I attended the Writing 140 speaker series and listened to Sonia Nazario lecture on the struggles and hardships she witnessed during her experience with immigrants and their fight to move to America. I felt the speech was very powerful and engaging. She immediately caught the audience's attention by telling stories of children without arms or legs trying to cross the border into the U.S. attempting to live a more fulfilled life North of the border. After learning and hearing about the immigrants and their daily issues trying to become legal in our country, made me feel extremely lucky to have been born here in the states. Nazario made me realize that it is pretty easy to take our freedom in America for granted.
However, even though immigrant's stories of trying to become legal in the U.S. are sorrowful, I feel that they are a little far fetched. Illegal aliens should not be allowed, under most circumstance, to live in this country unless they are able to maintain a steady job and pay taxes, just like all other Americans have to. With this being said, The dangers these immigrants experience are pretty unbelievable. While listening to Nazario's story and experiences, I now have a much better understanding of what it is like for immigrants to achieve legality and a better way of life in the United States of America.
I myself have my reservations about illegal immigration, but I find it interesting that you think the stories were "far fetched." I think that Sonia did a good job of presenting numerical statistics, which is essentially proof that these stories are not far-fetched, but, rather, they are commonplace. Thousands of children experience trauma just like Enrique, because hundreds of thousands of children cross the border with the same raw struggles.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that immigration is becoming a widespread problem, I truly think almost all of them would pay taxes if they thought they could do so without being deported. To face that kind of hardship proves a work ethic and dedication I can't even imagine. Maybe we could set up a tax system kind of like the census, where legal status wouldn't be determined? It's an interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteI also should say I have a bit of an issue with calling immigrants "illegal aliens." I've always found the term very dehumanizing, which is something we do to immigrants so we can justify treating them as if they are lesser than Americans.
This whole night broadened my eyes to to this whole issue of immigration. I had no idea how people were coming over here. I thoughy maybe sneaking in the trunks of cars or hopping some crazy fence. I had no idea that kids were going through this dangerous of a situation, leading many times to death. I am way more sensitive to the subject now.
ReplyDeleteYes, while I stated that they should have to pay taxes, do not belong here, etc., I am very sympathetic towards the children who risk their lives trying to gain citizenship in the United States. It is a shame and more measures should be taken in government to help solve the immigration problem.
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