My family came to this country to escape the hardships of their homelands in hope for a better future. A better future not only for themselves, but also for their children. It is every parents wish and desire for their children to have a better life than they did. (At least for every parent I know.) So it was no wonder that my great-grandparents came here to live the "American Dream." Who could blame them?
But not all of my great-grandparents came here as adults. Some of them came here as children. Let me remind anyone reading this, that children are innocent, nature and nurture develop them. They came here with big dreams. Some of them lived them and some of them at least saw the opportunities bestowed on their children. Is it any wonder why so many people try to immigrate to this country? We built up this "American Dream" and offer it on TV, the Internet, heck anywhere we can blast it. I hear how often that the US is the best place to live in the world. I hear from Americans daily...proud Americans.
Some of these proud Americans are the same people who don't understand how enticing that dream is to people who not as fortunate. I am talking about immigration. I know another political topic during an election year...who would have thought I would go there? (Insert sarcasm!) I am bringing this back to the children. My great-grandparents were not asked to come to this country. There parents brought them here. When I took my children to Disney World, they didn't have a choice on when, where, or how long we would be there. Why? Because they ARE children!! So why can't some of these immigrant children share the dream!
President Obama, (I just felt the eye rolls from some Anti-Obama readers), has made some changes to the immigration law calling it the "Dream Act". First I want to point out that this rule applies only to people who came to this country as CHILDREN. Remember, the ones who had no choice but to come with their parents. Unless by chance, you would move to another country and leave your kids behind? Secondly, it does not make the US citizens. Can it lead to citizenship? I'm sure it could given the right circumstances, but that is not the topic at hand. What the new law allows is for illegal immigrants who came to this country to obtain a green card. But they have to meet certain criteria:
- Had to come to this country as a child (before age 16)
- Must posses a high school diploma or GED
- No criminal convictions
- Been in the country for at least 5 years
Now here come the opponents. First of all, why would we not want them to obtain a green card? Now we can collect taxes? Now we have at least high school educated, non-criminals in the job force legally? People who never had a say as to whether or not they should live in the US. People who live in constant fear of being deported over something that their parents made them do.
Do I support the "Dream Act"? YES! Triple times YES!! Why? Let's start with the fact that I have a heart. Continue with the fact that I want these people to be able to live the American Dream too. When so many of our American born children are dropping out school, why not have a better educated workforce. Why not provide people with an opportunity that my great-grandparents were given? Oh, did I also mention that my children are first generation born here from an immigrant father? So you go around flaunting this American Dream, like a bully waving an ice cream cone in front of a little kid, and then don't give it to them! I ask the opponents why not? At what price must freedom come? Somewhere long ago your ancestors (unless you are native American) came from somewhere else too!
If you get to live the American Dream, why can't they?
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I understand that many people are worried about the financial repercussion of this, but they fail to realize that illegal immigrants already reap the benefits of many programs. Why not allow them to legally work and pay taxes? I liken those against giving these children a chance to children themselves. Children are the ones to say, "I had it first." and don't want to share. Like you said, do they forget they (or their ancestors) were once those who needed the same opportunities? And while I'm trying not to sterotype, those I've seen living off the government are here legally. All the illegal immigrants I know are very hard working. Why should they not be given the same opportunities to succeed as I was?
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