Freedom Folks

Sunday, November 20, 2005

The Misplaced Blame of Illegal Students

I'm giving fair warning on this post up front. I'm really going to piss some people off with what I have to say. But sometimes you've just got something that needs to be said, so here goes.

I attended the Immigration Justice Convention in Chicago yesterday. Read my overview here.

During the course of the gathering, several students took the podium to vehemently explain how the American government is unfairly denying them access to higher education. They openly admitted to, along with their parents, being "undocumented" or "not having papers." They have dreams and aspirations, they said, which are being denied them by this country. They want to know why they are being treated this way, and they demand that America, as a country of immigrants, give them what they want and deserve. They will tell you that their parents sacrificed so they could seek the American dream.

This is what I would say to them: you are asking the wrong questions of the wrong people.

Your parents brought you here illegally, with the full responsibility of knowing that you would not have access to the same benefits as those whose parents brought them legally. They probably hoped that things would change by the time you reached your current age, but it was a gamble, and one that they took with their eyes open. Now that you approach the age of 18, and the end of your stolen education, it appears that the gamble has not paid off.

You are angry, and understandably so. When was the last time you asked your parents why they took this gamble with their own innocent child? Why you were the sacrifice they made? You are the one who is now suffering the consequences, but you turn your anger not on those who put you in this situation, but rather on the government whose laws they knowingly broke to do so.

You may call me a racist for saying this, but I do not hate you or your parents. I don't care what country you came from or what color your skin is. I do care, however, that people are calling for our laws to mean nothing and for those who broke them to be rewarded rather than punished for it.

I know that you did not choose to come here illegally, but your parents did. Hold them accountable for their actions. Stop blaming America and Americans for the difficulties you now face. Ask your parents when and how they are going to do the right thing.

As seen @
California Conservative
The Political Teen
MVRWC
Cao's Blog (we love Cao)
Wizbang
TMH's Bacon Bits
Where Are My Socks?
Peakah's Provocations
The Uncooperative Blogger
The Florida Masochist
Choose Life
Don Surber
Is It Just Me?
Adam's Blog
Right On The Right
Right Wing Nation
Stop The ACLU