Journal 4

Citizenship is not something I think about on a regular basis. When I think about immigration, I immediately think about politics, and the extreme popularity it portrays in the media, especially during election season. Clearly this has become more of an issue with population growth, and the massive diversity of human culture. You hear extreme stories of sacrifice for even the smallest chance at the dream people call America. A common theme I notice is struggle and heartache, mixed with strong determination and a dash of invincible will, which usually leads to some eventually triumph. In many of these experiences or stories people appear to go to hell and back before their dreams are made possible. For those who sought to know this great land, they’re steadfast persistence pays off. In my mind, modern day America is made up of this vast variety of people with common goals, many times making something out of nothing, but somehow making it work. My wish or hope is that anyone who had a desire to come to America would have the opportunity. I don’t know much about the process, but legal immigration seems fair, and illegal immigration needs some work. I know we provide aid to other nations, I also know that on the world stage the United states seems to capitalize on the small guys, and find some way for it to majorly favor the country. This is where I’m torn. I see other struggling countries, and ask, why can’t we fix this. There is a reason people are desperate to come to America. You hear or see stories that break your heart, but how can I fix this. These eternal ethical philosophical debates mostly occur when asked questions that force you to actually think about current issues. It’s nice to get them down on paper, and would encourage people to ask more questions. How can we help solve this issue, and how can we get started on and more involved in the process.