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The Danger of the Dream Act
As support gains steam in Latino academia for The Dream Act, which allows for higher education and a pathway to citizenship, we must also concern ourselves with the danger of the military component as a pathway to citizenship -- a major concern I have. Democrats and Republicans have successfully found a way to structure this bi-partisan legislation that traps immigrants into supporting the military recruitment of their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, cousins and friends.
They have combined a pathway to higher education and citizenship with recruiting Latino youth into a military that is being used to fight in two illegal wars based on lies in Iraq and Afghanistan (the Democratic Party is heavily involved in advocating for this legislation) . Now the Obama administration is developing plans to send U.S. troops to the U.S./Mexico border to fight the "drug war". As we all know, the best way to fight the drug war is to end poverty.
In March of 2008, the U.S. backed and armed Colombian military crossed the Ecuador/Colombian border to attack and kill "drug traffickers" . Ecuador immediately ceased diplomatic relations with Colombia and sent their military to the border to push the Colombian military back across the border. One month later Colombian troops crossed the Venezuelan/Colombia n border to attack and kill "drug traffickers" . Venezuela immediately ceased diplomatic relations with Colombia and sent two Army brigades to the border to push the Colombian military back across the border.
We must consider the long-term strategy of the U.S Pentagon: recruit spanish speaking immigrants into the U.S.military to be used in future wars of aggression against "drug trafficking" , or the Leftist/Progressive governments that have been recently democratically elected in El Salvador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, and others.
During the Vietnam war, U.S troops didn't understand the language or culture of the Vietnamese people. In the illegal Iraq and Afghanistan occupations, U.S. troops don't know the language or understand the culture of the Iraqi and Afghan people. In Latin America it will be different with the military recruitment of Latinos who know the language and cultures of Latin America.
Also during the Vietnam war there was a compulsory draft. After you turned 18 you got your draft notice. Today there is an all volunteer military which is a complete failure. Not enough young people are joining the military to replace the numbers leaving the military. That's why troops are being forced to return to Iraq, and now Afghanistan, for their 3rd, 4th, and even 5th tours. Not enough troops are re-enlisting, so the Pentagon has begun bribing them with bonuses up to $30,000.00. It isn't working.
Some argue if someone wants to join the military it's their "choice". But is it really a choice, or forced upon them? Today there is an ever growing "Poverty Draft". Many youth are joining the military because the U.S. economy is in free fall, education budgets are facing drastic cuts, unemployment is rising, and poverty wages aren't enough to live on. The bribery of signing bonuses and promises of "free" college benefits are the reality of the Poverty Draft.
During the Presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to escalate the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan by 20,000 more U.S. troops. He has now revised the escalation to 30,000! As a candidate, Obama said he would consult with his "commanders on the ground" for returning troops from Iraq. As President, he has now revealed he will continue the occupation up to 2011 with 50,000 U.S. troops, he then "intends" to return the rest.
The Pentagon is spending BILLIONS of tax payer dollars to militarize our youth by marketing the military to children, teens, and young people. They develop slick video games glorifying killing as fun, and advertise on corporate TV and sports programming -- English and Spanish language. JROTC programs are in our High Schools and military recruiters visit High School campuses with carnival style game booths and chin-up bars (there are many more examples). Our youth are being brainwashed with militarism everywhere in daily life. The Pentagon is militarizing our youth for the Poverty Draft.
It never used to be this way! The Pentagon is desperate to recruit because young people don't want to die or be maimed, physically or emotionally for life, by serving in a military that is being used for wars of aggression based on lies. The Dream Act was developed to encourage Latinos to support legislation that provides educational opportunity and a pathway to citizenship for some, while sacrificing the rest to serve in a military involved in two illegal wars, and now plans being developed to deploy U.S. "security" forces to the U.S./Mexico border.
The solution begins with clearly understanding the reasoning behind combining education and military service with a pathway to citizenship. Latinos must demand that an educational pathway to citizenship must be stand-alone legislation. Latinos should never support legislation that forces us to decide opportunity for some, while sacrificing the rest. Revise or Reject the Dream Act!
As of today 4,264 U.S troops have died in Iraq, 450 (11%) are Latino. During the Vietnam war, 58,200 U.S. troops and 8 nurses, were killed in Vietnam. How many Latinos? We don't know. Why? Because Latinos were/are listed as Caucasian! On May 20, 1967, my oldest brother Joseph Ledesma, Jr., was killed in combat in Vietnam. He was only 20 years old. I was 13, and became a Gold Star Brother on that day. Joey was attending West Valley College when he got his Draft notice. On the Vietnam Memorial Wall website all U.S. troops and the 8 nurses have a page dedicated to each them. On my brothers page he is listed as Caucasian. Check out the link: http://www.thewall- usa.com (enter Joseph Ledesma, then "Start Search"). Enter your own surname to see how many Latinos with your last name died in Vietnam. For example: Garcia - 102 deaths.
My Grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico 100 years ago. My mother's parents from Zacatecas, my father's parents from San Luis Potosi. The racism that Mexicanos have experienced for over 100 years in the U.S. is glaringly evident on that website listing our sons, grandsons, brothers, cousins, and friends as Caucasian.
Our people have crossed the border for over 100 years, and the racism continues. Immigrants are labeled as "illegals" and "aliens". Looking at the bigger picture and connecting the dots, we must conclude and advocate that immigrants from Mexico, and now throughout Latin America, come to the U.S. to escape the poverty in their home countries which is caused by government corruption on both sides of the border. One hand washing the other. Immigrants are victims of this cooperative government corruption, not criminals. They are doubly victimized by the racism experienced in the U.S. with ICE raids, forced deportations, and media name calling and scape goating.
All of this brings us back to the Dream Act. This legislation offers education for some, while requiring their enthusiastic endorsement to abandon the rest of our brothers and sisters into a military Poverty Draft. We must also consider the escalating border militarization to fight the "drug war" that could erupt throughout Latin America. We must stand together, just as we did in 2006 during the national Immigrant Rights marches across the U.S., in numbers too large to ignore. We must not accept legislation that combines education for some and a military nightmare for the rest, as Association of Raza Educators and Somos Raza (Los Angeles-San Diegio-Oxnard) have been advocating. Our Dream Shall Not Be A Nightmare! No one should have to kill, or support killing for an education or citizenship.
David Ledesma
Gold Star Brother
San José, CA
One Voice!
Link to info about my brother PFC Joseph Ledesma, Jr. Killed in Action May 20, 1967 http://www.cacti35th.org/regiment/kia/kia_details.php?person_id=512&battalion=2nd
In March of 2008, the U.S. backed and armed Colombian military crossed the Ecuador/Colombian border to attack and kill "drug traffickers" . Ecuador immediately ceased diplomatic relations with Colombia and sent their military to the border to push the Colombian military back across the border. One month later Colombian troops crossed the Venezuelan/Colombia n border to attack and kill "drug traffickers" . Venezuela immediately ceased diplomatic relations with Colombia and sent two Army brigades to the border to push the Colombian military back across the border.
We must consider the long-term strategy of the U.S Pentagon: recruit spanish speaking immigrants into the U.S.military to be used in future wars of aggression against "drug trafficking" , or the Leftist/Progressive governments that have been recently democratically elected in El Salvador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, and others.
During the Vietnam war, U.S troops didn't understand the language or culture of the Vietnamese people. In the illegal Iraq and Afghanistan occupations, U.S. troops don't know the language or understand the culture of the Iraqi and Afghan people. In Latin America it will be different with the military recruitment of Latinos who know the language and cultures of Latin America.
Also during the Vietnam war there was a compulsory draft. After you turned 18 you got your draft notice. Today there is an all volunteer military which is a complete failure. Not enough young people are joining the military to replace the numbers leaving the military. That's why troops are being forced to return to Iraq, and now Afghanistan, for their 3rd, 4th, and even 5th tours. Not enough troops are re-enlisting, so the Pentagon has begun bribing them with bonuses up to $30,000.00. It isn't working.
Some argue if someone wants to join the military it's their "choice". But is it really a choice, or forced upon them? Today there is an ever growing "Poverty Draft". Many youth are joining the military because the U.S. economy is in free fall, education budgets are facing drastic cuts, unemployment is rising, and poverty wages aren't enough to live on. The bribery of signing bonuses and promises of "free" college benefits are the reality of the Poverty Draft.
During the Presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to escalate the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan by 20,000 more U.S. troops. He has now revised the escalation to 30,000! As a candidate, Obama said he would consult with his "commanders on the ground" for returning troops from Iraq. As President, he has now revealed he will continue the occupation up to 2011 with 50,000 U.S. troops, he then "intends" to return the rest.
The Pentagon is spending BILLIONS of tax payer dollars to militarize our youth by marketing the military to children, teens, and young people. They develop slick video games glorifying killing as fun, and advertise on corporate TV and sports programming -- English and Spanish language. JROTC programs are in our High Schools and military recruiters visit High School campuses with carnival style game booths and chin-up bars (there are many more examples). Our youth are being brainwashed with militarism everywhere in daily life. The Pentagon is militarizing our youth for the Poverty Draft.
