I consider myself a hard worker. I have two jobs. Neither job pays very much, but both are extremely satisfying. Today, as I mowed and edged my lawn, I saw a woman from Oaxaca pull up near the bank in her car. She propped open the trunk, and spent most of the day selling small amounts of fruit to bank patrons. I approached her and made some awkward small talk, and asked to take a photo of her car, because I loved the colors. She was gracious, and kind. She didn't laugh at my awkward French-like Spanish with no verbs. She smiled and shifted, neatened up, and arranged the fruit before I took the picture. She was a hard worker, just like me.
Our country was built on immigration. We have no business keeping others out, because almost all of us are invaders. My ancestors came for religious freedom, and for an opportunity to own land. As with all immigrants, there was the hope of betterment, and of education. It is hypocritical to think that our country should have a shut off valve, but only for some people.
Each time our country tries to create sensible immigration laws, there are people who go overboard. The actual document of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is located at the National Archives. I remember staring at it, and thinking of the shame that the signers brought upon us all, as a country.
In regards to going overboard, let's take a good hard look at our country today. Sending the National Guard to the Mexican border, building a giant wall, or a series of walls, is ridiculous. Let's take the money that would be spent on this project, and invest it in our schools. Let's realize that people are not like swarms of killer bees, traveling northward to attack us. People mostly just want to find work to support their families. They want a better life with more advantages. Let's find some sorely needed brotherly love.
No comments:
Post a Comment