A Few Bad Apples

While I realize immigration is a sore subject for many people in the area, and my intention is certainly not to pick at old scabs, I think it’s important to point out the hypocrisy of this ever-present issue. If I recall the whole story about Christopher Columbus correctly, he was not the first American; he was merely the first immigrant to discover this land in 1492. The Native Americans, who happened to be here first, simply got invaded and were eventually secluded to reservations. While one would think this to be an obvious point, I can't stress enough that this wasn't our land to begin with and, therefore, I find it to be extremely hypocritical that we're trying to deny others their chance at freedom.

Perhaps I take more kindly to this entire topic because if it weren't for immigration, I wouldn't be here. My mother is a full-blooded Hungarian, who was brought to America by her parents when she was very young. After becoming a naturalized citizen, she was an American, just like the rest of us. But the truth is, I've seen this issue from both perspectives and I'm appalled at the way immigrants are treated by some. Having dated an illegal immigrant, I was exposed to the other side of the story, a viewpoint that many people don't take into consideration or just choose to blatantly ignore. On a tourist visa for much of the time he spent in the country, he wasn't ready to leave when it expired. With all the friends he had made, he grew attached to life here in the States. Being as such, he scrambled to find a way to stay, eventually acquiring papers from a legal relative to attain employment and, in effect, remain on this side of the border.

However, because he wanted so badly to stay, he was forced to make a lot of sacrifices, namely his identity ... much the same way our forefathers did in order to provide a better life for their families. Though staying meant that he would have to pay rent, bills and contribute to the economy, just like everyone else, he did it anyway. Contrary to popular belief, the sole intent of immigrants being in the United States is not to STEAL American jobs. It's to survive. Thus, I believe this country is in dire need of immigration reform. Building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and beefing up border security is not reform. Neither is the targeted arrest and deportation of thousands of immigrants who have made lives for themselves here in the United States. In essence, our approach to this issue is dead wrong. Instead of merely kicking them out of the country time and time again, why not assist these immigrants in finding the proper channels through which to become legal Americans?

I realize that Hispanics have gained a bad reputation, what with all of the drug wars as of late, but we shouldn't let a few bad apples tarnish our views of them as an integral part of our society. That's one of the reasons why I'm ecstatic about the renovations that will be made at Schank Walk-In Park. Turning the property into a maintained soccer field will not only be a wonderful way to help beautify the community, but it will also serve as a way to lead by example. We shouldn't be making Hispanic immigrants feel like they're unwanted in this community; we should be welcoming them into our melting pot of cultures with open arms. After all, the color of your skin, the language you speak and your place of birth shouldn't determine whether or not you're an American.

Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader