TRAITORS (22 page)

“Each
day,
migrants
feel
betrayed
by
politicians,
co-workers,
schoolmates,
even
by
their
own
countrymen
who
have
forgotten
about
their
origin.
More
distressing
is
the
attitude
of
those
undocumented
immigrants
who
do
not
join
the
protests;
they
only
watch
with
arms
crossed.
Some
make
excuses:
they
have
to
work,
they
are
too
tired,
or
just
don’t
want
to
join,
letting
someone
else
fight
for
them.
What
we
do
to
ourselves
and
our
own
people
is
the
greatest
betrayal
of
them
all!
It
is
shameful
that
nearly
half
of
those
who
attended
the
marches
are
legal
residents
and
U.S.
citizens.
It
is
also
sad
that
they
can’t
put
laziness
aside,
so
immigrants
keep
on
living
under
such
harsh
treatment.”

“If
next
week,
our
country’s
soccer
team,
whether
Mexico,
El
Salvador,
Argentina,
Colombia
or
Guatemala,
comes
to
have
a
match
at
each
stadium
of
the
country,
everyone
would
leave
work,
family,
or
children
to
attend.
We
would
not
mind
losing
our
jobs
or
getting
into
an
argument
with
our
wives.
It
wouldn’t
really
matter
how
expensive
the
tickets
are,
we
would
still
fill
every
stadium.
It’s
a
real
embarrassment
not
to
have
time
or
eagerness
to
join
a
cause
that
would
demand
our
rights.”

“It’s
neither
a
question
of
violence
nor
a
fight
for
something
that
is
not
rightfully
ours.
It
is
only
a
question
of
continuing
our
search
for
what
we
have
come
here
for,
and
the
reason
we
left
our
families
behind.
It
is
a
question
of
seeking
decent
treatment
towards
immigrants.
Because
just
like
many
other
issues
in
the
country,
like
the
economy,
national
security
or
public
safety,
the
issue
of
migration
should
be
a
concern
to
us
all.
It
is
everyone’s
problem.
We
cannot
just
do
charity
work
or
overthrow
leaders
who
mistreat
or
oppress
their
people,
while
leaving
our
own
communities
here
helpless.
They
too
are
human
beings
whose
only
crime
is
to
work
without
a
legal
document.
It
is
true
that
we
must
secure
our
borders,
but
why
did
they
only
intensify
the
surveillance
on
the
Mexican
side
of
the
border
after
the
9/11
attacks?
Are
Mexicans
terrorists?
Would
it
not
be
just
as
easy
for
a
terrorist
to
enter
through
Canada?
It
is
not
about
giving
our
presence
here
in
the
country
a
standing
ovation.
It
is
about
justice,
equality,
fair
treatment
and
dignity.”

“There
is
more
love
in
the
heart
of
a
special-needs
child
than
in
the
heart
a
commentator
who
harms
with
his
racist
comments,
wishing
his
neighbor
ill.
There
is
no
love
in
the
heart
of
any
anti-immigrant
group
member,
even
some
Congressman
or
Senator,
or
even
a
Governor
who
proposes
laws
to
divide
families.
What
legacy
will
they
leave
their
children
or
our
future
generations?
How
could
they
talk
about
love
in
their
homes,
after
signing
a
law
which
will
divide
the
family
of
their
child’s
classmate?
Also,
signing
an
economic
package
of
several
billion
dollars
to
be
used
in
senseless
wars?
Our
community
only
needs
a
law
that
enables
us
to
feel
as
part
of
this
great
nation,
or
be,
at
least,
authorized
to
work
and
be
provided
with
the
opportunity
to
travel
and
see
our
families.”

“The
task
is
not
nor
will
it
be
easy.
First
of
all,
those
of
us
who
are
here
illegally,
need
to
adapt
ourselves
to
the
laws
of
the
land,
become
good
citizens,
and
learn
English.
Leave
laziness
behind,
and
get
to
work
with
dignity
and
courage.
Unfortunately,
after
being
here
for
a
few
years,
we
begin
to
live
in
conformism.
We
don’t
save
money,
and
we
even
forget
about
our
loved
ones.”

“To
begin,
this
is
a
call
for
all
immigrants
to
keep
working
as
we
did
on
the
first
day
we
first
got
here.
Let
us
leave
our
bad
habits
behind
and
adapt
to
the
American
culture.
This
does
not
mean
that
we
also
have
to
leave
behind
the
beautiful
customs
that
we
have
in
our
countries.
We
just
have
to
adapt
to
the
ones
here
and
comply
with
laws.”