Playing by the Rules
Prepare for a piece of my mind.
So, the illegal immigrants are taking to the streets demanding naturalization. Does that sound whack to you that they’re here illegally but still making demands to the very country whose rules they violated?
I’m mad.
‘Cause I play by the rules and I get shoved.
Ok I’m understanding the need for illegal workers to be legal (whatever FOR? they’re already here working anyway) so they can work the restaurants/fields/carwashes/etc (in a more fearless manner, I guess). I also get the fact that some of them are here for survival reasons. But is it fair to me and thousands others who’ve taken the legal path, throwing money left and right on student visas/work visas/immigration lawyers, if the government ends up paying more attention to the ones BREAKING the rules?
I’m not bitching about who’s more skillful/educated to deserve the citizenship, because the computer programmers and engineers and nurses/MDs would kick my sorry butt in terms of contributing to the country. My point is that the law-abiding boys and girls are getting sidelined.
I even feel cheated. Kinda like in school, when I played by the rules [read: keeping the friends code of loyalty] but the same didn’t happen to me and I took the fall, or when I didn’t play the dating game and still got my heart broken.
Nothing in this world is fair, but at least here in the U.S. of A we’re not so quick to be cheated of our rights. It’s good to know that I can sue for sexual harassment if a boss/coworker’s comment makes me feel uncomfortable. Or that if my house gets broken into, the security will be on MY side instead of collaborating with the thugs (trust me, the reverse situation has personally happened).
These rights to protection are what make petite, defenseless-looking women like me feel safe. I can take care of myself, but I need to be empowered by the law and to know that it really works.
When I recently consulted a law firm about possibly applying for asylum, they said angrily that I had no case, as I did not immediately pursue it when I first arrived in the States. Silly me, back then I thought I’d follow the safer/more guaranteed route of the J-1 (exchange student) to a F-1 (student visa) to a H1B (work visa) and finally Permanent Residence. Playing it safe and, again, by the rules.
Let me clarify that I’m not hating on illegal immigrants. I’m just disappointed that my honest efforts aren’t being honored – I’m being reduced to contend in a lottery system, and in the end maybe losing the job, the love, and the life I could’ve had.
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What’s interesting about this magazine cover is that the silhouette was not computer-generated but rather a regular ol’ photograph. The Contents page says, “On the Cover: Photo by Brevin Blach. Model: April Vasquez.” I can picture [pun intended] this April girl being all excited, showing her family and friends that she made the cover of a magazine, but all of them are staring at the cover going, “Um, you look, uh, great…”
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Bro says my car would look better with black tail lights. Whatcha think?
Vote for:
A) Staying red.
OR:
B) Going black
