When I began writing this it was meant to be a quick rant. It wasn’t meant to be a piece. But as often happens, my blurb takes on a life of its own and becomes something bigger. So here I go, opening Pandora’s Box...again.
Facebook can be a curse and a blessing. My feelings on it vary from day to day. But one of the hardest things about Facebook is reading the posts of those who are so blinded by ignorance that actually researching what they are talking about is beyond them. It’s especially frustrating when applying this ignorance to their fellow man. But many have a skewed idea of who their fellow men actually are. It’s become an elite club I assure you. Those who don’t recognize this are most definitely in the club.
There are so many things that leave me searching for understanding and clarity but one topic that particularly has me frustrated right now are these “damned illegals.” I’m honestly at the place where if I see one more post from someone who has zero frame of reference other than what they have heard is going on with these “alien criminals who just want a free ride,” I’m going to have to extinguish our social media connection. Otherwise I shall say something really off-putting.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe we are all free to have our own opinion, but I believe that understanding what we are basing our opinion on is vital. When the stance we take has life-changing effects on others how can we not make it necessary to educate ourselves as much as we can? And then maybe apply a little perspective and empathy?
I know that immigration is a tough subject. Completely open borders with no care as to who comes and goes isn’t something that would work. I understand that America as a whole has done and continues to do so much for many other countries. I also understand that our immigration process is much more lenient than many other countries. But there is still room for improvement.
And we can start by not demonizing and degrading groups of people who for the most part are searching for nothing more than what we wake up to each day. Freedom and a sense of safety.
I am 43 years old and have spent the last 20 plus years living between New York City and Los Angeles. These two cities are massively populated with those who many say are here to take advantage of our great country, to live for free and collect what they can. Well, let me tell you what I know based from my experience. Not what I read. Not what my president told me. Not what my insane news outlets tried to brainwash me into thinking. My opinion is based on personal experience and a tangible reality.
These people, the ones who look down at the cherub faces of their innocent children wanting nothing but a better life for them, are up at dawn while many of us are still asleep. They are at the Home Depot or the corner of a popular intersection not begging, not asking for something for free, but tragically hopeful that those of us in a much better place may have something, ANYTHING for them to do for a day’s wage. There are so many of them...just wanting and willing to work for it.
“Oh but they’re dangerous! They’re drug dealers, rapists, murders!” Whelp, maybe some are. Just like every race in every country and like many of our own citizens. The two boys who sexually assaulted me when I was 16 were both white citizens. The man who kicked my husband’s face in and almost killed him was a white American citizen as well.. A black man broke into our house once. An Asian kid held my Niece up at gunpoint and stole her purse and the car she was in. Bad eggs are everywhere no matter what race or ethnicity you are.
But back to these “freeloaders” south of us...
When my husband and I moved to LA we bought a home that needed a lot of work. Some jobs were necessary for a contractor but a lot of them were perfect for those who just needed work. So we hired them. Often. They showed up, did the job, were kind, respectful, hard working and never at one point did any of the dozens of them make me feel the least bit unsafe. They were grateful to have the work. And we felt good about providing it to them. Often we paid them more than they would ask because we felt they were asking too little just to get the work. How many of us have ever lived in that kind of desperation? These are regular people doing regular things, hoping to live a regular life. Did they follow the rules to get in? Most did not. Am I excusing that? No. But having met them and gotten to know so many of them I cannot see them as the lawless criminals some would try to convince me they are. They are parents like me and my husband and children like my daughter, the only difference is they were not fortunate enough to be born here.
These unwelcome perpetrators so many are complaining about are spending their days trying to find work. The hundreds I’ve encountered want to earn the money they are given. They are not lazy. They are happy to pay taxes. They want to immigrate. They are not out to steal our jobs. In fact most will do the jobs we would never deign to do and their goals are much more humble: a future with hope, a country that values and protects them, and opportunity for their children. In my extensive experience with those south of our borders they are not here to live off of our government like many of our own citizens do, they are here for the dream of more and they are willing to work for it.
After 6 years of living in LA, my husband and I moved back to New York City. It’s been 5 years now. The homeless or financially needy are something we sadly see everyday here. The majority are just asking for money - a handout as some would see it. Many are young and have run away, many are Veterans fallen on hard times and some are the elderly who have nothing left. There are those who have untreated mental illnesses, and of course there are those who are addicts and are looking for enough cash to get their next dose of poison, whatever that may be. They stick their hands out for our money offering nothing in return but maybe a smile and a “thank you.” For whatever their reasons, most I encounter are our own citizens, not illegals infiltrating our country for a free ride.
It is easy to dismiss them, these nameless trespassers. It’s not our responsibility and out of our hands. We are kind to our neighbors. We always have an egg or a cup of sugar on hand. We are happy to change that flat tire for old Ms. So and So. Maybe we donate money to certain charities. We convince ourselves we are doing enough while letting fear and American entitlement infuse our souls. We refuse to recognize the struggles they have faced, the desperation that led them to flee and how far they have travelled only for a life that was given to most of us at our first breath. Many of us only encounter their reality while watching our 60 inch televisions. We ignore their crying children who don’t understand the depths of what they have been born into or why. We cover our eyes and ears from the truth and tell ourselves we are only protecting what is our right to protect.
We are the chosen ones. So be it.
We may not be able to help them or assist with the public policy that would but we don’t have to fear them, make fun of them, or degrade them.
I know it’s not black and white. I understand we have to have protocols. There has to be a system. And laws need to be followed. But the system and laws need to be more accessible and more humane and they need to be for the betterment of mankind - not just Americans. We were built on the backbreaking work of immigrants and not all came here the right way. We have touted our willingness to help and provide for those less fortunate and in need for centuries and yet now we seem to treat many of those seeking a better future like second class humans. We are the popular kids and we shun those who don’t “fit in” to what many have deemed worthy. I’ve always wondered if these were immigrants fleeing Ireland or Scotland or Germany if our opinions would vary.
So here is my challenge, my wish for thought and introspection:
Tonight when those of us who are fortunate are filling our bellies, enjoying our 300 channels of television and safely tucking our children into bed...lets try to imagine if the tables were turned. What would we be willing to do to live our only chance at life somewhere like America? Somewhere that gave our children hope for a real future. Can any one of us say that we would look into the innocent eyes of our child and say “oh well, it is what it is, there’s nothing to be done?” Would an invisible line in the sand that was decided on eons ago put a stop to our journey? Would we look into the mirror of humanity and feel less deserving of those just North of us?
I can say without any uncertainty there isn’t a border I wouldn’t cross to give my daughter a life worth living.
We don’t have to agree on all things political. We don’t have to agree on all things spiritual but can’t we at least agree that we here in America were fortunate enough to have won the cultural lottery? Shouldn’t we be consistently aware and grateful for that fortune? Can we not agree that even though we must have border control and laws we can still show empathy to those less fortunate? We can still follow the rules of our land while refraining from turning these people into memes that we pass around Facebook for a laugh. Making fun of their circumstances and belittling them as humans is beneath us. While we enjoy and benefit from all we have claimed must we forget that we are the lucky ones while lacking compassion for those who aren’t?
It’s been this way since the beginning of time. The haves and the have nots.
You wanna “Make America Great Again?”
Then let’s find a better way...for everyone.
As always, thank you for reading.