It never used to be this way! The Pentagon is desperate to recruit because young people don't want to die or be maimed, physically or emotionally for life, by serving in a military that is being used for wars of aggression based on lies. The Dream Act was developed to encourage Latinos to support legislation that provides educational opportunity and a pathway to citizenship for some, while sacrificing the rest to serve in a military involved in two illegal wars, and now plans being developed to deploy U.S. "security" forces to the U.S./Mexico border.
The solution begins with clearly understanding the reasoning behind combining education and military service with a pathway to citizenship. Latinos must demand that an educational pathway to citizenship must be stand-alone legislation. Latinos should never support legislation that forces us to decide opportunity for some, while sacrificing the rest. Revise or Reject the Dream Act!
As of today 4,264 U.S troops have died in Iraq, 450 (11%) are Latino. During the Vietnam war, 58,200 U.S. troops and 8 nurses, were killed in Vietnam. How many Latinos? We don't know. Why? Because Latinos were/are listed as Caucasian! On May 20, 1967, my oldest brother Joseph Ledesma, Jr., was killed in combat in Vietnam. He was only 20 years old. I was 13, and became a Gold Star Brother on that day. Joey was attending West Valley College when he got his Draft notice. On the Vietnam Memorial Wall website all U.S. troops and the 8 nurses have a page dedicated to each them. On my brothers page he is listed as Caucasian. Check out the link: http://www.thewall- usa.com (enter Joseph Ledesma, then "Start Search"). Enter your own surname to see how many Latinos with your last name died in Vietnam. For example: Garcia - 102 deaths.
My Grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico 100 years ago. My mother's parents from Zacatecas, my father's parents from San Luis Potosi. The racism that Mexicanos have experienced for over 100 years in the U.S. is glaringly evident on that website listing our sons, grandsons, brothers, cousins, and friends as Caucasian.
Our people have crossed the border for over 100 years, and the racism continues. Immigrants are labeled as "illegals" and "aliens". Looking at the bigger picture and connecting the dots, we must conclude and advocate that immigrants from Mexico, and now throughout Latin America, come to the U.S. to escape the poverty in their home countries which is caused by government corruption on both sides of the border. One hand washing the other. Immigrants are victims of this cooperative government corruption, not criminals. They are doubly victimized by the racism experienced in the U.S. with ICE raids, forced deportations, and media name calling and scape goating.
All of this brings us back to the Dream Act. This legislation offers education for some, while requiring their enthusiastic endorsement to abandon the rest of our brothers and sisters into a military Poverty Draft. We must also consider the escalating border militarization to fight the "drug war" that could erupt throughout Latin America. We must stand together, just as we did in 2006 during the national Immigrant Rights marches across the U.S., in numbers too large to ignore. We must not accept legislation that combines education for some and a military nightmare for the rest, as Association of Raza Educators and Somos Raza (Los Angeles-San Diegio-Oxnard) have been advocating. Our Dream Shall Not Be A Nightmare! No one should have to kill, or support killing for an education or citizenship.
David Ledesma
Gold Star Brother
San José, CA
One Voice!
Link to info about my brother PFC Joseph Ledesma, Jr. Killed in Action May 20, 1967 http://www.cacti35th.org/regiment/kia/kia_details.php?person_id=512&battalion=2nd
For more information:
http://www.one-voice.info/
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Several allies and 'immigrant rights advocates' have raised some crucial points that hinder progressive support for the DREAM Act—points that several activist students have had to encounter in the form of artless dissent from leftist intellectuals and liberals.
We are talking about dissenters like the Association of La Raza Educators, Somos Raza, Immigrant Solidarity Network, American Friends and Service Committee, a few Latino immigrant rights activists, respectable bloggers such as XP, and even the National Lawyers Guild that refuses to take a stance on the DREAM Act. Why? They dislike the military provision in the DREAM Act that could make certain ethnic minority students such as Latino kids in the barrios more susceptible to recruitment by military officials. This is not a moot point—it is a cause for concern but it requires several hundred grams of historicizing and perspective.
First, let us clear the misinformation circulating about the DREAM Act in the progressive sphere.
1. No one is forced into joining the military due to the DREAM Act
2. The new version of the DREAM Act allows for federal work study and repeals the 1996 provision that bars states from providing tuition equity and aide for students.
