I’ve been trying to find the words for this article for two weeks now, tonight I attempt to express my feelings with you on the controversial topic of the Muslim Ban.

I spent the night at Valparaiso University’s World Banquet sponsored by our Valparaiso International Student Organization. It was simply exquisite, there were cultural performances and foods representing our student body’s diversity. The amount of pride, respect, and love amongst everyone in the room was insurmountable.

On the other hand, hours earlier I received heartbreaking news from one of my good friends. At another campus, the same day that my campus had an inclusive and beautiful event, a boy was physically attacked simply for being Arab. This doesn’t just bother me, it infuriates me. Why is this happening?

In lieu of President Trump’s executive order that has been coined as the “Muslim Ban” by the media, I cannot help but think about what this means for our country that was founded on immigration but is now coming to reject the concept wholly. Now that the executive order is officially listed on whitehouse.gov, people can see for themselves what the order exclusively says. Or, to quote CNN.com and make life simpler for those who do not realize what this entails, “Trump’s order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – from entering the US for 90 days, all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely halts refugees from Syria.” Recently, the Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will continue on with its normal actions regardless of the ban considering the major backlash from the Justice Department.

While the executive order never specifically says that the United States is rejecting Muslim immigrants/refugees or that a religious test will be involved, there is no denying that this order encourages anti-Muslim rhetoric amongst citizens.

Even if it is not the intention of President Trump (which I sincerely pray it isn’t), there is major speculation and criticism of this order because the dialogue it is encouraging. While we can blame the news for being bias, we cannot deny there are citizens using this as evidence to back up their prejudice that all Muslims are terrorists. The facts of this is the countries that are listed in the order have not committed terrorist attacks on American soil. Then, there are countries, such as Saudi Arabia, who have terrorized American soil yet they are not on the list for the order. When I brought this information up in one of my class debates, a boy angrily said "Obama did the same thing" and proceeded to call me a “bitchy liberal”. (Side Note: If you look at the comparisons of implementation between President Obama's 2011 ban and this one, you will find that the 2011 ban surely slowed down the process yet did not halt it, was specific towards visa type, and was in response to a specific incident while President Trump's used a much more broad reasoning and excludes millions of people from many different kinds of visas)

I have yet to understand how a fact based argument is enough basis to be referred to as a “bitchy liberal” but if being upset about a political move that cuts off help for innocent, bleeding, and crying families then I am the bitchiest liberal on Earth.

Yet, my point of this article is not to argue whether this order is right or wrong, it is to shed some positive light on the creation of the “#ImAlreadyHome” campaign. This campaign, started by the Huffington Post Latino, has easily become my favorite trending thing.

Asides from the fact that my immediate reaction to this order was that it was discriminatory and unconstitutional, I also thought it was un-American. As a second generation Greek and Lebanese American, I pride myself on the fact that I live in a country of opportunity for people from all backgrounds.

The #ImAlreadyHome hashtag has amazing results, here are some of my favorites.

Screenshot taken from twitter handle: @1phototeach

https://twitter.com/1phototeach/status/82477649629...

Screenshot taken from twitter handle: @ntfabros

https://twitter.com/ntfabros/status/82482001541739...

Screenshot taken from twitter handle: @RepCarbajal

https://twitter.com/RepCarbajal/status/82477159339...

Personally, I originally felt so strongly appalled by this order but reassured by this campaign because I have my own story. My Papou (Greek for grandfather) was an immigrant at only thirteen years old. At thirteen, he came to this country by himself. He struggled through school, being placed in special education classes along with a slew of other immigrant children who were looked down upon just because they could not speak English. He took up a job in a restaurant peeling the skins off potatoes and that is where he found his idea for how he would build future success for his family. Then, restaurants became his passion. That is now the reason why I have been offered so many amazing opportunities in life.

This past October, my Papou, the immigrant, won the Sagamore of the Wabash Award for his service and support to our state. If you do not know what that is, that is the highest civilian honor in the state of Indiana. This award was signed by our then Governor and current Vice President Mike Pence.

So while you may be thinking that I do not know what I’m talking about and that this order does not affect legal citizens, I am asking you to think about this with a compassionate point of view. I am asking you to look at all the positive potential our country might possibly be throwing out the window with this order. Even if someone is a legal citizen, there is the strong possibility that there are other members of their family or friends that were trying to start a new life and follow their own pursuit of happiness in our country. We are shutting out future students, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and families just like mine and yours that simply want to create a better life for themselves.

To me, this campaign is more of a beautiful mosaic describing one of the most amazing American traditions of diversity, rather than a political platform. That is why I am proud that the cute, little man in the picture up at the header of this article is my Papou, surrounded by the generations he worked so hard to create a life for. That is why I am proud to say my Papou came here when he was only thirteen years old and four months ago, he won our state’s highest honor. That is why I am proud to say #ImAlreadyHome.