This entry has been a while in the making.
Perhaps not consciously, but definitely subconsciously. Yet, it has grown in content so this is the first part, of two parts... will try to finish it soon...
We live in a society
which demands that thoughts and ideas be brought out, be heard. Especially when
we witness issues and trends that can be considered harmful to that society or
this, the country where it is harbored. My allegiance is to this wonderful
country where we have all received not just a second chance to make a life, but
a third, fourth and oftentimes many more chances. There is no other country in
the world, I believe, where this could have come to pass. And I have worked
and/or lived in some 50 of these countries. In that allegiance, however, one
cannot be totally blind or deaf to the fact that there are areas where
improvements can, and should be made.
I come to the core of
this posting. A heartfelt core which brings out a duality of feelings that are
not easily managed. Our country has become what it is largely due to a
willingness to receive immigrants from almost every corner of the world and
allow each one to rise or fall according to his/her efforts. It has been that
fruitful and generous. We grow and push forward because of the energy and ideas
that everyone brings to the table and the equation.
On the one hand, there
is my Hispanic background and my daily contact with folks who sacrificed
everything to come to this country hoping for a better life for themselves and
their children, working their days away in the pursuit of that hope.
On the other hand, is
the knowledge this country and society are based on a set of general rules and
parameters which have served it well for over 200 years. We can’t throw those
laws away for the benefit of the few and the detriment of the nation. Much less
for the political convenience of some who see this exchange as a way to reach
power positions in this country, to then systematically destroy that structure
that allowed them to be in the first place. When we come to this country as
migrants, whether for political, social or reasons of economics, we come
because it is different and better; because here we have opportunities that in
our own countries we don’t have.
Yet, many who now
come do so not in the spirit of working hard in order to improve but to try and
find an easy way to make money, to live well without any kind of sacrifice.
This means that those of us who live her, work here and pay taxes here,
bankroll their attitude. In other words, we come here to improve our lot and then
try to convert this country into an extension of our old country. Guess what…
it will not work. And in the process, we will manage to destroy most of, if not
all, the qualities that made this country an attractive destiny. And this
attitude, unfortunately, extends to a whole generation of people born and bred right
here.
The worst problem? This
attitude is being promulgated by a government which sees it as a means to
extend its political hold over the country through a short and long term change
in the basic makeup of the system. Not necessarily for its betterment, but for
the outright opportunities and artificial staying power which this control and political
dominion will bring to their party. They forget or -worse yet- choose to ignore
the catastrophic consequences this selfish thinking will bring for our children
and grandchildren.
So, what about the migration
issue we have to contend with? Can, or should, we send everyone who is outside
the law back? Should we close the borders to further migration? Should we
become an isolationist country and destroy the very essence of what has made us
a great country? What about the terrorist issue? This is a very real problem in
today’s world and, especially, for our country.
Part I.... Part II to follow
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