If I become a citizen will everyone treat me like I'm equal?

Question

I'm a legal resident.I'm from Mexico.I speak english and I pay taxes.I am studying for a degree this fall.But still people think I'm "illegal" because I speak spanish with my family and friends because I live in a hispanic neigborhood and listen to latino music.I embrace the American way but I can't turn my back on my roots because it is part of who I am.Will I and others like me ever be accepted totally as Americans? Or will we always just be the beaner that mows your yard for 5 dollars an hour?

Answer 1

Yes - at that point you will be an equal

Answer 2

Until the USA gets a grip on the illegal immigrant situation and gets them deported, there will always be a suspicion from people you meet in society who may think you are here illegally. Are all of your family members (you mention them in your question) also here legally? Perhaps you and your family do things that show you have not assimilated into American society and/or that you are not even trying to. This will raise suspicions when others meet you. If you are all here legally, over time, those suspicions will become less and less, the more you and your family show your assimilation into the American culture. The more confident that American citizens become that illegal immigrants are no longer in their country, they will accept you and stop being suspicious. In the meantime, it is in your and your family's best interests to be supportive of decisions and laws that will help to remove all illegal immigrants from the country. In this way, you will eventually be treated as an equal. The illegal immigrants in this country are the cause of any negativity you feel from American citizens.

Answer 3

You speak Spanish right? No queremos el enriquecimiento. Mosca la bandera americana en América. Diga la lengua inglesa sólo. Did I say that properly? Now listen. I was adopted by this Italian man. He did not speak Italian. People from hundreds of cultures come to America with "their roots that make them who they are" and drop them in the garbage can. I have Scottish ancestry. When I go to the grocery store I am real angry that I can't find Scottish, French, Norwegian, Dutch, Swahili, Navaho or Russian subtitles on my can of food. . .ONLY SPANISH. It is NOT America that is the problem. It is the other way around. I visited Germany. I really wanted to speak German while I was there. I wanted to fit in. I would never think of being an idiot and insulting a German in his country. I wanted to visit Germany because I wanted to. Now if I became a citizen of Germany I would assume that I would drop my American language and culture and try to fit in. SOME PEOPLE do not seem to understand this. I am in America. I was born in America. I am proud to be an American. If I wanted to go visit Mexico I would certainly not fly the American Flag and disrespect Mexico. Now granted America has grown with pizza, tacos, moo goo gai pan, and goat's head stew. If you want to come here to America, fly the American Flag, learn what is is to be an American, speak English only, and consider yourself an American only -- then you ARE an American. If an American calls you a "beaner" forget it. Almost everybody on Earth eats beans. I eat beans so I guess I am a "beaner" too.

Answer 4

It makes a difference to me whether someone was granted amnesty or went out of their way to follow the laws of this country. If your a legal resident, I have no problem with you, you are following the laws. I don't care if people listen to Latino music because I like it to, especially for dancing! I think people should know English when they come here( or enough to where they can get along while they learn more). I don't think they should expect other people to accomodate them when they come here. No one is asking you to turn back on your roots, just embrace America as yours. I like latinos and I know alot of them are smart people. I don't hire people to do my house or yard work. I also resent the fact that you think we all think your just a "beaner." I don't use racist words. Why? Because racism hurts people and I have experienced people who don't like me because I am white. Keep your roots, they diversify and beautify America. But save your allegiance for the U.S.A!!

Answer 5

its sad but true, even if you are legal people will always be prejudice against others. Im not prejudiced against illegal mexicans because honestly i cant blame them, everyone came to america looking for a better and more prosporous life. America is the land of oppurtunity, I think its unfair that people are putting them down only because they want a better life... People do this because they have never had a hard life. Americans take their freedoms and the oppurtunities for granted. and its sad. I also dont believe in stereotypes. My brother married a mexican lady and she was nothing like the stereotypes... Everyone should be educated and learn about other cultures to be able to understand them, I think everyone should keep their culture alive. Otherwise years from now our childrens children will never know what our lives and our culture was like and where they originated from, keeping your culture alive is important... so i say more power to you. Theres always going to be ignorance in the world, Don't let it get you down... and "educate those willing to listen."

Answer 6

Wow, I am really sorry you've had to deal with being treated unfairly. You are exactly right! You are EQUAL and just as important as I am or anyone else on God's earth! (I'm American). It's sad that some people choose to not treat everyone as equal. You don't even have to become a citizen or do anything, just be yourself and hold your head high! Welcome to America! Focus on those who are kind, not the bad people and negative in the world. If you focus on the positives in life, you'll feel positive! As long as you know you're legal, you don't have to explain yourself to anyone. Lean on God and allow him to guide you. He will protect you from harm and give you peace.We're all children of God. Brothers and sisters, you know! I wish the world acted like it! Good luck and I wish the best to you and your family.

Answer 7

One probable reason that people won't treat you equally even after you become naturalized would be: your perceived sympathy to illegal aliens. You are so attuned right now that you are being discriminated upon because of your strict adherence to your culture, thus making you more sympathetic to the cause of illegal immigrants. Being naturalized is severing citizenship and alliance to your native country, not necessarily your culture and respecting this country's laws and defending it if necessary. If you still approve, condone, abet in any form to illegal immigration
now that you are legalized then I don't think you can be truly deserving to be a citizen in its truest sense, not because of a differing opinion but not abiding the laws of this land.

Answer 8

You are always an equal. But equal to people who are jealous and envious which is the root of most criticism of productive people. If you are productive you are equal of other productive people. Causes envy. You will be surprised at what good jobs are awaiting you once you graduate, assuming you are in a good job market and not forced to compete with illegals for $5 an hour.

Answer 9

Listen man if your family loves you and you are doing the right thing to succeed don't care if other people will think you are their equal. I'm from Puerto Rican family born in NY, I'm just as American as anyone else. I have never stopped listening to my music (Salsa), I don't mean to brag but I have more assets that many people I know and not once I have worried if I'm equal (I'm brown skin). Do your thing, study hard and don't worry about others, stick with your roots and pass it on to your children, believe me when you start rolling in the money they WILL see you as equal, even if they like it or not.

Answer 10

I never thought anyone was illegal (in specific terms rather than in statistics) until the marches caused me to focus on how many were here including in my area. Now I do wonder. Being illegal wouldn't mean you are inherently inferior, it would mean you didn't have a right to be here living on our subsidized services and crowding our overcrowded schools. Being a citizen wouldn't mean you were inherently superior, but it would extract a loyalty from you and give you certain rights.

So tell me, would you actually give that loyalty or just mouth the words?

Answer 11

I don't think so.(sorry for being so blunt)
Nobody is ever treated as an equal: rich or poor, smart or stupid Latino or american, or even Canadian or american.
I guess that's just the way it is.The only thing you can do is learn from how you've been treated and try to be better.