- Feb 11, 2007
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Video of debate between over status of Juan Gomez, an 18-year-old of Colombian descent who was brought here at the age of 2 illegally by his parents.
Information about the bill
Essentially one side argues that because Gomez is a good student, has been raised in the U.S., and is bearing the consequences for a crime he didn't commit, he should be given a chance at legal residency and in-state tuition.
The other argues that this is unfair to American citizens going to college that is subsidized by American tax dollars, and that parents are responsible for their actions and children.
But don't take my word for it, watch the debate, and there's a whole lot more to the issue of the DREAM act as a whole.
Personally, I don't believe that Gomez committed any crime and so he shouldn't be punished by having his life obliterated and be sent to a foreign war-torn country he probably has never been to after being raised in the U.S. Not only that, but if he he has lived in the U.S. all his life, (Given that he has not lived in some little foreign-media bubble) he's a damn American, and Americans should live in America (ie, the U.S.). I don't see what those 2 years of his life in Colombia or whether his parents came here legally or not have to do with him being a genuine American. He's only a foreigner on paper. But I suppose I'm biased having been in the same situation, and much of what I say about Gomez is what I would be saying about myself.
In my case, though, I can say my "country of origin" (loosely used) means absolutely nothing to me, being no more than a mythical chunk of land that I was born on that I have never lived in, never visited, and know nothing about other than what I have read. Having lived all my life in the U.S., I consider myself a bloody American, and being denied the right to live in my home country would really suck. My situation differs in that I was brought here legally at 6 months of age, though my Visa expired (because my parents...love them), and so it was a problem I was able to fix. But I can't help but imagine that if this weren't the case, and my parents came illegally, I'd be fucked for something I didn't do. Now, I know my parents aren't irresponsible enough to do something like that, but it's not like I have any influence over that. Or what if they were like, "Lawlz I lost teh pasportz/legil docyoomintz!!" My god.
But anyways, the parents committed the crime, and they're the foreigners, they should be the one's being deported. I don't really care about the in-state tuition (though I should add that many illegals do pay taxes), money can be had, but having a doctorate while being an illegal isn't going to do much good. And another thing is that because the government sucked at enforcing it's immigration laws, it allowed Gomez and his family to build a life here, which is the problem. Had that not happened, and they been deported earlier, Gomez would of grown a Colombian and the whole destroying someone's life thing and shipping them to some banana country would be a non-issue.
I think that's all I have to say for now, I'm feeling odd right now, not in the mood for a rant, having not slept and stuff. I put up part of my opinion and where it comes from, so if the P&N regulars will kindly bash each other's brains out over the topic...
Information about the bill
Essentially one side argues that because Gomez is a good student, has been raised in the U.S., and is bearing the consequences for a crime he didn't commit, he should be given a chance at legal residency and in-state tuition.
The other argues that this is unfair to American citizens going to college that is subsidized by American tax dollars, and that parents are responsible for their actions and children.
But don't take my word for it, watch the debate, and there's a whole lot more to the issue of the DREAM act as a whole.
Personally, I don't believe that Gomez committed any crime and so he shouldn't be punished by having his life obliterated and be sent to a foreign war-torn country he probably has never been to after being raised in the U.S. Not only that, but if he he has lived in the U.S. all his life, (Given that he has not lived in some little foreign-media bubble) he's a damn American, and Americans should live in America (ie, the U.S.). I don't see what those 2 years of his life in Colombia or whether his parents came here legally or not have to do with him being a genuine American. He's only a foreigner on paper. But I suppose I'm biased having been in the same situation, and much of what I say about Gomez is what I would be saying about myself.
In my case, though, I can say my "country of origin" (loosely used) means absolutely nothing to me, being no more than a mythical chunk of land that I was born on that I have never lived in, never visited, and know nothing about other than what I have read. Having lived all my life in the U.S., I consider myself a bloody American, and being denied the right to live in my home country would really suck. My situation differs in that I was brought here legally at 6 months of age, though my Visa expired (because my parents...love them), and so it was a problem I was able to fix. But I can't help but imagine that if this weren't the case, and my parents came illegally, I'd be fucked for something I didn't do. Now, I know my parents aren't irresponsible enough to do something like that, but it's not like I have any influence over that. Or what if they were like, "Lawlz I lost teh pasportz/legil docyoomintz!!" My god.
But anyways, the parents committed the crime, and they're the foreigners, they should be the one's being deported. I don't really care about the in-state tuition (though I should add that many illegals do pay taxes), money can be had, but having a doctorate while being an illegal isn't going to do much good. And another thing is that because the government sucked at enforcing it's immigration laws, it allowed Gomez and his family to build a life here, which is the problem. Had that not happened, and they been deported earlier, Gomez would of grown a Colombian and the whole destroying someone's life thing and shipping them to some banana country would be a non-issue.
I think that's all I have to say for now, I'm feeling odd right now, not in the mood for a rant, having not slept and stuff. I put up part of my opinion and where it comes from, so if the P&N regulars will kindly bash each other's brains out over the topic...
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