Friday, September 10, 2010

DREAM ACT for Dummies or Republicans

The following blog is not supposed to make you feel pity for me, instead to open your eyes.


I'm an American
I'm an American, just like you. I was raised in the U.S. I grew up  among other Americans. I went to school with Americans. I had my first crush and  kiss with an American. I'm an American by heart, but not by papers. Life is hard when you grow up in a house of three where the only one that works is your cancer-survivor mother because both her children are still in school, and the only one old enough to work cannot get a job because he doesn't have papers. It's hard to survive when you know that everything you do is going to be in vain because no matter what I do, at the end it won't matter. It is hard to say that you will do better in life when there is no light at the end of your tunnel. It is difficult to keep your head up when people try to put you down because they don't know what its is like to be in this situation, and yet, our heads stay up. It's not easy to imagine a better future because our dreams have been deferred. My teachers taught me so much throughout the years and now I can't repay them.

I never knew what I really was. I thought I was just like you. I went to school with you, I spent nights at your house as child, you spent nights in my house too. I fought your enemy because you were my friend, and you fought mine for the same reason. Now the years have passed, and you see me as an enemy, while I still see you as my friend. 10 years have passed. You went to college, and I was glad for you, but I had to stay home. You asked me why I didn't go to college, or wonder why I didn't get a scholarship and you did when we had the same grades, we possessed similar skills, we recited the same pledge of allegiance, and sang the same Spangled Star Banner. Neither you or I knew the truth, but now I do. When we turned 15 we had to same goal, to get our permit. Your birthday came a month before mine, and after an hour you received yours, now it was my turn. After 15 minutes of filling out papers I found out the truth. Not only I wasn't able to get a permit, I also wasn't able to get my life together. I told you I failed my test, so you wouldn't judge me. Two years passed, now we're planning our future together. We look for colleges to go to, and apply to them all because we have the grades, the ACT scores, and knowledge to enter any college we want to, and yet, only you get accepted. I told you I didn't get accepted because they got my transcript wrong and the admission deadlines ended when I know I didn't get accepted because I don't have 9 things you do, numbers. We're slowly separating. You have made your future a good one, while I wait for my future to be made day after day while I leave in fear that I will be taken to a place where I don't belong, to a country I never knew, to a country that I don't understand and all because my parents were from there. My past is a mystery. I don't know my past, nor I can see my future. I live in the present, trying to survive day after day the best I can.

Now, as I walk the streets during the day, with a smile on my face, I salute my neighbors, help my fellow classmates with their college applications, or even job interviews. I do my duty as a citizen, just like my JROTC commander taught me when I was in school. I wanted to serve the country, I took my ASVAB, scored an 81. The country wanted me, I felt content, until the meeting day came. From the Army to the Air Force came to my apartment and after 15 minutes of talking, they left with a disappointed face. That didn't stop me however. Now I sit at home every night, because I can't go with you to the club, to the movies, or even out of state to discover new places because I still don't have an ID, despite the fact that you and I are the same age. Slowly my life seems to be coming to and end. I'm losing hope. My diploma is on my wall, and so are my graduation gowns. Life is hard, I have no money, can't get a job, despite that I graduated with honors and a 3.8 GPA and three languages, and can't find shelter, food, or services for tomorrow. The streets don't welcome me either. I can't afford to homeless, or else I will be in risk to get deported if I am caught by police for sleeping under a bridge, or on a bench. There is little I can do, but I do it. I keep my head up most of day, but at night while you sleep on your bed, I cry and pray to God in the park that something will change because I don't know how much longer I can take.

I have always been a proud person, and I will not take your money (not like if I can for I can't receive government help anyways). All I ever wanted was to have the same chance you were given. We were always equal, now I'm less, while the only thing that changed was our age. I had dreams, I had hopes, I had visions, just like you, like everyone else, and I'm really glad to hear that you made great things with your life, but sadly your opinion towards immigrants changed because there are people out there ruining the name of immigrants.

Our Future
Although the light of hope in my eyes was deeming, I can now see it again. I'm not alone. Every year, about 4,300,000 students will graduate. Out of those, only 60 percent, or about 2,580,000 will want to attend college, and out of that about 65,000 undocumented students will want, but won't be able to go due to lack of money, or because they have lost hope and colleges denies them the opportunity simply because although they have the grades, the lack a social security number . That is the case to about 1 out of 38 students.

