Tuesday, May 02, 2006
To My Fellow Immigrants
This is in light of the recent issues regarding illegal immigrants here in the US and yesterday's "A Day Without (Illegal) Immigrants" nationwide protests.
While I feel compassion for people who think they have no other chance in life but to go to another country to try and make a better life, I do have a problem with people having no qualms in doing something which they know is illegal. The impression that you will give is if you don't think twice about breaking the law now, what will stop you from breaking another later on? That is not the first impression you want to give the country you're wanting to live in. You want them to know that you can be an upstanding citizen, if they allow you to be.
While I understand the difficulty of learning a language, know that when you desire to live in another country and enjoy the fruits thereof, one should also make the effort to learn the language and assimilate. I don't mean you should forget your culture. Live it but don't expect the locals to conform to you nor demand that they learn your language. Speaking the local tongue has its social and economic advantages. Do not limit yourself to only the social and business community that speaks only your language. There are so many other opportunities and growth that can be had if you allow yourself to explore that outer circle.
We are in a country where one that they consider their hero once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Your desire to live in this country should include being a contributing citizen to society as a whole, not just to live off the goods of the land. Trying to create an alternative nation that speaks only your language, demanding that the whole country cater to your needs and wants, championing things which will be an advantage only to your people will not unite you with the rest of the country. The creation of the Spanish version of the Star Spangled Banner is great if your desire is to create a deeper understanding for those who aren't so good with English to comprehend better what America is all about. But if it was created and played repeatedly as a show of Latino solidarity and political muscle, then it only serves to create a feeling of resentment against you and everything you represent, instead of making others feel one with you.
Why not take the legal recourse instead of browbeating a whole country into giving you what you want? Get a lawyer and appeal your case. You will always find sympathetic lawyers who can give you their services for a low fee or even pro bono. I've known a lot of people who have taken this route. They had a tourist visa when they first came but spoke to a lawyer to seek legal papers to stay. And since they have proven that they are upstanding and moral citizens, have gotten approval for a green card.
Bullying a whole nation into submission and demanding that they change the laws to accommodate you through economic and political sabotage wins you no friends, just enemies. Tread carefully, as you might turn even those who were previously sympathetic to your cause, against you.
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While I feel compassion for people who think they have no other chance in life but to go to another country to try and make a better life, I do have a problem with people having no qualms in doing something which they know is illegal. The impression that you will give is if you don't think twice about breaking the law now, what will stop you from breaking another later on? That is not the first impression you want to give the country you're wanting to live in. You want them to know that you can be an upstanding citizen, if they allow you to be.
While I understand the difficulty of learning a language, know that when you desire to live in another country and enjoy the fruits thereof, one should also make the effort to learn the language and assimilate. I don't mean you should forget your culture. Live it but don't expect the locals to conform to you nor demand that they learn your language. Speaking the local tongue has its social and economic advantages. Do not limit yourself to only the social and business community that speaks only your language. There are so many other opportunities and growth that can be had if you allow yourself to explore that outer circle.
We are in a country where one that they consider their hero once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Your desire to live in this country should include being a contributing citizen to society as a whole, not just to live off the goods of the land. Trying to create an alternative nation that speaks only your language, demanding that the whole country cater to your needs and wants, championing things which will be an advantage only to your people will not unite you with the rest of the country. The creation of the Spanish version of the Star Spangled Banner is great if your desire is to create a deeper understanding for those who aren't so good with English to comprehend better what America is all about. But if it was created and played repeatedly as a show of Latino solidarity and political muscle, then it only serves to create a feeling of resentment against you and everything you represent, instead of making others feel one with you.
Why not take the legal recourse instead of browbeating a whole country into giving you what you want? Get a lawyer and appeal your case. You will always find sympathetic lawyers who can give you their services for a low fee or even pro bono. I've known a lot of people who have taken this route. They had a tourist visa when they first came but spoke to a lawyer to seek legal papers to stay. And since they have proven that they are upstanding and moral citizens, have gotten approval for a green card.
Bullying a whole nation into submission and demanding that they change the laws to accommodate you through economic and political sabotage wins you no friends, just enemies. Tread carefully, as you might turn even those who were previously sympathetic to your cause, against you.
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