em·i·gra·tion

noun, the act of leaving one’s country to settle permanently in another, moving abroad.

Americans who were formerly legal emigrants at one point, such as myself or the current legal emigrants in America have no naive ideas about the whole legal process of entering America, then becoming a citizen. We’ve gone through our fair share of paperworks, interviews, fingerprinting process, waiting for moths, sometimes years to hear back, more paperworks, more interviews, fees and criminal background checks in order to prove that we had no ill intentions towards America the country or it’s citizens. Most emigrants want an opportunity at a good life, freedom of speech and religious believes or no beliefs and most importantly a better future for their children. Most of us came in with visas and a few through political asylum (the protection granted by a nation to someone who left their native country as a political refugee).

If everyone who wanted to enter America would’ve been allowed to just come, my whole family and 90% of Romania would be here along with most of the world, especially the impoverished countries. Personally I would be okay receiving all the starved, abused and sexually exploited children of the world and love them, provide education and help them flourish into great adults. Those innocent victims are the one that really need help. As adults we all choose our attitude, and truth be told most adults choose wrongly.

Once I became an American i had to denounce my old allegiance to my native country and by placing one hand over my heart and one hand in the air I had to promise not to bring any harm to my new country, to uphold its laws and follow it’s constitution. I have friends that came in America as political refugees, escaping the claws of the communism. I’ve met a lot of people from different nations that love their new life in America. I also met a few, some were Romanians, that complained against this system and I tolled them all the same thing: “If you don’t like it here, leave. No one’s holding you a prisoner in here. But if you stay, you learn this country’s new ways and follow them. They’ve got something going right to do so well in comparison to most other countries in this world.”

I was discriminated against in my country for being a Christian and a woman, then I was discriminated against for being a foreigner here in this country, for having an accent, for being a stay at home mom and a few other things but more so than not I was accepted here, loved, respected and integrated in this culture and this land. Sure there is a difference in how I’m treated by Americans without an accent (besides my family) but I don’t mind. I don’t give it much though. I think most times people are just uncomfortable and don’t know how to identify with someone different than them. But isn’t that a weakness we all possess despite our cultures?

Seeing the news lately I do have to admit a certain type of unease. I want people who are being mistreated by their very own to have a safe place in here like the rest of us, but to keep it safe a certain measure of precautions must take place. If it took emigrants up to this point months and years to enter or become citizens (some it took up to five years or more, my uncle for example it, it took him eight years to bring his wife and children here, and they had paperworks to prove their identity), it will take a while for people without paperwork before they will be approved. It isn’t unfair. It’s jut how things operate for all. Safety of one’s country, land and home takes certain precautions.

And that’s all for today.