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I have seen and read so many things about Mexico that I have to speak out. I am a Mexican American. I was born in Ensenada, Mexico and came here when I was twenty. My parents didn't jump borders, they didn't crawl under any barbed wired fences. They came here legally and they have strived to become good and decent citizens of the United States of America. I have never known poverty in Mexico, where everyone is out to come here to better their life. We don't have the extravagance that the US has, but then when you think of the Mexican wages, compared to the wages here, it is almost the same. Mexico is cheap and what we make gives us a good life there and what we make here, makes a good life for us here as well. My father always loved the United States and as many Americans come and retire in Mexico, so do many Mexicans come here legally and raise their families and work hard and pay taxes, just like everyone else does. We even love this country more because we have sworn an allegence to it. It's like adopting a child, do you love it less than your own if you are a good person? No, you treat it equally. That is what we should have here. I work with illegal and legal Mexicans and from some poor areas, yes, they will come here illegally, but do you know what their lives are like once here? I am sure that all of you have seen the almost dead bodies coming across the border. The twenty people living in one room and sleeping in terrible conditions. Some fat cat getting them here and giving them horrendous conditions to live in and paying them only a few dollars for a hard days work. You have heard of it and it could be your father or your mother or your sister and brother. It could be you. But to condemn them for wanting a better life, is unfair. I hear that Mexican's don't want to learn English. Do you know how many have learned English? Do you realize that they are as human as you are? No one is a true American except for the Native American. I love America and consider myself one, but I am also Mexican, because like the Jewish lady wrote, she is a Jew. No matter that she loves this country, or you love this country, or your grandmother loves this country, bottom line is that we all have roots, deep roots that are our heritage and no matter what, we do have those ancestors in our heart. I heard a story from one of my aunts that migrated legally here about ten years ago and is a citizen now. She came with one little suitcase. When she opened the suitcase, under all of her clothes, was a little flag, a Mexican flag. She took a little bit of what we all are with her.
I know that I will get flack for this post, but I don't care. I work, my husband works, we pay taxes and my sons are in college. We speak and write English as do all of our friends. And if anyone wants to say "Go back." Well, then they should also leave my country. Many Americans live in Mexico, so the same could be said to them. I think that too many people cry of how poor Mexico is and for the fraction that does come here and causes trouble you are blaming a whole Nation. I am an American of Mexican descent and no one can take that away from me as no one can take your descent from you.