The Land of Opportunity

 

I’ve had the good fortune to meet people from lots of different places around the world: Mexico, Canada, China, The Philippines, England, and Africa. Two of my children were adopted from Guatemala, made possible because of the desperate economic conditions in that country. I ask each person I meet who has left their home to come to America “What made you decide on America?” I wonder why they didn’t choose another western, progressive country? It seems that they all chose The United States because of the opportunities we have here. What kinds of opportunities are the talking about? The opportunity to take care of themselves. The opportunity to find a means of supporting themselves and making a better life for their families. Not one of these people has mentioned that they came here because of our kick butt welfare system or because our new president wants to facilitate change. They seem happy with the way things are done here.

I’ve only ever run across one person who resented being here in the US. He was 16 years old and his family had moved to Southern Utah from South Africa. He was constantly making negative comments about the US and was quick to share what he thought was wrong with our country. One day, a school teacher had had enough and said to him “If you hate America so badly, then go home to South Africa - we don’t need you here.”

My point? For all of the people around the world that don’t like the United States of America I believe that there are many more who still see us as the “Land of Opportunity” and are indeed clamoring to come and make a life here, legally or illegally.