There is hope for this students now. It is called the DREAM ACT. The bill was introduced last year by Senator Richard J. Durbin. (for more info about the DREAM ACT go HERE ).
However, society has made up their mind now day that all immigrants are the same. ThE DREAM ACT will not focus on anyone else but the people that  have done good for the country you love because they love it too. The Dream ACT will not reward immigrants with money or scholarships, it will just make it fair game for anyone who deserves it to apply. Just because they apply doesn't mean that they will get it. It will also benefit the economy because it will increase the number of honest people that will pay their taxes. We're not talking about people like the ones that stand outside of Lowe's waiting for someone to give them something to do and work under the table, we're talking about students that spend their time helping the community and making good deeds because they grew up doing so their whole life in the United States and know nothing about the country the parents were from.

Misconceptions
People often make the misconception that the DREAM ACT is going to help every immigrant in the county and that it will increase immigration, but that's not the case because the DREAM ACT will on focus on students that came to the US before the age of 16 and have been in the country for at least 5 years before the bill is passed. That means any student that graduated or is still in school but came before the year  2005 will get a chance to apply for temporary residency, lasting 6 years, and in the meantime they will have to either attend college for a minimum of two years and get a degree or join the armed forces for at least two years. Failure to do so will result in losing residency or even deportation, so it is a win-win situation for the country because they'll get rid of the lazy ones, and keep the smart ones that will contribute to society.

Another big misconception that people in society make about the DREAM ACT is that after 6 years they will become citizens. In all reality, after 6 years they will be able to apply for citizenship, but the process make take up to even another 5 years, and in cases, even 10. That means that if a student graduates high school at the age of 18 and receives conditional residency, he will be 24 before he can apply for citizenship, and will be at least 29 to 34 before he is a citizen. Along with this goes the misconception that these people will later want to fix their parents papers. The problem with that is that in average a 30 year old will have parents in the 50s to  60s. Now,  lets add another 5 to 10 years for citizenship. The adults will be 55 to 65 before they get a social security number, meaning that they have no funding for the government to give them retirement money. So these old people will not depend on the country, but their children to support them and look after them.

244 comments:

  1. I'm in the same exact shoes that you are. Everything that was said here, I related to. I feel the same pain and worries. I feel like an American who's been cheated with no rights. But I have hope.

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  2. I pray that we can find justice and mercy in our society. We are all immigrants.

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  3. really interesting article, loved it!

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  4. I love this! I personally am not in these shoes. But my boyfriend of 2 years is. I understand how hard this is and I SUPPORT the DREAM ACT all the way! I have since the beginning before all of the publicity started. If people just took a second and put all there previous judgments aside they would understand and support it too.

    "In Germany, the Nazis came for the Communist and I didn't speak up because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the labor unionists and I didn't speak up because I was not a labor unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I was a Protestant so I didn't speak up. Then they came for me....By that time there was no one to speak up for anyone." -Patricia C. McKissack January 1, 1995

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  5. pretty good article. Cant wait to read more

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  6. Very interesting indeed sir!

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  7. Kewl story, bro!

    http://the-state-of-human-intelligence.blogspot.com/

    happy 9/11!

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  8. very nice article! keep it up

    Supporting :)

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  9. Good read. Keep it up. Also supporting.

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  10. Fairly lengthy post, I get hwat you're saying. as a new yorker of puerto rican parents we didnt have to endure the hell of immigration, but i have alot of friends who were born here and their parents have been in the process for 15-20 years

    I can see you are similarly critical of our society, maybe link exchange? following you anyway

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  11. deep deep deep! most of this stuff doesn't affect me though :D

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  12. very interesting, makes you think

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  13. cool story bro.... followed you...

    and wall of text lol

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  14. Good read man, look forward to more.

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  15. we sure have to think about that..
    but i loved the post.
    also, check my blog, you might like it aswell
    http://garyoakparty.blogspot.com/

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  16. amazing how many bureaucratic laws there are.

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  17. Lengthy, but well organized! Great read!

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  18. right on man.

    supportin

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  19. Wonderful post, some very deep insight here.

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  20. holy crap long read, but interesting none the less

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  21. I enjoyed reading this, thanks for posting :)

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  22. Very well-written post, I hope you plan on writing more along the lines of this. Insightful and well thought-out all around.

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  23. That draft almost made me cry.
    very good.
    supporting the cause!

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  24. Not american. Still, it's nice to see some people still care about issues.

    showing love and respect <3

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  25. Its good to see people spending so much time helping others with such large and helping posts...


    Thank you my friend :)

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  26. I'm thirdworldfag and what is this

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  27. wow did you write this?

    if so, was a great read.

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  28. Damn son. That's one crazy article.

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  29. This is by far one of the greatest blogs I've come across to.

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  30. I hope you will post more like this in the future.

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  31. Nice post, good for people like me to understand.

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  32. Way to put it in perspective, now everyone will know!

