Compared to when the 14th amendment was first ratified in 1868 to now in 2016, it is interpreted in various ways and differs from from one person to another, but it has an overall same significance. In 1868 the 14th Amendment was passed to guarantee any person born or naturalized in the United States a citizen. It forbids any state to “abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens”. It established a constitutional guarantee of basic citizenship and protection of the law for ALL Americans, including African Americans. Before the 14th Amendment, African Americans could not become citizens meaning they had no rights and could not be free. This amendment granted African American slaves citizenship and protected their rights. Now in 2016 it is defining the importance of citizenship and whether or not children of illegal immigrant who are born in the United States should be citizens. For me it is hard to believe that there is people who try to find loopholes in things that have such a significance to our country and try to change the meaning of it. When I hear people say negative comments or say something that I disagree with I try to understand their position and mindset but most of the time I just don’t understand how they can insult so many people and think so negatively of immigrants. I think that if the 14th Amendment were to be be changed it will have a drastic impact on everyone and everything. If it were to be adjusted to specify whether or not children of illegal immigrants should become citizens, then I think it would go against all the motives that founding fathers believed in when they signed the constitution. It would change the entire image of the U.S. as a country who was built off of immigrants in the first colonies and are accepting of anyone who is in favor of a new opportunity but then doesn’t want to allow immigrants into our country. I think we as the nation who is based off of freedom and all these factors we should be accepting of immigrants or handle the issue in a better way than going against the constitution because I think that will be the start of chaos and more problems among our nation.
When public figures that have such an impact and influence on the people such as Pope Francis, their opinion can represent something very powerful. Pope Francis made this speech in Philadelphia while he visited the United States back in late September 2015. For me when I first heard Pope Francis talk about the issue of Immigration I was instantly intrigued and grew an even deeper admiration for him. I agreed with everything that he spoke about the issue. I think he encouraged many immigrants to stay positive and not be discouraged. He encouraged immigrants to never be ashamed of where they come from and to be proud of how far they have come. Immigrants have come so far and should be proud of how much they have contributed to the United States.
On the base of the Statue of Liberty there is a bronze plaque with an engraved poem by Emma Lazarus called “The New Colossus”.
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus: Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" When the topic of immigration in the United States comes up, most people automatically think of illegal immigration but don’t realize is that there is also legal immigration and the impact that both have on our country. From 1892 to 1954 over 12 million immigrants from all around the world entered the U.S. from the entryway of Ellis Island. Except for the First and Second class immigrants, Third class immigrants went through a health and legal inspections. After hours of waiting for inspection after the immigrants were cleared and passed the inspections they were free to go and start their new lives in the United States. Upon the arrival to the United States New York Harbor, one of the first thing that the immigrants saw was the Statue of Liberty. For the immigrants seeing the Statue of Liberty was a sign of welcome and a symbol of freedom.
Besides the scrapbook page I decided to paint the statue of liberty because she was the symbol if freedom for all the immigrants coming to the United States from all over the world. Although the picture in my last post shows a shortened version of such a powerful speech from President Obama I would like to include a longer version of the speech that I think makes it even stronger.
"Our American journey, our success, would simply not be possible without the generations of immigrants who have come to our shores from every corner of the globe. We say it so often, we sometimes forget what it means -- we are a nation of immigrants. Unless you are one of the first Americans, a Native American, we are all descended from folks who came from someplace else -- whether they arrived on the Mayflower or on a slave ship, whether they came through Ellis Island or crossed the Rio Grande. Immigrants signed their names to our Declaration and helped win our independence. Immigrants helped lay the railroads and build our cities, calloused hand by calloused hand. Immigrants took up arms to preserve our union, to defeat fascism, and to win a Cold War. Immigrants and their descendants helped pioneer new industries and fuel our Information Age, from Google to the iPhone. So the story of immigrants in America isn’t a story of "them," it’s a story of "us." It’s who we are. And now, all of you get to write the next chapter." I found this quote when I was researching evidence to support my stance in an argument essay. My stance was that I completely agreed with President Obama. Before any countries were completely established , many people traveled from continent to continent in hopes to start a new life in a new place. We are all foreigners and descended from ancestors from different parts around the world, if you're lucky. But unlike me, my ancestors are only from Mexico and there is nothing wrong with that and I am completely proud. I believe that immigrants are the people that helped in the creation of many countries. I believe that the reason for an immigrant to go to any country but more specifically to the U.S. is because they are in search for opportunities. As a nation that is based off of freedom and all related issues we should be accepting of immigrants and to give them a chance for a new opportunity.
The purpose of a satire poem is to use sarcasm and to express criticism on a topic that you disagree with but I chose to write the opposite. Instead of criticizing Mexican immigrants I chose to include some stereo types that are about Mexican immigrants. I did not write this to insult Mexican immigrants because I completely support their motives. I think that we as a nation who is based off of freedom and all the factors that they are looking for we should be accepting of immigrants moving to the U.S. in search for better opportunities.
|
AUTHORMelisa G. Castillo ARCHIVES
February 2016
CATEGORIES |