Years ago, you came to this country in search of a better life. Dad, you were just 18. You sought to find yourself and get an education in the process. A few years later and my mom, with her unconditional love and loyalty, would follow. You left your family and home behind, which could not have been easy. Your mother, a kind woman and a devout Catholic. Your father, a brilliant man and devout alcoholic. Your 16 siblings who you promised to look out for and help when you could. You were young and had nothing but freedom to consider. I have never seen anything but hard work and kindness from you. You sought your education, with obstacles in between. Things are never perfect and never easy, and you had to give up school a few units short to provide for me and my sister. You and my mom have sacrificed your entire lives into offering us the best chance possible. I could never repay your selflessness; all I can do is hope that one day I can make you proud. Our story is not one far off from most. In a country founded on immigration, it is often a tale of hardship and triumph; in a lot of cases it's not. It's poverty and families ripped apart. When you came here, not everyone was welcoming as I recall you telling me how you were denied housing due to your ethnicity. But this is the world immigrants and minorities have always known. It is not as if the world suddenly decided to turn a blind eye in 2017. The only positive thing that has come out of this is a heightened awareness for the hatred and bigotry that diseases this country. Although we are a million miles away from where we need to be, we know, now more than ever that, the new regime lies within the new generation.
This is America, a land of opportunity that has many times denied it to those who need it most. People were not made to become profits, and "we the people," should not mean, "we the corporations." All we can do now is to honor those who sacrificed everything for us, by continuing to reject the current system and seek to improve it. In a country that often boasts wealth, progress, and innovation, it's hard to think of how many die due to lack of medical care and basic necessities. It's even more difficult to imagine that the new administration wants to take away healthcare that has saved so many lives. It's hard to realize that while I am here, writing this from university, there are many brilliant minds who can not get the same chance due to lack of affordable education. Many may lie and try to label us and our families as criminals and murderers. In reality, our lives know hard work, integrity, and resilience. We are the new generation and we refuse to not move forward. We will fight for those who gave up everything for us and for many more to have the same opportunities. We will fight for those who need to escape their war-ridden countries and those who simply want to improve their lives. We may never see a day where America is truly equal or free. You can still love your country and still want it to change for the better. We are here for those who came before us and will come after us. It all starts with us, and it will end with us.
To my parents, and all immigrant parents, thank you for everything you have done for our generation. Thank you for your hard workers and intelligent minds. You make us great, we can only hope to try and take it from here.
Love,
A Child of Immigrants