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  33. Always nice when people spend the time to write big articles and help other people, gonna follow your blog, I´m not in your shoes, maybe sometime you´ll post something that helps me :)

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  34. That was a really great read. It's easy to forget that most of us are descended from immigrants only 50, 100, 200 years ago.

    Thanks for taking the time to put it up. Supportin' a really great blog.

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  35. Dropping by and leaving some love and support. Please hit up my blog. I will check your blog out daily.

    http://ye-yepop.blogspot.com/

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  36. thats messed up dude, lets hope this thing can get sorted soon. sending much love.

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  37. Wow, you are quite the writer. Sorry dude =\

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  38. One of my favourite reads in a long time.

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  39. This makes sense, but it's hard to visualize something like this when there's a lot of skepticism. It would take an incredible force of understanding to convince certain people to allow something like this. Get at me and we can talk more.

    and get rid of that fkng captcha

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  40. personally, i think that you have some really good points about the waiting times and such. It seems almost personal to you... why are you so passionate about this?

    also, help me out please! ^.^

    http://venetianblank.blogspot.com/

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  41. wow can't beleve dick durbin actually introduced this...you wouldn't think a guy like he would intro a bill like this. keep the info coming on the legislation!

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  42. This is really cool!! I like it a lot.

    I'm gonna follow your blog and check daily. Check out my blog too if you can!

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  43. It's a good thing you're doing here. I've lost several close to me due to cancer.

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  44. I'm so appreciative of this kind of content based on current American sociological perspectives.

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  45. Excellent read.

    I'll definitely be following you for future posts.

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  46. Long story, but I read it. This is deep man, thanks for sharing to the world.

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  47. Seriously though the price of schooling has gotten out of hand.
    As a student myself I can attest to the rapeage rates of not only classes but books...oh god the book prices.

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  48. as a college student, i support this blog to the fullest. keep the info coming

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  49. coming here to read this once again cuz it's full of great info

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  50. 2nd time back.... i need you to give me some layout tips. yours is quite a bit nicer than mine.

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  51. A good example is my current semester at a local community college.
    5 classes ran me roughly $1200
    Books cost me $500.
    All the books I bought were supposed to be "Mandatory for the selected course"
    3 of them wont be used this semester so I decided to sell them back to the bookstore at school...they offered me less than half on each book as they are now considered used.

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  52. I'm not an american but I still recognize your noble spirit

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  53. i believe i learned something new today, thank you my good sir.

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  54. You have a very keen sense of patriotism, which most of our youth lack these days. Are you a voter?

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  55. Hey, checking back! Hope to see another paper soon :D

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  56. amazing, this really changed my perspective and on things such as Walmart. Will support!

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  57. Reading through the new comments and seeing a lot of people with their eyes opened.

    And now I wonder how similar the situation is in Canada...

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  58. If only more American's were like you. I think you brought tears of joy to my eyes to show me that there is one more educated person in the world we live in. I thank you.

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  59. America has been through alot latley, and its nice to see people standing strong to their values. Congratulations. you are one impressive soul.

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  60. Congratulations. In the words of Team America: AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!

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  61. Unfortunately in America with today's student loans we're not headed anywhere but downhill in my mind. Unless we adapt a new schooling system of course.

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  62. good post...supportin

    http://muphucka.blogspot.com

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  63. I fully support this, I got you good bro ;)

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  64. Dickery aside, I can really relate to this. The amount of hoop-jumping you need to do to live legally in the USA is ridiculous.

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  65. Woah long post bro. Got some interesting stuff
    Keep it up.

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  66. Ive read this a few times and it just gets better and better

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  67. Good detail in here, Some pretty nice points being put forth. Keep the ideas going.

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  68. Very nice blog indeed. I've actually always wanted to visit America myself, however I haven't had the time recently.

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  69. I went to New York and a few other places in America not long ago. I felt that the people there were very helpful and kind. Awesome place!!!

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  70. That was a very delightful read, very nformitive. I'll be waiting for more!

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  71. You raise some really good points here

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  72. Don't have time to read it all, but seems interesting. Bookmarked!

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  73. Nice read man, keep the good stuff coming!

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  74. sweet read man. Finally someone sensible who doesnt feed into the bullshit fed to us! Keep up the good work man!

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  75. Good read man
    happy to support your blog

    cheers

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  76. Wow, this is some great in-depth info. Hope you make more like this.

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  77. Longest blog I've read, but was great to read! I will follow.

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  78. incredible, you go so into depth on this! great blog so far!

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  79. Youve opened my eyes to so much, thank you

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  80. Society worrys me these days but the efforts of a few can always sway people into action I hope.