3. Conditional residency comes with the same rights and privileges as legal ‘green card’ residency that is re-evaluated after 6 years and contingent on the completion of these two requirements:
* Get a GED and finish two years of college within 6 years OR
* Join the military
For any conscientious individual, enlisting in a military that fights wars for corporate profit and greed is simply unacceptable. But that is hardly any reason to oppose the DREAM Act.
First, there is already a perpetual war against immigrant youth here at home:
Unauthorized migrant youth are already fighting a war here in the U.S. The war is the product of a targeted campaign by nativist groups that they call "attrition through enforcement." I encourage you to look it up. Attrition through enforcement means they want to make life so miserable for unauthorized migrants that they leave on their own . They want to make life more miserable than the horrible conditions migrants are fleeing from. And let me tell you, they are succeeding.
- Citizen Orange
Overseas, we are destroying families, communities, killing innocent children, deferring their dreams permanently through a ‘war against terrorism’ and at home we are killing the spirit and dreams of our undocumented immigrant youth by deporting them while destroying families and local economies in ICE raids. Even the beneficiaries of both wars are a similar prototype: CORPORATIONS. While big oil and security companies stand to gain most from the new spaces of neo-liberal globalization created by waging war against sovereign peoples, corrections and security companies also make big moolah with the creation of new spaces of detention. Why create a binary between the two wars? They are both part of United States policy.
Opposing the DREAM Act because one opposes the military draft misses another crucial point. Dissenters often claim that the act is anti-Mexican Americans because this is the population most susceptible and likely to not make it to college and be drafted by the military. It is true that only 1 out of 20 Latino students attend college and the rest may be open to exploitation but that is due to limited options, lack of affordability, and the hopelessness of being undocumented. To borrow from Duke at Migra Matters:
Would the prospect that with an education comes not only legal status but opportunities long denied, have a long term positive effect on educational performance? I think the answer would of course be yes. Would DREAM overnight change failing schools into success stories, or overcome years of government and societal neglect…of course not. But it would for the first time make an education pay off for a population that has not really benefited from one before. This would be an enormous paradigm shift.
Why not work to give the 19 other students help and resources to attend college instead of opposing the opportunity altogether? Why not provide scholarship funds and resources for them instead of shutting the doors on educational access? The DREAM Act provides students with hope that there is something beyond high school and it also contains provisions for higher education assistance. In an unreleased study of the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, high school dropout rates for California (a state that provides in-state tuition to undocumented students in college) and North Carolina (a state that bans undocumented students from attending college) were compared and the numbers revealed something hardly surprising: high school graduation rates for immigrant students, especially Latinos, had increased in California despite cutbacks in education whereas the reverse was true in North Carolina. Clearly, providing opportunities for higher education is one way of ensuring that we do not create a permanent underclass of uneducated immigrant youth in our country.
Without a foreseeable future, many undocumented immigrant youth are more susceptible to drop out of school before finishing high school. If there are no opportunities for a child after high school, how does one expect that child to be motivated to continue their education? Once they realize that all doors and windows of opportunity are closed to them, undocumented students find themselves stuck in neutral: unable to move forward of their own volition and too often reminded of the past that created the situation. Can we then claim that opposing an educational opportunity such as the DREAM Act is precisely what creates conditions for military recruitment? You bet. Undocumented students are joining the military right now, putting themselves at risk of death and deportation, just to get legalized since going to college does not give them that option. A backdoor draft for undocumented immigrant youth already exists because there aren't enough opportunities for legalization such as H-I-G-H-E-R E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N. In effect, opposing the DREAM Act means putting the lives of countless students at risk. So much for opposing militarization ...
On a historical note, does anyone remember the debacle of the Equal Rights Amendment for women which only stipulated that equal rights under any federal, state or local law could not be denied on the basis of sex? The proposed amendment failed to pass in 1982 not due to widespread sexism, but due to conservative women, anti-abortion politicians and feminists with anti-military roots who feared and purported that giving equal rights to women would leave them more vulnerable to a military draft. Hence, this country did not approve a constitutional amendment for equal rights for women. In hindsight, that is despicable and we must ensure that the same does not happen to immigrant youth as we fight for our own civil right to exist in the only country we call our home.
That said, it does not matter that these progressives are unable to find undocumented students that openly oppose the DREAM Act on their own accord (Nothing like 13,000 strong for the DREAM Act here and here)—they would rather adjudicate about our civil rights from their own places of power and privilege. 715,000 undocumented students aged 5 to 17 could be inspired by the DREAM act to finish high school. Instead of supporting a bill that serves as a tool of empowerment and encouragement or fighting against militarization after the bill is passed, our progressive friends would rather condemn ALL immigrant youth to a permanent underclass of poverty and despair. Congratulations, you are a real ‘progressive.’
