Unless you are deaf, blind, and stupid you have heard about SB 1070 law in Arizona. Probably you heard of people calling the law unconstitutional, un-American. Many cities, towns, and people are outrage and rightfully so. You have heard of millions calling for border security or immigration reform. The sad truth is that we have run out of time for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Border Security will not solve the issue.
What we need is sensible actions from our politicians to fix America's broken immigration system. What we need is the DREAM Act. For too long have these kids been told no. You guys need to wait, get in back of the line. They are told you guys are illegals get out of the country. What makes them under serving or in other words illegals?
What is it to follow their parents guidance or was it succeeding and embracing a country that wasn't doesn't want them here. For too long have talented youth who solemly wish to contribute to America have been told no. Now is the time free the DREAM Act.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
What happened to the AMERICAN DREAM
What Happened to the AMERICAN DREAM?
Who am I? What am I? Where am I going? Why do they hate me? Do they have reason to hate me? Why do I want to be here so much? I have struggled with these questions my adult life, desperately wanting direction in my life, wanting to know what was expected of me. I am lost in a chaotic world, where in one side they tell me, you are not American, you crossed the border, and thus, not deserving to call yourself American. I am torn between the country that gave me birth, and the nation which forges my soul, made me strong, and showed me that nothing is above principles.
I have lived 15 plus years of my 21 years in the United States of America, I bleed red, blue, and white as well as green. Unlike many of my DREAMer friends I consider myself Mexican and American. I migrated to the US when I was 6 years old, I have only but a glimpse of memories. I am Mexican, because my mother is Mexican, I could never deny that, Mexico though rough forged my mother, and I must acknowledge where I came from in order to know where I am going.
Why am I American? Who decides what is American? What does it mean to be American? Who monopolized Americans? How does it feel to have your dreams crushed? How does it feel to fail your parents? I don’t know what is to be an American; I thought I knew, but that idea was shattered when the financial advisor for an university said I am sorry your scholarship is discontinued. She felt my pain, I can remember that day as it was yesterday, it was a gloomy February morning, it had rained earlier and I sat on a bench watching the students head to class, shocked and devastated. I cried, but no tears came out, I yell in anger, but no noise was heard, I promised myself that I will prove them wrong. I will succeed. Nothing can or will stop. I still don’t know who they are, I can’t put a face to them, but know it seems clear to me, that I should not fear them. They should fear me. For history, has taught us anything is that, a man’s bones may be crushed, but his spirit will endure all. My spirit is strong, no matter how many legislation, bills, laws, says that I am un-American. I will tell them what is it to be American? Is it a 9-digit number? Is it the place of birth? Or is it your values and principles? The fact that I migrated when six years old to a new land, learned a new Language, tested in the top 75% of standardized exams, graduated to p 10 of high school graduating class, have no criminal record, and contribute to the betterment of our society. I still don’t know, but I want to know how does it feel to be “AMERICAN.” The DREAM Act will make this true for me, and many other talented youth across this great nation of ours.
My life is nothing but dream. A dream of a mother seeking a better, a dream of a sister not wanting the dreams of her little brother be crushed as where hers, the dream of a brother that he will not lose hope as he did, for he knows works in the hot Arizonan summers, desperately trying to better his life. The Dream of a father, who too often was told that he couldn’t succeed, too often that he too believed it. I am the hopes and dreams of a family, as the first person to obtain a college education. I remember the summer of 2006; it was then that I realized I had what it took to be a college man. My teachers had always told me, you should go to go college be an engineer you are good in the sciences, be a mathematician you are great in math, be an economist you excel in economics, or be a historian you were the two time social studies student of the year. I knew I had potential, there was never a doubt, but I never thought I belong with ranks of the college people. Until then, when my elder of my sisters told you will be the first in our family to attend college. She looked squarely in the eye, she said “ Rafita tu vas hacer el primero que se gradué de la universidad de esta familia,” with such certitude that I haven’t doubted it since. Earlier that day I had cried out of frustration. All my life I had been able to solve math problems, yes I had my fair share of difficulty mastering Algebra, but nothing like Calculus. Truth be told I received A on my last 3 exams of the course, after having received 2 D’s, one 2 C and a B on my previous exams. I finished the course with a B, the proudest grade I have ever received till date.
