Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Oh, America.

Well I wasn't originally planning on writing this post but my friend convinced me otherwise. It's somewhat of a rant and if you don't agree with me please keep an open mind and listen to what I have to say before you argue with me.

America. Land of the free. Land of the brave. "My home, sweet home." But what is home, if not a place where you can feel welcome or feel like you belong?

Sure, America is a land of opportunity and a land of change. Where did we start? Colonists who were sick of being controlled by England and wanted to becone independent. Or maybe just selfish angry Brits who wanted to reap in the profits for their own and give nothing to their bosses. (don't we all feel like this sometimes?) All types of immigrants heard of this new land, wanted a chance to start their life anew. Make their own businesses, live differently. This is a day to celebrate our county's independence, right? But I'm not exactly happy. America was founded on the beliefs that everyone should have a chance at "life, liberty,and happiness". Everyone. Wasn't like that at first. Blacks had few to no rights. They were slaves. Women either. They couldn't vote or partake in "men's activities" and such. Slowly but surely people fought for their rights and now everyone is equal, right?

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not all, "This country sucks, the government is shit and nobody is safe. Believe in the aliens."

We Americans have done a pretty damn good job of forming something totally new and different, if not, innovative, and do well enough that a few other countries covet us and mimic us in technologies and politics and so on and so on.

Well let me say, well done, America.

No, seriously. No sarcasm here at all. I like this part of the U.S.

BUTT.. This is the big butt. There are always big butts in everything I do. (sorry, couldn't help myself.) Sometimes I feel like I don't belong. Or at least my family doesn't. Here. I'm the first generation. My parents are from another country. They put their heart and soul into making a good life for me here and pride themselves on being part American. Sure they keep their heritage, their customs, their habits and whatnot (that's what contibutes to the luscious, complicated, and unique melting pot we got goin' on here) but they also feel like they're part of something better here than in their own country. After all, this IS the place to start over new.

But they're not accepted. By this I mean they are still shunned sometimes by other "official Americans", if you know what I mean.

Where, in the damn constitution does it specify what color, background, you have to be to be qualified to become an American?!?!

It doesn't.

There are quite a lot of hardworking immigrants, from every country, that want to be a part of this amazing thing and aren't given the opportunity to become a citizen. And even still, their children are punished for their actions by not being allowed to qualify for the same education, status and opportunities as some of their friends who are here.

Sometimes I wonder, "Why celebrate my country if they don't celebrate the work of my parents?"

I don't want to get into specifics and all the law stuff. That's the main problem. But can't the voters and Dear Mr. President help to find a way to make the system work so it's a little more fair? Where are the promises made for US? MLK Jr. said once in a beautiful speech that the nation had given him and his brothers a "bad check". I feel like I've also been given a "bad check" with "insufficient funds" and that the nation is still in debt to my parents and others for their undying loyalty to their unloving America.

Please give minorities a chance.

No comments:

Post a Comment

I'M LONELY. You don't even have to sign in as anyone, you could troll the heck out of this blog if you really want to. Even if your comments are irrelevant or you start a comment war with yourself I don't mind.

I'd love to hear from you!