Do you ever stop to think that maybe everybody is an immigrant? I’ll be the first to admit it. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I am proud to be an immigrant. The bulk of my ancestors came over on boats from all over Europe. However, this is not about my heritage. This is about the ignorance that is slowly becoming not only rampant, but also normal behavior in society today.
I have so many issues with how certain government officials reacted to the events of May 1 that I could go on for hours. However, there is something, surprisingly enough, more disturbing than the thought of an elected official basically stating that the United States of America (the melting pot) has an unofficial-official language.
What could possibly be more shocking than that? Somehow, those individuals who have gotten themselves into a position of governmental power, whether it is local, state, or federal, must have forgotten their history. Now, I’m not just talking about American history; I’m talking about world, ancient, and whatever else kind of history there is.
At any given point in time, there has always been a dominant language, whether it was Latin, French, or Spanish. Today it is English (or American) depending on which side of the pond you are from.
The other part of this “missing history” and ignorance is in taking a different look at the word “immigrant.” By definition, the word immigrant means a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence. Makes sense, right?
How about a slightly different definition? Immigrant can also mean a plant or animal (and yes, we are animals) that becomes established in an area where it was previously unknown.
Take that last meaning and think about it. You graduate and your new job has you moving to Money, Mississippi. You will not know a single person when you get there. You will be an immigrant. Your child starts a new school and is labeled the “new kid.” He or she will be an immigrant.
This label or position is temporary. Everything on this planet is in a constant state of change. Everything around us is evolving, from technology to medicine to nature. Why is not possible for the human race to evolve? Why is it not possible for the relationships between nations to evolve? I guess to evolve, both ignorance and fear must be dealt with at not only the same time, but also all the time.
For more information concerning the day without an immigrant, visit http://daywithoutanimmigrant.com.