They graduate high school with such promise, but its promise that’s all. Some are lucky and pursue a college education. Many become professionals, but they are reduced to hard labor in order to survive. Pick onions under the hot Arizonan sun, frame houses with mechanical engineering degrees. America' greatness was not founded on this. I listen every night on talk shows, don't they understand they are illegal. I ask them do you understand the harshness of reality outside the US. Don't you understand the adversity that DREAM students face?
Don't you understand the improbability of a kid from Herecuaro, Guanajuato, Mexico obtaining a college education? When no-one is his family could, when no-one is his town ever could. Do you understand that in order to provide for his family at age 13 he woke up at 4am on Saturday mornings to work in construction with his father?
Don’t you understand that 120 degrees for him is nothing, but a mindset. Do you understand that 4.0 GPA in middle school means nothing. For he can’t come home as a failure, how could he fail his mother, fail his father, fail his siblings. He comes come battered, bruised, burn, exhausted, but proud. That pride carries his dreams to reach college. He can’t imagine another summer like this one. Sadly, more summers keep on coming. He is building Fulton homes, Shea homes, customs in north Scottsdale, retirement homes for the people that hate him, all the while dreaming of time where he will be able to live in one of those.
All the while he excels in school, he knows too much to fail. He knows the life that awaits him if he doesn’t succeed. He succeeds, graduates top ten of his graduating class, student athlete of the year, math student of the year, social studies student of the year, with 21 college hours, with full-ride scholarships. Attends prestigious summer programs like John Hopkins center for Talented youth as an incoming high school freshmen, as well, as the Math Science Honors Program as a senior in high school. There is a glaring difference for him above all else, he is illegal. All those nights studying are for nothing. Prop 300 did what the desert couldn’t, broke his spirit. His story doesn’t end there, it can’t, he won’t let it end. He was overcome so much, his family has sacrificed too much to give up now. His fortitude will not be broken, his dream will continue, for he is a DREAMer.
A personal story that has haunted me for years, when I would run track in high school I would kill in the practices, go all out, never being afraid of fading out, of cramps, or of injury. The pain was just another obstacle in my path to the finish line, but in races it was different. I was afraid. I wouldn't run with the same determination. I would make excuses, and always run slower. My coach would say what are you afraid of? What are you afraid of? I couldn’t answer him. I still can't. I would quit on myself, I know that now. Thinking I that there is established places for some, and for others there wasn't. The DREAM Act movement has taught me I can be what I am willing to fight for. There is no reason to be afraid. No reason to hold back. No reason to try and fail. Failure is only a word, that you give significance when you acknowledge it. Failure is you giving up on yourself. Life goes on. NO matter what happens life goes on. Life goes on.
The DREAM Act may die in Congress like it has done so in the past. I may not have the financial means to attend college this year. I may be deported if I am stopped by the Maricopa’s sheriff’s department. The DREAM Act may pass, I may continue my education and graduate in May with a Mechanical Engineering degree from ASU, or I will continue to work under the table. Any one of these outcomes may come to fruition, all is uncertain. All I know is that life goes on. My dreams, what makes me will not die or will not be accomplished in the near future. It takes a lifetime to achieve a dream, no one can my end my dream, the only way to kill a dream is to stop living. Life goes on, no matter what happens life will go on.
Who am I? What am I? Where am I going? Why do they hate me? Do they have reason to hate me? Why do I want to be here so much? I have struggled with these questions my adult life, desperately wanting direction in my life, wanting to know what was expected of me. I am lost in a chaotic world, where in one side they tell me, you are not American, you crossed the border, and thus, not deserving to call yourself American. I am torn between the country that gave me birth, and the nation which forges my soul, made me strong, and showed me that nothing is above principles.
I have lived 15 plus years of my 21 years in the United States of America, I bleed red, blue, and white as well as green. Unlike many of my DREAMer friends I consider myself Mexican and American. I migrated to the US when I was 6 years old, I have only but a glimpse of memories. I am Mexican, because my mother is Mexican, I could never deny that, Mexico though rough forged my mother, and I must acknowledge where I came from in order to know where I am going.
