Immigration

Yesterday in American History we watched a short documentary on Mexican immigrants. I really enjoyed it and it got me thinking. It told the story of a Latino man who handmade 1,000 bricks. All of that hard labor that he went through, translates into only $10 in American money. $10 for 1,000 bricks, at the most, maybe $20. That's really sad. We have people today that have laid-back, easy jobs that make almost that much in one hour of easy work.

The documentary went on and told about how education really isn't that important in Mexico. Once a person, especially male, gets to the age of 15, he is considered a man and is to be working like a man. In general, women pursue a little more education, unless they get married, which in Mexico is common by the tender age of 15. So, when they do finally get to America, where there is hope of success at easy money, they are getting the jobs that require little education.

Think about it. How many Mexicans do we have in political offices, big wigs, or office jobs? Not many, sadly. It is because of the lack of education that they are not able to obtain. They come to America, that was founded by immigrants. Who without them, we wouldn't exist as we do today. We are considered "the melting pot" or "the Land of Opportunities," of success. And we Americans are trying to force them out? "Oh, but they are stealing our jobs!" some say. What jobs? The jobs that involve little education and hard labor for little pay compared to the price of American life today. The jobs that we do not want to do because of the hard labor involved.

Mexicans come to America more than willing to work hard, because that's what they are used to in Mexico. And we are trying to make it harder for them to get into our country?

There was a touching part in that documentary describing how the families left back in Mexico feel. "I would like for my father to be able to find a job here in Mexico. But he can't. Instead he works in America." It then switch to the Mexican in America who misses his family and home, but has to stay in America to make money and hopefully have some to send back home.

This was something that really stuck to me. How much do we Americans take for granted? Our freedom for one. Our Constitution and it's contents. We have the right to religion, the right to vote for any race or gender, the right to even have an opinion. In other countries, they don't have these rights. We can go out there and easily get a job that will pay $8 an hour starting out and will rise with time. In other countries, they're lucky if they get that.

These freedoms of which I speak of did not come without a price. Support our troops, they are the reasoning why we have these rights, they are fighting for us! I hope that this blog has had a slight affect on you as it did me. Thank you very much for reading and your comments are welcomed and very much appreciated.

Dustin Hood