Constitutional Libertarianism

Constitutional Libertarianism

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Born to be an American family

My grandparents, well over 80 or 90 years ago now, were born in America as a result of their parents, my great-grandparents, coming from Mexico trying to make a better life.

They didn't come here to make money to send back to Mexico.  They didn't come here to have kids that would "anchor" them here".

They came to make a life and had kids in the process of living, Like most of us do.

When my grandparents,when asked about what nationality they were, would automatically reply, "American". 

They had to work their entire lives in farm fields, packing houses and as hospital house cleaning to make their living, but they did it.

They grew up in small mid-western towns, not being allowed in some restaurants.  Enduring the same forced segregation as any one else in the south.   Stores and movie theatres with bathrooms and drinking fountains that had signs.  one for white people, the other for everyone else.

My grandfather was beaten in the street to the point of hospitalization simply because he looked too "Mexican" to a couple of drunken "Americans" who came across him on their way from a bar.

To the day he died, he never claimed to be anything but an American.

All of my grandparents grew up speaking Spanish.  Their parents insisted that they learn to speak English though.  That's what Americans do, they speak English.

My grandparents were born Americans to people who came to America without "legal" paperwork.  Of course, this was back over around 90 years ago or so and the immigration laws were not the same as they are now.

They grew up, never getting much past the third and fourth grades in school because times were so hard that their families depended on them to help make ends meet at home.

They made sure though that their kids at least got to high school, more than they had accomplished.

I was the first one on that side of my family to get a post high school education.

Because of the example of my grandparents,  I take great pride in being an American.

Being an American means having opportunities. To go from people living as migratory farm workers with little to no schooling to being a homeowner and small business owner with a post high school education in three generations.

Talk about incredible opportunities.  It hasn't been easy or just given up.  WE have had to work hard, scratching for every bit of it as we went along.  Always being there to help each other when we could. 

My grandparents were perfect examples of giving others a hand up, not just a hand out.  If they helped you, it was because you earned it.  I expect to be the same way with my kids and grandkids when the day comes.

My family was born to be American.  We believe that you get what you make. Earning what you get instead of taking it like a common thief.  We have expectations of ourselves and others. 

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