It irritates me that immigrants are allowed to just waltz in MY country and enjoy the freedoms and take up resources without having earned or contributed much to this nation to begin with. Although this is how I truly feel--I myself am an illegal alien. How did this come to be, you ask? and why do I refer to the US as "my" country? Allow me to enlighten you.

The U.S. does not stem from a common thread as in many other countries. While Americans share a unique heritage, to be American is not to share a common bloodline or personal history or even a birthplace on this soil. The only thing that binds us is a certain spirit of freedom, virtue, humanity and a great rule of law ( the constitution). To be American is an idea, not a birthright. If you adopt the virtues of America and pledge allegeance to America should you not be considered American? Should you be denied the freedoms, protection and benifits of being in America?

You see, I grew up here. I grew up with American Literature, American customs and American History. And so American history is MY history.The difference between me and the thousands of others like me is that I never seeked to come here, I was brought here as a child, a blank slate. And so grew up American. Those who come here as adults or even young adults have the customs and language of their respective countries ingrained to some degree. and so have difficulty in realizing the potential that this great nation affords them. So, some stay in their communities where they feel the most comfortable and safe and enjoy limited freedoms and opportunities (living as an illegal) that are still eons beyond what they ever had at home. I and others like me are different. We see America through your very eyes but are living like refugees.

My problem with the immigration laws are that it does not do anything to protect innocent children who are victims of the beaurocracy of The INS and cluelessness of third world educated parents. Myself and others like me who have so much potential to contribute so much to this country are gravely stifled by these immigration policies. It disheartens me to see people attack everyone through misguided protectionism like this.