Immigration and America

            The issue of immigration to me is not who owns or deserves this land but who came here in the right way and fairly. My parents are both Immigrants and they came here via 747 in the 70’s and 80’s; they had to jump through all the bureaucratic hoops and starve, scrimp, and save what they could sometimes due to work regulations and had every chance to cheat and break the law to make their life easier. They didn’t do that not because the fear of getting caught but, because they understood the rule of law and that in time they were to earn their rights as citizens fairly and rightfully. So at the young age of eight years old as I myself was learning American history I had to teach my dad as well so he could take his citizenship test. I remember with great pride of watching my dad after he would sweat and toil, after 12 hours at work to come home and read with me and go through his old college history books and my school books for another 5 to 7 hours so he and I truly understood these important meanings and laws of the constitution from why the right to bear arms is so important and the history of the freedom of speech in America, the most important thing we read together is the fact that America had to fight for her existence and growth but, that we all had to give and more importantly EARN our fairshare in culture, in combat, and a lot of other realms of American life to make that the reality of the America we know now could happen.

            What infuriates me most is that are a whole crop of people have immigrated from the 80’s on. Who have unlike their ancestors and American generations prior have decided not to join the melting pot and contribute their heritage and story into the narrative that is America. More importantly understanding (in it’s history and language) of what makes America, America in those very same lessons I learned are so important. Have now taken and abused things that people fought and died for, and feverously demand that no one criticizes them for it and insist that because that they broke and disrespected the same thing that protects them (the laws of the land of naturalization, law enforcement, and civil rights) they should be exempt from it and allow it to continue without giving their fairshare and again insisting and demanding a status of unfair and unequal treatment. Is that what our founding fathers had in mind that if you have not paid your dues, learned the language, and helped your nation you should get priority over those who have? No nor would they imagined or allowed a concern of our national defense get so mired and bogged down on the basis of keeping the back door open to continue this aberration in the name of RE-ELECTION OR POLITICS by many in government. This now is endangering the lives of millions and making American major cities in the southwest war zones for illegal drugs and activities from implements and waste from abroad.

            What is needed now is someone who understands how to tackle this Goliath of an issue that requires the careful experience, expertise, and understanding what’s really at stake without severely harming America’s economy, sovergnity, and security. I found through the thicket of xenophobia, politicking and posturing were candidates offering catch phases and not answers. If they had answers they were incomplete and unaware of the gravity of the situation and offered more problems than answers and had more holes in their plans than the border fence. Where my logic lead myself was to Senator John McCain of Arizona (from a border state and in crosshairs of this battle) and his many attempts at trying to fix America’s illegal immigration problem. He at first trying to find a way to bridge the gap in one fell swoop with his earlier bill with Ted Kennedy and President Bush’s support; found not a lot support and backing for it. He later in course of trying to get the bill passed found that it had a lot of weaknesses and went back to the drawing board. So he tried again and at the urging and consulting of many of his constituents and collogues (and taking a que from guys like: Lieberman (I-Conn,) Kyl (R-AZ) and Hunter (R-CA)) looking at the real source of the problem was in security. Only from stopping the bleeding in, can we fix the problems on our borders and work on enforcement and fair labor issues. The fact that Senator McCain after taking on such a heated topic and took the heat that dealt with and didn’t succeed but, tried again is testament that he doesn’t care about posturing and politicking for the camera but, on resolving issues that are important to Americans and ensuring they work.

            Also Senator McCain understands that fair enforcement of immigration, labor, security and more importantly fairness is what makes the back bone of this country and what he plans to do with this Immigration plan leads right into this that we should have and need not what is politically convenient or popular but, what helps keep and make America what she is; a melting pot of culture, democracy, and prosperity. A pot that can continue growing and getting better by preventing it from overflowing with contaminates than can sour it. Also by holding the line and preventing those who wish ill will and want to come illegally to be prevented to do so and allowing those who wish to follow the rule of law and the time honored route to lawful citizenship to come in and thus, preserving that all important fairness in immigration and law enforcement.

            I do see John McCain standing up and standing with many Senators and Congresspeople from both sides of aisle is to get the fence built and then we can fix the internal issues it makes no sense to fix laws on the inside you can’t enforce because the hole in the fence on the outside is still creating the problem.

            My parents both waited in line and like millions of other immigrants who have done the same there is a sense of disrespect that my dad talks about when he talks about this current problem of illegal immigration and security. In that those who aren’t entering fairly/safely/legally and ducking from the law and financial responsibilities to the government. Hopefully with John McCain in the saddle and his vow to ensure that fairness, security, and strong enforcement in immigration is a priority and preventing this unfairness from continuing any longer.

Thank You,

Donnell Dike-Anukam