my country. But I live in Chile and love it. Mostly because Political Incorrectness is the blunt of a joke and everyone just laughs.UNLESS there is a serious issue. Which coincidentally they are going through a similar situation as the U.S. So here starts the Preaching:
As a foreigner to the country I don't disrespect the people, I don't take advantage of their economy, I assimilate. I'm talking in a big picture view. I listen to politics but seeing that I am on a Visa and am only a spectator, I don't speak my mind.I don't have that right and I'm ok with this.
As a foreigner to the country I don't disrespect the people, I don't take advantage of their economy, I assimilate. I'm talking in a big picture view. I listen to politics but seeing that I am on a Visa and am only a spectator, I don't speak my mind.I don't have that right and I'm ok with this.
Why am I bringing all this up? My views on the Illegal Immigrant issue. My mother is an AMERICAN. When I was 9 years old she received her citizenship. My Aunt and Mother studied and prepared themselves for the Citizenship Exam. Both passed. My mother's process didn't start there,to even enter the country as a visitor she had to apply for a Visa. This task in the 80's was very hard to achieve amongst the U.S and Chile. She fought her way through the paperwork, literally, standing in the Consoler's office until she was granted her Visa. No, my mother didn't go to the U.S to leave a horrid lifestyle behind. She was just visiting, and on her third trip, met my father, RESIGNED from the Chilean Airforce, and got married. The more I think about it her life actually may have been better in a sense if she had stayed here (Chile). Why?hmmm...I can't put this simply but it's the basis to my argument. So stick with me.
I don't support the rights of Illegal Immigrants. Neither does my mother.And SURPRISE, we're not part of some redneck agenda to " get our jobs back." I do sympathize and don't agree fully with everything going on. I don't feel children should be denied a higher education just because their parents brought them to the U.S illegally, nor do I think a Dean of a major university, a man who has obviously overcome adversity, should resign from his position because he's illegal. That may sound elitist but I don't feel like explaining that argument ..either this blog would be longer than what it already will be. What I do agree with? Something is actually starting to be done. The unfortunate part? It's too late, thus the drastic measures.
My reasons and what angers me about this situation:
1)I've heard with my own ears the disrespect. I'm not saying everyone should be patriotic because I'm not one to wave around the flag and yell HEW HAW! Praise the U.S.A , but I'm sorry....If you're sitting there talking about how stupid the country you're stealing money from is because they haven't done anything about it....then ethically why be here? Of course ethics aren't involved. Or better yet...when they finally start trying to fix it...why have the audacity to complain? Didn't you just admit the government was stupid for letting this happen?
2)A majority of illegal immigrants don't want to be educated about our "culture" ( I know it can be debated that we don't have a culture...because really we don't...but we have a way of living). Every other country in this world sticks to what they are.I don't expect my licence to have the same purpose here. I don't criticize their way of living. I point out the differences, but you don't see me running to make my surroundings American-like. I'm learning spanish, my professor learned spanish. I don't walk into a room an expect there to be someone to translate for me. My mother took her DMV test in ENGLISH. She took her nationality test in ENGLISH. I'm not being egotistic. I'm living in a Spanish country...so what am I learning? SPANISH. Period.
3)What about the rights of legal immigrants that are violated every day? Do you hear about them ? Are people defending them? My mother's fallen victim to it. She's been "asked to leave" a job due to her accent. She was the top employee, yet she was made to sign a letter stating that she was" leaving to pursue other employment opportunities within the system". Which I will never fully agree with yet I understand my mother's fear of being blacklisted. Where are the people fighting for her? And it's not just Hispanics. ALL ETHNIC CITIZENS who pay taxes and suffer to make a living are being denied jobs and assistance due to their accent or other forms of descrimination. Where are these activists to defend them? Nowhere.All because they're a citizen, not a poor illegal immigrant that "doesn't know any better" ( Which if you ask me is a statement highly offensive within itself.)
Which brings me to 4. This isn't all about jobs, it's about the economy in general.My parents are struggling.As I know many are. Trying to find 2-3 jobs just so they can get their medication. For those of you who don't know, both of my parents are diabetic. This is the biggest reason where I say that in a way, my mother's life could have possibly been better if she had never moved to the U.S. It's bad. They have different types of Diabetes and both are being hit hard by it, especially my mother. But there are times we can't afford insulin or a needed surgery. My mother puts 4 doses per day of insulin, high dosages at that, yet there are times she can't afford it. This has become a common problem in households with this downward spiraling economy, but I have seen my mother suffer through this my entire life. Perhaps this being the main reason I can't bring myself to support the Illegal Immigrant Rights Movement.
She fights. She fights to keep a job. She fights to find a job. She fights to make money for life necessities, yet since she is a citizen, and not illegal, she gets no help. There is no one fighting at her side. There are so many people pointing fingers and saying that our government is being unfair toward illegal immigrants. But what about your fellow citizen? There's an entire Middle Class that suffers because they make "too much" money to be helped yet barely enough to survive. Immigrants are part of this class as well but because they've gone by the laws and rules of the government, they have to suffer more. They must deal with adversity AND a crumbling economy. It angers me that people would rather help those who are in the U.S illegally before they help their own brother.
I find it funny. Most of the time these are the same people preaching that the U.S needs to start fixing things on its own soil before trying to fix the world. ( Which I agree with) But practice what you preach. Start from the inside and go from there. Not focus on the outer layers and completely disregard, or worse be biased toward, the inner core.
That is my partial argument. There are concepts within the argument that could also be explained in further detail but I don't feel like being lynched with too big of stones.