Why am I American? Who decides what is American? What does it mean to be American? Who monopolized Americans? How does it feel to have your dreams crushed? How does it feel to fail your parents? I don’t know what is to be an American; I thought I knew, but that idea was shattered when the financial advisor for an university said I am sorry your scholarship is discontinued. She felt my pain, I can remember that day as it was yesterday, it was a gloomy February morning, it had rained earlier and I sat on a bench watching the students head to class, shocked and devastated. I cried, but no tears came out, I yell in anger, but no noise was heard, I promised myself that I will prove them wrong. I will succeed. Nothing can or will stop. I still don’t know who they are, I can’t put a face to them, but know it seems clear to me, that I should not fear them. They should fear me. For history, has taught us anything is that, a man’s bones may be crushed, but his spirit will endure all. My spirit is strong, no matter how many legislation, bills, laws, says that I am un-American. I will tell them what is it to be American? Is it a 9-digit number? Is it the place of birth? Or is it your values and principles? The fact that I migrated when six years old to a new land, learned a new Language, tested in the top 75% of standardized exams, graduated to p 10 of high school graduating class, have no criminal record, and contribute to the betterment of our society. I still don’t know, but I want to know how does it feel to be “AMERICAN.” The DREAM Act will make this true for me, and many other talented youth across this great nation of ours.
My life is nothing but dream. A dream of a mother seeking a better, a dream of a sister not wanting the dreams of her little brother be crushed as where hers, the dream of a brother that he will not lose hope as he did, for he knows works in the hot Arizonan summers, desperately trying to better his life. The Dream of a father, who too often was told that he couldn’t succeed, too often that he too believed it. I am the hopes and dreams of a family, as the first person to obtain a college education. I remember the summer of 2006; it was then that I realized I had what it took to be a college man. My teachers had always told me, you should go to go college be an engineer you are good in the sciences, be a mathematician you are great in math, be an economist you excel in economics, or be a historian you were the two time social studies student of the year. I knew I had potential, there was never a doubt, but I never thought I belong with ranks of the college people. Until then, when my elder of my sisters told you will be the first in our family to attend college. She looked squarely in the eye, she said “ Rafita tu vas hacer el primero que se gradué de la universidad de esta familia,” with such certitude that I haven’t doubted it since. Earlier that day I had cried out of frustration. All my life I had been able to solve math problems, yes I had my fair share of difficulty mastering Algebra, but nothing like Calculus. Truth be told I received A on my last 3 exams of the course, after having received 2 D’s, one 2 C and a B on my previous exams. I finished the course with a B, the proudest grade I have ever received till date.
They graduate high school with such promise, but its promise that’s all. Some are lucky and pursue a college education. Many become professionals, but they are reduced to hard labor in order to survive. Pick onions under the hot Arizonan sun, frame houses with mechanical engineering degrees. America' greatness was not founded on this. I listen every night on talk shows, don't they understand they are illegal. I ask them do you understand the harshness of reality outside the US. Don't you understand the adversity that DREAM students face?
Don't you understand the improbability of a kid from Herecuaro, Guanajuato, Mexico obtaining a college education? When no-one is his family could, when no-one is his town ever could. Do you understand that in order to provide for his family at age 13 he woke up at 4am on Saturday mornings to work in construction with his father?
Don’t you understand that 120 degrees for him is nothing, but a mindset. Do you understand that 4.0 GPA in middle school means nothing. For he can’t come home as a failure, how could he fail his mother, fail his father, fail his siblings. He comes come battered, bruised, burn, exhausted, but proud. That pride carries his dreams to reach college. He can’t imagine another summer like this one. Sadly, more summers keep on coming. He is building Fulton homes, Shea homes, customs in north Scottsdale, retirement homes for the people that hate him, all the while dreaming of time where he will be able to live in one of those.
All the while he excels in school, he knows too much to fail. He knows the life that awaits him if he doesn’t succeed. He succeeds, graduates top ten of his graduating class, student athlete of the year, math student of the year, social studies student of the year, with 21 college hours, with full-ride scholarships. Attends prestigious summer programs like John Hopkins center for Talented youth as an incoming high school freshmen, as well, as the Math Science Honors Program as a senior in high school. There is a glaring difference for him above all else, he is illegal. All those nights studying are for nothing. Prop 300 did what the desert couldn’t, broke his spirit. His story doesn’t end there, it can’t, he won’t let it end. He was overcome so much, his family has sacrificed too much to give up now. His fortitude will not be broken, his dream will continue, for he is a DREAMer.
