Let me
tell you a story about a child and as I tell you I want you to picture this
child.
The child
grew up in a home that was filled with love and surrounded by family. The child’s life was not always perfect. There were times that there was no food, no
electricity, and no phone. There was no
money for clothes or to really hang out with friends. The child was alone often
in their teens. But what this child had was a mother that told the child often,
“Yes we may struggle but I am going to teach you what to do and where to go so
your life will not be as hard.” The
child listened and began to think about how amazing this other life would be; a
life filled with opportunities and possibilities. There was a time when this child lived in a
one room apartment with mother and aunt, but this child knew one day if they
worked hard enough and persevered life would change.
Well, the child above was me.
I am not giving you a sob story because I would not change my childhood
for anything. But just imagine if
someone told me, I could not try to do better, what if someone had stopped me
and told me to continue to live in the conditions and situation I was birthed
into just because…well, no real reason just the luck of the draw. Like the lottery.
This is what we tell immigrant children and adults each year
to stay where you are…why...well just because.
The list on the “just because” goes on and on; just because this is
America, just because you were not born here, just because there is no room,
and just because you are not worthy.
People do not understand that it was just by the fate of Gods
hand that you were born in the United States of America. Immigration is the NEW BULLY because Americans
think that they are so special that it was their God given birthright to be
born or have access to the land of the free and the home of the brave. How dare you consider yourself so different
than another human being to deny them rights, basic rights of humanity. Most immigrants come over to America and feel
blessed and grateful to live a meager life that most Americans would be ashamed
to live because we have been taught that we are so special.
The American government spends at least one million dollars in
countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to run TV commercials
spouting how dangerous it is to try to come to America and how you may die on
route. Guess what? People are coming any way by the bus
loads. That should tell you something. As a nun said in Texas, whose church helps to
house the immigrants when they first come over, it is a life or death situation
for them.
In this day and age too many people believe they are special
and they have done nothing except bought a new car and designer clothes. We, as Americans, have the best of everything
in terms of technology, opportunity, and yes the education may not be that
great but if you stop staring at the problem from the top and think of a
solution from the bottom maybe it could change.
Children are arriving with no shoes on their feet. Yes some of you may be saying they will
commit crimes. Of course some will
because people are people and not all are perfect upstanding and morally sound. But some Americans, in fact a lot of Americans
are ignorant, but I don’t see protests and laws forming to stop you from having
children. In the bible it says, pride
cometh before a fall. Keep being
prideful America and we will surely fall worse than we have already.
