Not too long ago, the Supreme Court passed that college tuition for "illegal aliens" is lowered to the normal rate of in-state students. This means they no longer pay the out of state rate which is much more than normal. Many are outraged at this, saying that it's unfair to American students who pay that out of state fee.
There is one thing people do not realize when they hear about this act. There is no such thing as financial aid or loans for undocumented students. This means that they pay tuition, books and other expenses out of their own pocket. They pay on the hope that they can escape the cycle of poverty and hardship their families endured. Many would say it is useless since they can't use that degree for a job since they are without documentation in this country. Then, they become outraged that their tax dollars are being spent for these people. In reality, they are losing any of their tax money. If these people were given financial aid, they would but that is not the case. These "illegal aliens" pay the full tuition which brings in money for the schools. It is something I can't understand since many are fine with their taxes being spent on war and jails, but not education "illegals."
I had a girlfriend who was undocumented here in America. She completed high school here and went to Cypress College for psychology. Every semester she had to pay the out of state tuition, since she wasn't present in the United States long enough in high school. Out of her own pocket, she would pay a good amount of money that is hard to obtain for undocumented workers. Not only it is expensive by American means, but for an illegal it is much more difficult. To get a good job for a student is difficult by any means. She had to work full time at a gas station, a place many girls would not want to work at. Most of her money went to rent and school, so she sacrificed a lot to go to school. She went because she hoped and believed something good will come out of it, even though her degree would be obsolete. I saw the struggles she endured and really envied her for trying to better herself, while others tried to discourage.
The one thing I find wrong is this situation is that in the media, they assign these people the term "illegal aliens." In reality these people are undocumented students, but media feels the need to attach them with a negative meaning. When people hear that illegal aliens are being given a little break, they feel it is wrong because of the message that was elicited. It is a trick media has used for many people to stir up negative feelings on something that may be positive. Also, I feel people's mind states are programmed to associate illegal alien with Mexican people. Though it may be true that many are Mexican, it does not mean all are. Only do I hear Mexicans being called illegal aliens, but not for a Canadian or Chinese student in college. It is true because when I hear people talk about it, Mexicans are the first to be brought up. I don't feel anyone should be called that since everyone should be considered equal. I think the minds of the American people have truly been brainwashed to associate negative things with this and it halts the dreams of many people just trying to better themselves.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Pursuit of Unhappiness.
Many people feel the purpose of life is the pursuit of happiness. Everyone has a different idea on what their happiness is. One person's idea of a good life may not seem as appealing to someone else. We are all attracted toward it and search for it on a daily basis. We dream about happiness and struggle in order to achieve it.
Today many have a warped image on what happiness really is. We have many influences that brainwash us to think and pursue a certain. The deception is even stronger in today's society where media is such a big part of our lives. Look at billboards, commercials and television and see what they define as happiness. For men; you need a big house, sports car, sexy women, a lot of money and sex. I say a sexy women because I feel beautiful is too strong to describe what a women should be in today's society. For a women; you need to have a model body, a man with money, designer clothing and compare to the women you see on television. This is a complete warped idea on happiness. Happiness cannot be bought, sold or judged. Many follow this and get the cars and money, only to find that they are still unhappy with their life. Happiness is not superficial and is something within you, not something you wear.
I am not saying having money is a bad thing, because you do not want to live in poverty. Money can provide happiness to some people, and that is fine. Yet, it can never complete your happiness. You can have all the money in the world, and feel lonely. The problem is the pursuit of money seems to be the purpose of life nowadays. Many feel you are not successful unless you have a considerable amount of wealth. We are losing what it is to be human. We are children of media, which brainwashes us to buy their cars and clothes. It is all a business.
Happiness is a very hard thing to determine and find, but everyone seems to be looking in the wrong direction. People spend their life working to have all this money. All they do is work, and never get to enjoy the simple aspects of life like family, love, friendship and enjoying yourself. What is the point of putting in all these hours if you never get to enjoy the money anyways? Unless your job makes you happy, then that is fine. Though many people dislike their profession and follow it only for money. It seems the things we enjoy most, are the least paid professions. If you love to draw, there is no job that will give you six figures right away, unless you are a high profile artist. We leave our dreams for this pursuit of money and "success." Then, when we get there and realize that this is not how we want to live our life it is too late.
I feel media should push you to be "you" and follow your own path rather than taking the same road everyone else is on. We are shunned if we don't succeed how society wants us to. Many parents push their kids to pursue high paying jobs rather than what makes them happy. Society should be molded that way so we could all have our own piece of utopia.
Today many have a warped image on what happiness really is. We have many influences that brainwash us to think and pursue a certain. The deception is even stronger in today's society where media is such a big part of our lives. Look at billboards, commercials and television and see what they define as happiness. For men; you need a big house, sports car, sexy women, a lot of money and sex. I say a sexy women because I feel beautiful is too strong to describe what a women should be in today's society. For a women; you need to have a model body, a man with money, designer clothing and compare to the women you see on television. This is a complete warped idea on happiness. Happiness cannot be bought, sold or judged. Many follow this and get the cars and money, only to find that they are still unhappy with their life. Happiness is not superficial and is something within you, not something you wear.
I am not saying having money is a bad thing, because you do not want to live in poverty. Money can provide happiness to some people, and that is fine. Yet, it can never complete your happiness. You can have all the money in the world, and feel lonely. The problem is the pursuit of money seems to be the purpose of life nowadays. Many feel you are not successful unless you have a considerable amount of wealth. We are losing what it is to be human. We are children of media, which brainwashes us to buy their cars and clothes. It is all a business.