For many immigrant youth struggling through school and life, this is offensive and backstabbing behavior. How can anyone sit in the safety and comfort of their privilege and tell us that most of us cannot go to college because others might have to join the military? How can someone profess to stand for immigrant rights when they do not want to enable immigrant youth to work and earn resources for immigrant communities? How does an immigrant rights activist oppose the DREAM Act when it is the litmus test for any comprehensive bill? Why oppose a legislation that challenges the homogenous view of all migrants as criminals, law-breakers and a drain to society—a problem that plagues immigration debate in this country?
Dissenters would call us 'Me-First' and trumpet their 'Legalization For All' in all-caps much like nativists. Since when did advocating legalization options for certain communities become into a zero-sum game of "all or nothing" or branded into piecemeal? Do these 'legalization for all' people openly attack UAFA advocates and also call us elitist for advocating the right to stay in this country with the ones we love? If yes, take a hike. If no, great, call Congress as Matias suggests here and fight for just and humane immigration reform or anything you believe in but do not stand in the way of our dreams. If we cannot pass the DREAM Act, we cannot possibly conceive of getting any sort of just and humane immigration reform passed. That is why the pro-enforcement nativists clamor against the moderate, bipartisan DREAM Act—they know giving in to immigrant youth means empowering a whole new generation of promigrant activism and setting the stage for the passage of more comprehensive bills. THAT is their real nightmare. Therefore, finding oneself aligned with Michelle Malkin and Faux News is hardly a sign of progressivism and change, let alone being on the right side.
This is political but ultimately, it is also personal. An undocumented student, Maria, tells us that:
When a person is given one shot at something that they have been denied all their life, that one person will not take such an opportunity for granted. A perfect example would be when African Americans were not allowed to attend the same schools as whites, and instead of giving up, they fought hard for that chance that they knew they deserved. Years later, we are in the 21st century where the first African American president has been elected. This would not have been possible had African Americans not fought for what they deserved, and had they not been given a chance. Therefore, it is my firm belief that if undocumented students were to be given that same opportunity, other smart, driven, and successful leaders would emerge.
Our personal narratives are here for everyone to see. The million dollar question for the progressive dissenters: Are we going to let immigrant youth lead and support each other with hope or try and squash them with fear of unknown hypotheticals?
And what about youth that do want to serve in the military? How does one look Noe Guzman and Pablo in the eye and tell them "Sorry, we don't support your right to citizenship because you want to join the armed forces? It doesn't matter if you are willing to serve in the military and die for this country. That should not give you citizenship."
There is something that these ‘immigrant rights advocates’ can do and the suggestion comes from Citizen Orange:
The DREAM Act originally included a third path to citizenship for unauthorized migrant youth. There used to be a community service provision in the DREAM Act. During the campaign, those of us at The Sanctuary were able to get Barack Obama to reaffirm his support for the community service provision of the DREAM Act.
The Sanctuary: Do you support the community service requirement of previous DREAM Act legislation that would grant provisional (conditional) legal status to immigrant graduates who perform 910 hours of community service?
Barack Obama: Yes.
The Sanctuary (18 September 2008)
Those who are skeptical of the military provision of the DREAM Act should push for the community service provision of the DREAM Act. To oppose it outright though is unfair to unauthorized migrant youth that have so much activism and hope invested in the DREAM Act.
We already have to battle it out with nativists and with our life circumstances. We do not want to be fighting with our friends and allies too. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
A final note from a fellow Dreamer, Matias from UndergroundUndergrads:
Everyone that knows the path towards "LEGALIZATION FOR ALL" is a strenuous and difficult one, and that we build that road one step at a time by working together and being strategic...
Everyone who understands that the faster we as undocumented youth move towards a path to citizenship, the faster we can push our voting power to prevent foreign policy catastrophes like Iraq and Afghanistan to happen again...
Please use your own power, and keep calling in support of progressive ideals you believe in, whether it be the DREAM Act, Just and Humane Immigration Reform, or an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!
And, whatever you do, work towards progress and do not claim the high road of "all-caps" email yelling and tokenization of undocumented youth.
Support immigrant youth. Support the DREAM Act.
We are talking about dissenters like the Association of La Raza Educators, Somos Raza, Immigrant Solidarity Network, American Friends and Service Committee, a few Latino immigrant rights activists, respectable bloggers such as XP, and even the National Lawyers Guild that refuses to take a stance on the DREAM Act. Why? They dislike the military provision in the DREAM Act that could make certain ethnic minority students such as Latino kids in the barrios more susceptible to recruitment by military officials. This is not a moot point—it is a cause for concern but it requires several hundred grams of historicizing and perspective.
