The United States of America is open to immigration. There are several of issues for migrants rarely in current news or other discussions. My Father Anthony, not my Step-Father, was a Second-Generation Basque living in the US. He died a relatively young, only about forty, similarly to several Second-Generation Immigrants.
Reflecting on his life there are several reasons for why people moving to this country die. My Grandparents were forthright people. They had past cultural influence to work diligently and save money. They had several opinions about the world and knew a handful of facts about the United States. They were humble and most people understand they are immigrants, yet what they believe conflicts with realities of life. These perceptions interfered with my Father.
An ongoing issue is the theory life would be better in the Old Country. He would have married young and had a better life, is what he believed, yet my Grandparents statements about how they should have gone back to the Basque Country were overstated.
Occasionally my Grandmother Mary would be more honest. I remember one day I was interested in our Great-Grandparents. She was open to discussing Grandpa's side of the family. His family was wealthy and owned the first camera shop in the Riviera. An Enchanting idea, they hung a family shield with lions in the living room to remind themselves they come from a line of respectable people.
As time goes by she revealed his Great-Grandmother suffered from psychological illness. This might not be a big deal in the United States, yet there were several witch hunts. Unstable people are in association with bringing the wrath of God onto everyone. Signs of this disease were not apparent at first. It surfaced after marriage and the frequent resolution for potential sin in the high countries of the Pyrenees Mountains is to throw people off cliffs.
Later on I wanted to know about her family. She asked why. It was so one day I might go to the Pyrenees and find out more about our lineage. I always knew Great-Grandpa was a drunk, yet alcoholism is viewed differently in the Old Country. She hid something. Perhaps Great-Great-Grandpa or Grandma was also known for suffering delusions. In either instance as much as my Father blames my Grandparents for not moving back by gaining full citizenship by joining the military in World War II, life is difficult in the Basque Country. There is substantial reason to believe they took offers of money and dreams of opportunity to escape a mediocre life.
In addition to realizing there are social boundaries in each country moving to the United States might be responsible for saving my family's life. France briefly entertained the idea to join Germany in the conquest to create a global government. They built concentration camps and Germany remained in control of the eastern and southern borders of France for the greater duration of the war. During this time over 50,000 people, mostly Basque, died in the concentration camps. Though our family moved here with promises of riches Basques were being targeted as degenerates. Neither French nor Spanish, they were seen as potential menaces to the growing power.
They moved before World War I began. Safe in the Americas, their lives were saved. It is a blessing. Now we live here and most countries do not allow immigration. It does not bother me because I accept life will not be better there. Even when thinking about my English or Danish heritage it is not likely I will approach my wealthiest distant cousin to ask for a room. Similar to here each generation either succeeds or fails. Even less able bodied debtors might not offer hospitality, yet they might want to move to the United States.
This sense of individuality in relation to past ancestry is dysfunctional. Essentially any American choosing to move here is Native American. Though not indigenous it is time to begin realizing this fact though only the United States, Mexico, Cuba, a few Providences in Canada and a handful of countries South of Mexico no longer have European Oppressors.
I dislike people bringing past cultural beliefs to the United States. This country was founded by people who escaped religious persecution. Even Nobility of England found it to be a place to live. They were tired of harassment after the Royal Crown's created the Church of England.
The Forefathers were not better. Benjamin Franklin was a bastard. He idealized a better life if everyone stopped the harassment and paid him fairly for his work. Thomas Jefferson was in massive debt after he became a diplomat for the Crown they made him into a debtor. George Washington was the first born son to a Widow and Step-Son to an overbearing father. All of them and many more believe strife is an infliction of the English Aristocracy's faulty beliefs. This is why titles of nobility are illegal in the United States.
To truly understand what being a United States Citizens means we should learn from Mexico. Every year Mexico celebrates Dia de la Raza. It is held on October 12 the day Europeans discovered America. Raza is a Mexican word. It means the common people and there are connotations these people are Indigenous Americans. Instead of focusing on the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria they focus on what the nation has become, a united country with a mixture of European beliefs and Native American heritages.
Everyone knows the world is round. The influx of immigrants assists in developing the land and ethos to create barriers from further invasion. Indigenous Americans are familiar with terrain. As Native Americans we should realize there is nowhere else to go and begin making the fantasies of the Old Country life in the United States of America. Citizens fight amongst each other, yet I am positive other countries really do not care if someone has cultural similarities or not. They still create divisions and war in their own country amongst people who are similar. It is time we realize we our own selfish interest is to make the United States the best country by living harmoniously with each other.
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