A personal story that has haunted me for years, when I would run track in high school I would kill in the practices, go all out, never being afraid of fading out, of cramps, or of injury. The pain was just another obstacle in my path to the finish line, but in races it was different. I was afraid. I wouldn't run with the same determination. I would make excuses, and always run slower. My coach would say what are you afraid of? What are you afraid of? I couldn’t answer him. I still can't. I would quit on myself, I know that now. Thinking I that there is established places for some, and for others there wasn't. The DREAM Act movement has taught me I can be what I am willing to fight for. There is no reason to be afraid. No reason to hold back. No reason to try and fail. Failure is only a word, that you give significance when you acknowledge it. Failure is you giving up on yourself. Life goes on. NO matter what happens life goes on. Life goes on.
The DREAM Act may die in Congress like it has done so in the past. I may not have the financial means to attend college this year. I may be deported if I am stopped by the Maricopa’s sheriff’s department. The DREAM Act may pass, I may continue my education and graduate in May with a Mechanical Engineering degree from ASU, or I will continue to work under the table. Any one of these outcomes may come to fruition, all is uncertain. All I know is that life goes on. My dreams, what makes me will not die or will not be accomplished in the near future. It takes a lifetime to achieve a dream, no one can my end my dream, the only way to kill a dream is to stop living. Life goes on, no matter what happens life will go on.
The Fourth Day
Its 11:32 am. Blank got nothing
Its 12:00 pm and I have to write a blog explaining on my experience has been at dream army camp. Really can’t put it into words right now. Mind is at a total blank. I am lost, unaware of my surroundings, unaware of what it is that I am doing. Unaware how insane it is to sleep on the sidewalk in the corner of a major cross-section. Unaware what drove us to act in this manner? Unaware that I am outside of John McCain’s office, and what it means to be here. What the consequences of my action could be. I am lost, will be lost for a very long time. I know this. Is the passage of the DREAM Act assured, up in the air, or is it just a dream?
Its 2pm and nothing pops into my tiny little head, no original thought, nothing worthwhile. No true emotion desperately wanting to be freed. All its garbage, it has been all along, garbage.
4pm arrives as fast as 2pm, following 3pm with no regard for human complain. I am getting old, I am getting sicker, I am tired, time could care less, in fact by its nature its doesn’t care. I am hungry and stunned; so many people show their support for us. Amaze that we, young adults lost in the chaos of immigration reform, entrenched in the dirt, might actually contribute significantly to the cause. So, we are not alone in Arizona, if we are not, why does it fell that we are? Just thoughts, everything is just a thought I believe. Do I believe or is it certitude? I will leave for later.
6pm DRILL, maybe DRILL. DREAM ARMY drill.
8pm had a good talk with a friend regarding school, comics, and life in general.
10:30 pm picked up 15ft American flag from a friend of my friend. Weird how these terms are used. Better not lose it.
11:15pm time to unwind
Today I awoke tired, hungry, and bewilder. Took a step back and asked myself, “What I am doing? It wasn’t what am I doing today, more like what am I doing with my life. Am I losing perspective of the important things, or gaining new understanding of what truly matters? Simple question, yet difficult to answer. First thought that popped into my head was to head to DREAM Army camp, show my support and commitment to the cause. Second thought was to go with the phone banking team headquarters.
This word “DREAM” it has a new significance to a mere state of being. It has transcended grammar, as well as, politics to become an idea. This is what I know about an idea; an idea can not be trapped, it can not be measured, an idea moves worlds, an idea can save man. The DREAM Act has become an idea, and we dreamers are a concept. We refer to ourselves as dreamers, not only for our legal status, but our moral condition to fight for justice. The DREAM Act is more than a piece of legislation, more than a document, its more than me; it’s the hope of a nation. Yes, you might think I am over exaggerating right now, but take a step back.
