When you are hungry or thirsty, do you eat and drink? When there is a test you need to ace, do you study or do you sit there hoping knowledge will hit you in the face?
Our cause is worthless without a voice. Our voices are worthless without action. I repeat, our voices are worthless without action. We have to act and let our words be heard-- every day, every week, every month, every waking moment until President Obama signs the Dream Act.
I urge you to write to your representatives, governors, and President Obama. Hiding isn't going to get us anywhere. Let's roll up our sleeves and show them what we can do.
Set goals. Act. My goal: for the next seven days, I'm going to write a letter to President Obama telling him about our struggles and what we need from him.
Here's my first letter:
President Obama,
Change. “Change.” To tell you the truth, it is one of my favorite words. Ever since I started following you, I was enamored by the principles on which you stood and your ability to orate about any topic. You were able to pull off the most historic election victory in the history of the United States. You were the change us constituents needed at a time of uncertainty and disillusion.
But what now?
Mr. Obama, no man in this world has the opportunity to change as many lives as you can. You have already made some monumental changes to the system, but that is not enough. That is not enough. Every move you make will write history, and I want to remind you of how many people are dependent on your actions. I’m not talking about the suburban family that will be meekly affected or the business owner who will complain about anything you do, but I am talking about the 65,000 people whose very self-identity is dependent on you. I am talking about the 65,000 people youth who are eligible for the Dream Act.
We have been raised and taught by America. America is the only place we know; we are here to stay. I mean, is there really anywhere where we could go? How could we? We are not Mexican, Salvadorian, South Korean, Ethiopian, Peruvian, or Colombian, we are AMERICAN. And we are as proud as anyone else.
So my question is: what are you going to do for us? We are not looking for a solution to all of our problems, and we are not looking for any sorts of free-passes, but we ARE looking for an opportunity to show our potential, our drive, and our ability to better the only place we know. Don’t punish us for our parent’s mistakes, as we are our own entities, wishing to be able to fully join a society that has swept us under the rug.
I implore your help. This generation can make big changes, and you have to understand our sense of urgency. You can make history. You have the power to enable us to DREAM: go to colleges, get jobs, start families, and live normal American lives. You have the opportunity to give 65,000 people a reason to DREAM. We are not going anywhere, and our hard-work and sacrifices will not be wasted because our mother America refuses to recognize us.
Again, you have the futures of 65,000 people resting on your hands. Will you face the elephant sitting in the room? Or will you provide us with the CHANGE we were looking for? The time is NOW. Give us our DREAMS.
Sincerely,
AGENT AM
Love Always,
AGENT AM