I got to watch a documentary recently about the hoops people have to jump through to become American citizens. My youngest nephew was adopted from outside the U.S. and it's been a bit of a nightmare for my sister to get everything in order for him. But it's been much easier (and less expensive) than it is to go through the naturalization process as an adult. I think a lot of Americans take for granted how lucky they are to have been born in this country and their citizenship becomes an afterthought. You don't truly appreciate the luxuries and rights you're guaranteed just because this is your birthplace. What really gets me are Americans who claim they are 'native' to this land. Everyone's ancestors came to this country from somewhere else and it was by no means originally a 'white' land as so many try to claim. The U.S. is built on many different faiths and colors, that's what allowed it to thrive and become what it is today. Unfortunately, it's also become an incredibly cocky nation and a good amount of people don't take advantage of basic things like voting. My mom has always said that if you don't take part in voting you have no right to complain about your government. I'll never forget the first time one of my best friends voted in an American election, he was so excited. He appreciated it more because he knew not everyone got the chance to have a say in how their country is run.
The process to go from entering the U.S. on a visa to green card status to becoming a naturalized citizen is ridiculously long and expensive. The movies like to glamorize it as you meet an American while here on vacation or work, you fall in love and get married and you're an instant American citizen and everyone's happy. In reality, you would have to prove your relationship was legitimate and then likely wait months or years for an official decision on whether or not you get that status. Hell, my cousin married a Canadian five years ago and she still has not gotten an official decision on her status. No matter which avenue you use to become a naturalized citizen, you have to fill out a million forms and take the test filled with questions that I know a lot of people born and raised in this country don't know the answers to. I mean, I'm shocked at how many people don't even know the words to Pledge of Allegiance or "The Star-Spangled Banner". (You really want chills, go to ANY Canadian sporting event and listen to every single man, woman and child sing every word to "Oh Canada". Yeah...it's Canada but you get my point). Once you travel to other countries you realize the difference between there and here and you can understand why people leave behind everything; kids, spouses, parents, to come to America. People risk their lives to get here. And once they do they're amazed at how much Americans have access to, even very basic things. I think they're much more appreciative than most Americans because of what they have to go through to get here and because they know how much worse the conditions are back where they came from.
Obviously illegal immigration is a huge issue right now but I don't understand people who want to round up everyone here illegally and send them back to where they came from, whether they have children born here or not. How do you lack that much compassion that you're willing to tear children away from their parents like that? I know for a fact the foster system is not the answer, I've had family members have horrible experiences there. Not to mention it's already overwhelmed and adding more kids is only gonna make that problem worse. The majority of those here illegally (and it's not just Mexicans, though you wouldn't know it the way the media focuses on the issue) actually do want to obtain legal status. But it's been made so difficult and expensive by the government that it hasn't been an option for them. And any person who says they should just stay in their home country if they can't afford the process should put themselves in the shoes of the immigrant. If you were being oppressed by your homeland's government and were living under the constant threat of violence, would you honestly just stay put with your family and wait for it to happen or would you try and do anything you possibly could to get them somewhere where they can have a better life, even if that meant crossing a border illegally? Of course you would if you want the best for the people you love. But no one thinks that way, no one ever walks a mile in someone else's shoes because it's not their problem. Instead they continue to try and find ways to evict people from the country because they're supposedly dangerous and taking jobs away from Americans. I don't understand the mentality of people who gain happiness by trying to keep other people down, be it illegal immigration or gay marriage.
