This summer, I've been working in Chicago, Illinois. I am an intern for communication and external affairs at the City of Chicago in the city clerk's office. Anna Valencia is Chicago's city clerk and I have never seen someone so dedicated and loving to her community.
It got me thinking about how Chicago is home to some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the United States. Chicago is a city built and thrives on immigrants. Anna Valencia does so much to make everyone feel at home here, regardless of citizenship status.
Seeing her work with the community and immigration, I realized that we tend to forget and take for granted being a natural-born U.S. Citizen.
My journey with immigration goes to before I was born or even thought of. All the way back to the first half of the 20th century. My grandparents left Mexico at 16 to find a better life. With the booming industry in Chicago, they came there to find work and raise a family. Speaking only Spanish, they came here regardless of how they were treated, just for a chance for their children to live the American dream. That was on my father's side and my great grandparents on my Mother's side migrated here as well but that story is very similar to my dad's parents' story and many others seeking a better opportunity.
They came to America for the opportunity we pledge every day in school, they came for the reason we celebrate the fourth of July, they came to give my parents, me and all of our future family a better life.
It is heartbreaking that today, that is not possible in the slightest bit.
We live in an age of hate. We live in an age when certain groups are continuously trying to oppress other oppressed groups. We are going as far as keeping other human beings in cages, living in inhumane conditions. While I am not condoning the illegal immigration that happens, I am saying this is not the way to handle it.
The amount of hypocrisy that goes into saying that immigrants aren't welcomed here or go back to your country is appalling.
First of all, the only people who are actually 'true' Americans are the ones who have been murdered, oppressed, and confined to reservations when this whole entire country used to be their land. No matter what anyone says, this is not our land, we stole, killed, and raped our way to make this our land. Therefore, if you use the argument go back to your country, how about you go back to yours?
We are Americans. We are supposed to help each other out, be neighbors. That's why I don't understand how you can hate your neighbor for having different beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, or skin color.
Now more then ever it is important to take care of one another and show love for each other like we are supposed to in this country.