First, let us clear the misinformation circulating about the DREAM Act in the progressive sphere.
1. No one is forced into joining the military due to the DREAM Act
2. The new version of the DREAM Act allows for federal work study and repeals the 1996 provision that bars states from providing tuition equity and aide for students.
3. Conditional residency comes with the same rights and privileges as legal ‘green card’ residency that is re-evaluated after 6 years and contingent on the completion of these two requirements:
* Get a GED and finish two years of college within 6 years OR
* Join the military
For any conscientious individual, enlisting in a military that fights wars for corporate profit and greed is simply unacceptable. But that is hardly any reason to oppose the DREAM Act.
First, there is already a perpetual war against immigrant youth here at home:
Unauthorized migrant youth are already fighting a war here in the U.S. The war is the product of a targeted campaign by nativist groups that they call "attrition through enforcement." I encourage you to look it up. Attrition through enforcement means they want to make life so miserable for unauthorized migrants that they leave on their own . They want to make life more miserable than the horrible conditions migrants are fleeing from. And let me tell you, they are succeeding.
- Citizen Orange
Overseas, we are destroying families, communities, killing innocent children, deferring their dreams permanently through a ‘war against terrorism’ and at home we are killing the spirit and dreams of our undocumented immigrant youth by deporting them while destroying families and local economies in ICE raids. Even the beneficiaries of both wars are a similar prototype: CORPORATIONS. While big oil and security companies stand to gain most from the new spaces of neo-liberal globalization created by waging war against sovereign peoples, corrections and security companies also make big moolah with the creation of new spaces of detention. Why create a binary between the two wars? They are both part of United States policy.
Opposing the DREAM Act because one opposes the military draft misses another crucial point. Dissenters often claim that the act is anti-Mexican Americans because this is the population most susceptible and likely to not make it to college and be drafted by the military. It is true that only 1 out of 20 Latino students attend college and the rest may be open to exploitation but that is due to limited options, lack of affordability, and the hopelessness of being undocumented. To borrow from Duke at Migra Matters:
Would the prospect that with an education comes not only legal status but opportunities long denied, have a long term positive effect on educational performance? I think the answer would of course be yes. Would DREAM overnight change failing schools into success stories, or overcome years of government and societal neglect…of course not. But it would for the first time make an education pay off for a population that has not really benefited from one before. This would be an enormous paradigm shift.
Why not work to give the 19 other students help and resources to attend college instead of opposing the opportunity altogether? Why not provide scholarship funds and resources for them instead of shutting the doors on educational access? The DREAM Act provides students with hope that there is something beyond high school and it also contains provisions for higher education assistance. In an unreleased study of the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, high school dropout rates for California (a state that provides in-state tuition to undocumented students in college) and North Carolina (a state that bans undocumented students from attending college) were compared and the numbers revealed something hardly surprising: high school graduation rates for immigrant students, especially Latinos, had increased in California despite cutbacks in education whereas the reverse was true in North Carolina. Clearly, providing opportunities for higher education is one way of ensuring that we do not create a permanent underclass of uneducated immigrant youth in our country.
Without a foreseeable future, many undocumented immigrant youth are more susceptible to drop out of school before finishing high school. If there are no opportunities for a child after high school, how does one expect that child to be motivated to continue their education? Once they realize that all doors and windows of opportunity are closed to them, undocumented students find themselves stuck in neutral: unable to move forward of their own volition and too often reminded of the past that created the situation. Can we then claim that opposing an educational opportunity such as the DREAM Act is precisely what creates conditions for military recruitment? You bet. Undocumented students are joining the military right now, putting themselves at risk of death and deportation, just to get legalized since going to college does not give them that option. A backdoor draft for undocumented immigrant youth already exists because there aren't enough opportunities for legalization such as H-I-G-H-E-R E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N. In effect, opposing the DREAM Act means putting the lives of countless students at risk. So much for opposing militarization ...
On a historical note, does anyone remember the debacle of the Equal Rights Amendment for women which only stipulated that equal rights under any federal, state or local law could not be denied on the basis of sex? The proposed amendment failed to pass in 1982 not due to widespread sexism, but due to conservative women, anti-abortion politicians and feminists with anti-military roots who feared and purported that giving equal rights to women would leave them more vulnerable to a military draft. Hence, this country did not approve a constitutional amendment for equal rights for women. In hindsight, that is despicable and we must ensure that the same does not happen to immigrant youth as we fight for our own civil right to exist in the only country we call our home.
