And I perpetuate this....?!

Do you simply “tolerate” immigration in this country or do you openly welcome all to, “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”? Dr. Brandon said that, “how America has come to treat immigrants is clearly at odds with the founders intentions that all are equal.” The next wish of this traveller will be to know whence came all these people? They are mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans, and Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race now called Americans have arisen (de Creveceour). In his essay, he was mostly referring to immigrants from Europe. Today we have more immigrants coming from countries where the standard of living is quite retched. The top three countries include Mexico, China and the Philippines.

I used to feel differently about illegal immigrants here in America than I do now. I am a native born citizen of this country. I am a thirty year old, Caucasian female, born and bred here in the U.S. My son’s father (who shall remain nameless and does not reside here in VA) is here in this country illegally. There is something to be said of our laws and proper procedure for coming to and living in this country. However, it is what it is and the fact remains I would not want him to be sent back now and for my son to be denied his father.

Can a wretch who wanders about, who works and starves, whose life is a continual scene of sore affliction or pinching penury; can that man call England or any other kingdom his country? A country that had no bread for him, whose fields procured him no harvest, who met with nothing but the frowns of the rich, the severity of the laws, with jails and punishments; who owned not a single foot of the extensive surface of this planet? (de Creveceour) He is here now and he wants to belong. He works hard, most times employed with two or three different jobs at a time, doing jobs no one else wants and for a wage no one else would work for. Although he has bread and harvest, he is still looked down on with frowns not from the rich but those who are rightful citizens.

Often illegal immigrants have no face and no name. They are one amassed group of millions “who don’t belong and shouldn’t be here. Look at my blog home page and see the face of my child. Stare into those enormous brown eyes that could melt glaciers and tell him he can’t be with his papa anymore. His father was searching for more opportunities for himself and more opportunities for his extended family. He came here the only way he knew how. I do not justify the means by which he did it but he is here now. “His country is now that which gives him land, bread, protection, and consequence: Ubi panis ibi patria, is the motto of all emigrants. What then is the American, this new man? He is an American, who leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds he becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world” (de Creveceour).

Dr. Brandon said, “The founders wouldn't have cared who became a citizen. Essentially, they argued that everyone had the same rights and were due the same consideration.” Do only some people have the right to adopt America as their country? Since 2000, legal immigrants to the United States number approximately 1,000,000 per year, of whom about 600,000 are Change of Status immigrants who already are in the U.S. (Wikipedia.com). The U.S. should continue to be a place of refuge and a land of opportunity for all seeking it. We should stay true to the vision of the founding fathers and welcome all who wish to come here, within reason. Whether someone is a legal or illegal immigrant, I know many people feel this is our country and want everyone else to get out or stay out. Like I said, I used to feel differently than I do now. I know my son’s father is here illegally and I choose not to do anything about it. What you do?