Happiness is a very hard thing to determine and find, but everyone seems to be looking in the wrong direction. People spend their life working to have all this money. All they do is work, and never get to enjoy the simple aspects of life like family, love, friendship and enjoying yourself. What is the point of putting in all these hours if you never get to enjoy the money anyways? Unless your job makes you happy, then that is fine. Though many people dislike their profession and follow it only for money. It seems the things we enjoy most, are the least paid professions. If you love to draw, there is no job that will give you six figures right away, unless you are a high profile artist. We leave our dreams for this pursuit of money and "success." Then, when we get there and realize that this is not how we want to live our life it is too late.
I feel media should push you to be "you" and follow your own path rather than taking the same road everyone else is on. We are shunned if we don't succeed how society wants us to. Many parents push their kids to pursue high paying jobs rather than what makes them happy. Society should be molded that way so we could all have our own piece of utopia.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Working to survive.
I was at work a while ago, making a delivery to a freight company in Montebello. I spoke with a spanish-speaking worker who was very kind and talkative. I've seen this man before and noticed that he is always there and doing something. He seemed to be a very hard worker and on top of his job. His functions were to load up trucks with merchandise and organize all the pallets they recieved. It seemed to be a very difficult job due to the amount of cargo they had, and the understaffing. I have been delivering to this place for about a year now and never got the oppurtunity to converse with him.
About two weeks ago, he was on lunch, and he came up to me to say hello. I never really knew much about him other than he was the man who loaded up all the freight. In speaking with him, I was able to find out he was an illegal immigrant and worked for a very low wage. He worked every day of the week, expect Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. He was based on a salary and he said he made about $80 a day. At first, I really didnt realize how low that was until I did the math. For his 12 hour day, where he works non-stop doing hard labor, he is paid $6.67 an hour. That is more than a dollar below the minumum wage. When I thought about the reality of the situation, it actually hit me pretty hard and put my life in perspective. With those wages, that means annually he makes around $25,000 a year. That is borderline poverty nowadays.
Not only was the pay hard for me to deal with, but the hours seemed slave-like. He spends about a third of his life at work. Yet he was happy to work and had 72 hours of work available for him to work. I wanted to almost educate him that he would probably be better off working at a Mcdonalds, then slaving at this freight company. Yet, he said he is blessed to have this job amidst a recession.
Then, I also spoke with a young woman in her 20's who is seven months pregnant. I asked how her pregnancy was going and she said well. Usually this late in labor you are put on maternity leave, yet she told me she would be working until she is absolutely ready to deliver. I thought about how harsh it was that this woman in labor is working 12 hour days, 6 days a week, and being pregnant. She said she has no choice in the matter and has to be there. While most people are paid on maternity to take care of their labor and make sure everything goes well, she is stuck at work. I never asked about her wages yet I am sure she is not anywhere near well-off.
Hearing things like this really saddens me and actually engulfs me in anger that my own people are exploited in such a way. All the times I hear how undocumented workers are taking away the jobs and creating problems, drowns me in a pool of sorrow. I ask why do we allow this to happen and why is there nothing being said. I do not understand how people complain about these workers, when they are taking jobs that many American people who consider slave wages and hours. I hear people complain about how they only got $30 dollars tip as a server and how hard their job is, when they know nothing about being really exploited. These people I speak of literally work to survive. They don't work for fun, or to have a nice car, or go places. They work so they can provide for their family and hope that their next generation will have it better than them. It really sucks that these people are stuck in a trap, and have no way of escaping their cage of poverty.
I really wish one day these people will have it much better and wish I had a means to help. Hopefully, many others wake up to the realities of this situation and not turn a blind eye to the problem.
About two weeks ago, he was on lunch, and he came up to me to say hello. I never really knew much about him other than he was the man who loaded up all the freight. In speaking with him, I was able to find out he was an illegal immigrant and worked for a very low wage. He worked every day of the week, expect Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. He was based on a salary and he said he made about $80 a day. At first, I really didnt realize how low that was until I did the math. For his 12 hour day, where he works non-stop doing hard labor, he is paid $6.67 an hour. That is more than a dollar below the minumum wage. When I thought about the reality of the situation, it actually hit me pretty hard and put my life in perspective. With those wages, that means annually he makes around $25,000 a year. That is borderline poverty nowadays.
Not only was the pay hard for me to deal with, but the hours seemed slave-like. He spends about a third of his life at work. Yet he was happy to work and had 72 hours of work available for him to work. I wanted to almost educate him that he would probably be better off working at a Mcdonalds, then slaving at this freight company. Yet, he said he is blessed to have this job amidst a recession.
Then, I also spoke with a young woman in her 20's who is seven months pregnant. I asked how her pregnancy was going and she said well. Usually this late in labor you are put on maternity leave, yet she told me she would be working until she is absolutely ready to deliver. I thought about how harsh it was that this woman in labor is working 12 hour days, 6 days a week, and being pregnant. She said she has no choice in the matter and has to be there. While most people are paid on maternity to take care of their labor and make sure everything goes well, she is stuck at work. I never asked about her wages yet I am sure she is not anywhere near well-off.
Hearing things like this really saddens me and actually engulfs me in anger that my own people are exploited in such a way. All the times I hear how undocumented workers are taking away the jobs and creating problems, drowns me in a pool of sorrow. I ask why do we allow this to happen and why is there nothing being said. I do not understand how people complain about these workers, when they are taking jobs that many American people who consider slave wages and hours. I hear people complain about how they only got $30 dollars tip as a server and how hard their job is, when they know nothing about being really exploited. These people I speak of literally work to survive. They don't work for fun, or to have a nice car, or go places. They work so they can provide for their family and hope that their next generation will have it better than them. It really sucks that these people are stuck in a trap, and have no way of escaping their cage of poverty.
I really wish one day these people will have it much better and wish I had a means to help. Hopefully, many others wake up to the realities of this situation and not turn a blind eye to the problem.
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