That said, it does not matter that these progressives are unable to find undocumented students that openly oppose the DREAM Act on their own accord (Nothing like 13,000 strong for the DREAM Act here and here)—they would rather adjudicate about our civil rights from their own places of power and privilege. 715,000 undocumented students aged 5 to 17 could be inspired by the DREAM act to finish high school. Instead of supporting a bill that serves as a tool of empowerment and encouragement or fighting against militarization after the bill is passed, our progressive friends would rather condemn ALL immigrant youth to a permanent underclass of poverty and despair. Congratulations, you are a real ‘progressive.’
For many immigrant youth struggling through school and life, this is offensive and backstabbing behavior. How can anyone sit in the safety and comfort of their privilege and tell us that most of us cannot go to college because others might have to join the military? How can someone profess to stand for immigrant rights when they do not want to enable immigrant youth to work and earn resources for immigrant communities? How does an immigrant rights activist oppose the DREAM Act when it is the litmus test for any comprehensive bill? Why oppose a legislation that challenges the homogenous view of all migrants as criminals, law-breakers and a drain to society—a problem that plagues immigration debate in this country?
Dissenters would call us 'Me-First' and trumpet their 'Legalization For All' in all-caps much like nativists. Since when did advocating legalization options for certain communities become into a zero-sum game of "all or nothing" or branded into piecemeal? Do these 'legalization for all' people openly attack UAFA advocates and also call us elitist for advocating the right to stay in this country with the ones we love? If yes, take a hike. If no, great, call Congress as Matias suggests here and fight for just and humane immigration reform or anything you believe in but do not stand in the way of our dreams. If we cannot pass the DREAM Act, we cannot possibly conceive of getting any sort of just and humane immigration reform passed. That is why the pro-enforcement nativists clamor against the moderate, bipartisan DREAM Act—they know giving in to immigrant youth means empowering a whole new generation of promigrant activism and setting the stage for the passage of more comprehensive bills. THAT is their real nightmare. Therefore, finding oneself aligned with Michelle Malkin and Faux News is hardly a sign of progressivism and change, let alone being on the right side.
This is political but ultimately, it is also personal. An undocumented student, Maria, tells us that:
When a person is given one shot at something that they have been denied all their life, that one person will not take such an opportunity for granted. A perfect example would be when African Americans were not allowed to attend the same schools as whites, and instead of giving up, they fought hard for that chance that they knew they deserved. Years later, we are in the 21st century where the first African American president has been elected. This would not have been possible had African Americans not fought for what they deserved, and had they not been given a chance. Therefore, it is my firm belief that if undocumented students were to be given that same opportunity, other smart, driven, and successful leaders would emerge.
Our personal narratives are here for everyone to see. The million dollar question for the progressive dissenters: Are we going to let immigrant youth lead and support each other with hope or try and squash them with fear of unknown hypotheticals?
And what about youth that do want to serve in the military? How does one look Noe Guzman and Pablo in the eye and tell them "Sorry, we don't support your right to citizenship because you want to join the armed forces? It doesn't matter if you are willing to serve in the military and die for this country. That should not give you citizenship."
There is something that these ‘immigrant rights advocates’ can do and the suggestion comes from Citizen Orange:
The DREAM Act originally included a third path to citizenship for unauthorized migrant youth. There used to be a community service provision in the DREAM Act. During the campaign, those of us at The Sanctuary were able to get Barack Obama to reaffirm his support for the community service provision of the DREAM Act.
The Sanctuary: Do you support the community service requirement of previous DREAM Act legislation that would grant provisional (conditional) legal status to immigrant graduates who perform 910 hours of community service?
Barack Obama: Yes.
The Sanctuary (18 September 2008)
Those who are skeptical of the military provision of the DREAM Act should push for the community service provision of the DREAM Act. To oppose it outright though is unfair to unauthorized migrant youth that have so much activism and hope invested in the DREAM Act.
We already have to battle it out with nativists and with our life circumstances. We do not want to be fighting with our friends and allies too. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
A final note from a fellow Dreamer, Matias from UndergroundUndergrads:
Everyone that knows the path towards "LEGALIZATION FOR ALL" is a strenuous and difficult one, and that we build that road one step at a time by working together and being strategic...
Everyone who understands that the faster we as undocumented youth move towards a path to citizenship, the faster we can push our voting power to prevent foreign policy catastrophes like Iraq and Afghanistan to happen again...
Please use your own power, and keep calling in support of progressive ideals you believe in, whether it be the DREAM Act, Just and Humane Immigration Reform, or an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!