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  81. I thought about this shit all day at school man....really opened my eyes.

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  82. Its a very thought out article. Well Done

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  83. we recently had to go through the dream act in my american history class, I learned a lot in that class, and I can tell you know what you're talking about!

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  84. Hey, visiting again! Nice blog, hope to see more posts soon :D

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  85. Dude that was beautiful.. I can't believe I read the whole thing but it was great

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  86. I look forward to reading more from you bro

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  87. Very beautiful man, change will do us good.
    I support you.

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  88. whats up? im down for getting bombed! clicking now!

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  89. Dream act will be good for alotaaaa people, would be contradicting in arizona though. Where exactly you from, hispanic? if so me too. lol.

    Much love bro!

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  90. Change is a must in this society. Great article

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  91. Great article. Actually made me think.

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  92. incredible stuff here, very thought provoking. check my blog out please, its lots of photos and such, but a good thing to see.

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  93. It seems as though you have a very solid conception of american culture and life, try writing more political articles, i would love to hear them! Supportin!

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  94. INSANELY GOOD POST! YOU-ARE-A-GENIUS!

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  95. actually got around to reading this. very enlightening...

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  96. Not gonna lie, that was truly awe-inspiring. Makes me wanna go and do patriotic stuff

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  97. Good stuff man it reads well keep it coming.
    Help support your local blogs.

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  98. This was a very good read, lots of interesting perspectives.

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  99. Good Stuff. Looking forward to new blogs

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  100. There seems to be more and more comments each time I come back.

    Good work, more people need to see this.

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  101. Very nice article. Amazing number of comment btw, I guess people really love your blog.

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  102. I'm very interested in talking with you about immigration laws, and political reform. Please contact me: 404freedomnotfound@gmail.com

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  103. Although I'm not American (I am in Europe) I am interested in American politics and culture in general. Thank for your insights! Appreciate it.

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  104. makes a lot more sense the second time around lol. good read man, looking forward to your next in depth post :)

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  105. spreading this info to a bunch of my friends, really needs to be more awareness

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  106. Re-read this again, definitely waiting for more!

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  107. loved the story man reminds me of my old friends who were in jroct

    http://terrornetworking.blogspot.com/

    Supporting!

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  108. Amazingly well written and awesome thoughts

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  109. hey man i would like to hear more of what you have to say

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  110. The path of your dream will be a long one. I'll support this!

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  111. I feel you on this one man. Real good stuff to look up to, hopefully you will write more.

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  112. go back to mexico.

    we don't want illegal aliens like you here.

    gtfo

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  113. I have friends who I've seen struggling with their lack of citizenship for years. So many of them are smart, brilliant, hardworking students with more A's than I've seen in my life...but they always hit an obstacle. Some of them give up after trying for so long and others do their best to keep going. It sucks when you do everything in your power to help your friends but then realize you're only one small person. That's why we gotta do this together. It'll take awhile, bro, but it's gonna change. I swear it's gonna fucking change. Hang tight, man. You aren't alone.

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  114. Awesome blog Man.
    Respect for the Americans that aren't americanized by paper.

    Follow'd.
    Peace out Bro.

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  115. It really is sad about the state of the country. I'm a bit speechless (If that's the correct term).

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  116. this is beautiful...i hope that many people will read this!!

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  117. I really like your thought. I have a friend who is a 4.0 student and he is really on top of his game, but undocumented. It is sad that he cannot go to any of those big time schools only because he does not have the documents to go. So in other words, he does not have FAFSA. I know many more who go to the same struggles. Its sad really.

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  118. Back again :D Still loving your blog <3

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  119. loving the post man, when i first looked at it i was like "omg this is so long," but as i got further into it, it just made me want to have more and more to read. :) Keep the posts coming.

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  120. Seems like this DREAM ACT may solve a lot of problems! also I would like to see more posts from you!

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  121. You know, sometimes I feel like I am more proud to be american than anything else!

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  122. Jesus christ, i bet that took some thought and effort, Nice story man :D

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  123. I barely follow politics and policies so this would be the first time I heard about this. The Dream Act sounds reasonable but I'm assuming Republicans are bashing it based on the misconception of immigration?

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  124. So sad to hear about some of the legit immigrants be denied the right to a better education, just because of a stereotype, and the lack of records for high school grades.

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  125. Very good read, thank you for posting this inspirational work of art!

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  126. Great read, thanks for this. You should think about a career in writing if you haven't already

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  127. This is so true. Its sad when some of the first responders to disaster are illegal immigrants, such as 9/11. Saving lives of people in a country they respect, but are prohibited being an official part of

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