The DREAM Act goes beyond race, genre, ethnicity, religion, or politics. A person can be undocumented with a college degree, but still not a dreamer. While, a person might be 100% pure blooded American, yet that person is a dreamer. We have 800,000 (according to my sources) eligible DREAM Act candidates, yet as a group we made just a little over 15,000 calls to senators asking for their support on Friday. A large portion of these calls came from citizens, or residents, leads me to a point where are all these so called “dreamers”.
Time is of the essence, not only to legalize the dream generation but to change the course of the nation. The United States of America no longer produce the most copper in the western hemisphere Chile does, the richest man is not American, but Mexican, and Canada and Venezuela produce more oil than us. Times are changing, no longer can the ideas of the past prevail, they are becoming obsolete, new minds are needed to fill the gap, to solve problems. It is on our shoulders, “if we choose to accept, the course of our nation that is.”
We say I want to contribute, pursue journalism, become a doctor, but which among us (dreamers) have the desire to save this world. The world is in trouble, the most it has seen. We youth tend to ignore the problems of the world, become close minded in our little facebook chats, little get together, little socials, little vacations. Vacations from what, work, family, school, our lives? Isn’t that what we fought for so long to have lives, to have a job, to have a family? Now we don’t want it. Thousands of human beings will die today from hunger, disease, torture, war, lack of access to clean water. While we complain about traffic, how hot it is in Arizona, about the rising prices of oil. It’s sad and pathetic, but what can we do we are simple mortals with insignificant lives.
Who among us, cares about humanity, beyond all its superficialities, above all its corruption, deceit, and savagery. Who among us would dedicate (I don’t believe in sacrifice) his/her life to save something which has no desire to save itself. The ozone layer is vanishing with every piece of coal that China, and India burn, with every mile our vehicles our cars make, with every kilowatt hour produce by a power plant. We are polluting our oceans; many regions of the world suffer from perpetual water shortages. We are killing ourselves over oil, race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, ignorance and even borders. Borders which only protect us from external dangers, thus, leaving us wide open to the internal. Which are worse? We are blinded by our desire to feel safe. We don’t acknowledge the fact that we are afraid of tomorrow. We live with no regard of the future; we loot of our neighbors, brothers, and strangers.
We are parasites, living off the Earth, yet we think we are entitled. Entitle to what I say? Entitle to an education? Entitle to a car? Entitle to our own room? The only thing we are entitling to as rational human beings is our freedom, our right to pursue that which is most important to us. Everything else needs to be earned.
I know of one person who believes in the Dreamers. He inspires me to be greater than what I could ever conceive of being possible. He is humble, yet confident. He cares about human beings, really cares. He symbolizes this quote I once heard “Even though I disagree with your opinion I would fight for your right to have it.” In retrospect what type of person would I be if I didn’t pay tribute. What human being would I be if I were to quit. I wouldn’t be a dreamer, that’s the type of person I would be. 11:59 pm
Friday, September 24, 2010
September 21st DREAM Act as a Stand Alone Bill
Alone I perceive myself as a very intelligent, driven individual. I fear that my lack of confidence will ultimately, hurt the future that is to be mine. The DREAM Act will not pass not pass as an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill, as many hoped, I knew this would happen. The opposition would perform an ultimate an ultimate act to stall the inevitable; the passage of the DREAM Act is a matter of when, not if.
This is what we all wanted an opportunity to fight for our ability to pursue a better future, nothing more, nothing less. We are fighting for a chance to prove ourselves to the nation; to show our talent, courage, strength, and hunger to succeed. Not all dreamers will have the same perspective, but this is the truth.
Some seek answers, where there are none, others provide alternatives. We must endure; we must overcome the obstacles bestowed upon by our desire to call American citizen. American? What is American? Is it a cultural question, or ethnicity, or race, or content of character, or is it geographical location on Earth? I have yet to understand what it means to be patriotic of America.
If I knew one thing about love is that you accept the bad, appreciate the good, and cherish the moments of joy. Hence, if I am to consider myself American, I must love America. Love the diversity, the opportunity, the socio-economic-cultural miscommunications. There, if the DREAM Act is ever to be signed by Barak Hussein Obama we must understand or at least try to understand the opposition. Humans aren’t inherently evil, just miss-informed, or lied too, or both. Then, and only then we will see the fruits of our labor.
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