And, whatever you do, work towards progress and do not claim the high road of "all-caps" email yelling and tokenization of undocumented youth.
Support immigrant youth. Support the DREAM Act.
For more information:
http://dreamactivist.org
The key is use our energy and time to educate our youth of the value of education. Let them know that we can bridge the gap between poverty and success if we start early on the right path instead of gathering support to change the proposed legislation and consequently end up with what we ended up with in 2007, nothing.
The military option is an option and for many DREAMies it's their DREAM to serve but it's ok with you to bock that as well. The results you fear DREAM can incur can be avoided if we the educated Latinos actually take the time to go back to our neighborhoods and teach them our lessons learned and serve as prove that we're not destined for poverty and that hard work (in school) does rewards. Instead of rallying people to change the legislation you should rally them to go back and inform their neighborhoods on the importance of education. The military option is just an option and if you don't agree with it spend more time educating the youth of the importance of education so that it remains that, just an option. If you get rid of that option you lower the chances of DREAM and with that any option DREAMies have, so thank you for that.
It's easy to think what's best for people when you don't know what it means. You might know something about immigration but your experience is quite limited to being a DREAMie. A fork in the road is better than a dead end that is what you're going for when you suggest changes to the legislation that will most definitely happen if we follow your logic. Please spend more time educating the youth on the importance and means to continuing with their education instead of rallying support to change a legislation that has NO EFFECT on you.
The military option is an option and for many DREAMies it's their DREAM to serve but it's ok with you to bock that as well. The results you fear DREAM can incur can be avoided if we the educated Latinos actually take the time to go back to our neighborhoods and teach them our lessons learned and serve as prove that we're not destined for poverty and that hard work (in school) does rewards. Instead of rallying people to change the legislation you should rally them to go back and inform their neighborhoods on the importance of education. The military option is just an option and if you don't agree with it spend more time educating the youth of the importance of education so that it remains that, just an option. If you get rid of that option you lower the chances of DREAM and with that any option DREAMies have, so thank you for that.
It's easy to think what's best for people when you don't know what it means. You might know something about immigration but your experience is quite limited to being a DREAMie. A fork in the road is better than a dead end that is what you're going for when you suggest changes to the legislation that will most definitely happen if we follow your logic. Please spend more time educating the youth on the importance and means to continuing with their education instead of rallying support to change a legislation that has NO EFFECT on you.
For more information:
http://www.universityleadership.org
Have you met a single DREAMer that opposes this legislation? I doubt it. It is only possible to do so if one has the privilege of citizenship and has not heard our stories or decides to ignore them. In the meantime, undocumented youth lose hope. Also, why does the idea that an undocumented student might choose to join the military for reasons other than economic need seem so impossible? This denial and silencing resembles the seemingly benevolent arguments that were used (and are still used) to justify colonization and the imperialism some claim to be fighting by opposing this legislation. The "savages", who formed a homogeneous mass, needed to be saved from themselves. They needed the help of the colonizer and his supposedly superior belief system. Am I the only one that sees the similarity?
Let's redirect our anti-war efforts and target the multibillion corporations benefiting from this. Nobody said our ideologies wouldn't be complicated by reality. We don't need saviors, what we need is allies who will embrace complexity and listen when we speak.
CA DREAMer
Let's redirect our anti-war efforts and target the multibillion corporations benefiting from this. Nobody said our ideologies wouldn't be complicated by reality. We don't need saviors, what we need is allies who will embrace complexity and listen when we speak.
CA DREAMer
DO NOT simply list your grievences. If you do that, you are no better than the Republiclans who critize White House policy, but offer no alternatives. Lobby for revision, and help us move forward.
Furthermore, it is rather condescending for you to imply that no Latino would truly CHOOSE to serve in the military, but rather, would have to be brainwashed into making that "choice." There ARE people out there who do support the wars we are involved in, and who DO want to serve in our military. I would not try to deny them that simply because I do not agree with their choice.
DREAM Act should pass as is (or with the option of volunteer work instead of college or the military), efforts should continue to be made to steer young people away from the military and towards college-- assuming that is what those young people want.
Furthermore, it is rather condescending for you to imply that no Latino would truly CHOOSE to serve in the military, but rather, would have to be brainwashed into making that "choice." There ARE people out there who do support the wars we are involved in, and who DO want to serve in our military. I would not try to deny them that simply because I do not agree with their choice.
DREAM Act should pass as is (or with the option of volunteer work instead of college or the military), efforts should continue to be made to steer young people away from the military and towards college-- assuming that is what those young people want.
For more information:
http://www.abblog540.blogspot.com
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