I Am Fifty Percent Essay

Improved Essays
I’d like to start by talking about the value of fifty percent. Fifty percent equals one half of a whole, it is more than zero, but less than one hundred percent, which is whole. Fifty percent is incomplete. Everyone in this room can agree with these statements as fact. It’s a simple matter of taking the value of something. But what about value in people? I am fifty percent Hispanic. I am one half. I am more Hispanic than not, but I am less than hundred percent. If these statements coincide with the value of fifty percent, does this also mean I am incomplete? I am proud to be what I am. I am an American, but moreso, I am a person. I was born here, and I was raised here. I have a mixed background, but name one person in this room today who does not, because as far an anyone should be concerned, unless you are Native American, none of your ancestors are American either. Still, several are trying to limit rights of Hispanic and Mexican people on debilitated grounds we are not American? …show more content…
The simple answer would be the American Dream, because written in the Declaration of Independence it states every person has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal”. The same words your own ancestors heard before making their own decision to immigrate to the United States. So what’s the difference? Why are Mexican people any different? Is it the color of our skin? Is it language? Or is it because you point fingers and call us criminals for preferring to enter this country illegally. A choice made willingly rather than waiting for the government to decide the fate of a family is even more terrifying. From this perspective, one would ask, why doesn’t the government rebuild this obscenely broken system? Alternatively, the government has shamefully drug its feet for far too long on this matter and have subsequently turned around and placed the blame on

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    American Spirit Definition

    • 1024 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Even today, there is scarcely a person who can’t trace their immediate ancestry back to another country. Yet, that doesn’t matter when we define Americans. Someone who is willing to go through the challenge of hard work it takes to become American, and has the bravery to move to this country, while also being kind to their fellow Americans, should be called an American like anyone else. Immigrants often have a tad bit more of the American spirit than those born here who take this country for granted. I know many people who have immigrated who have far more of an American spirit than I do.…

    • 1024 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    We all know that it is important to "fit in", but at what cost. Richard Rodriguez say's "The voices of my parents and sister and brother. Their voices insisting: You belong here. We are family members. Related.…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    This is just one example of using the ‘melting pot’ theory. In America, there are interracial marriages and children in which situations such as my own are created through. Mixed races and the ‘melting pot’ concept are just other examples of what makes a person an American. Finally, a person is truly an American through their ability to decide for themselves and the allowance of choosing of opposing mindsets. In America, the freedom of opinion, and the freedom of speech are some of many rights in which citizens enjoy.…

    • 1220 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The American Dream”, the most promising lifestyle all have aspired to reach some point for a better life, a better future or simply new beginnings it's not an easy journey especially for those migrating from another country. Immigrants have been the prime example of this search for hundreds of years here in the U.S., many of them come here seeking for a better tomorrow for not only themselves but their families as well. Many of these immigrants, however, are faced with the obstacle of not having citizenship. Entering the country illegally puts each and every one of them at risk of being taken away by immigration and has forced many of these families to live in constant fear of deportation and separation from their loved ones. Although thousands…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Journey Of An Immigrant We all have a common goal in life to better ourselves and progress not to stay stuck in the same place for the rest of your life to have a future. In Mexico is hard to progress when you come from a small house with 6 siblings and a poor upbringing with an alcoholic and abusive mom while dad does everything to feed 8 kids - this why I took to journey to America. He was the youngest out the six his older brother in America doing great his house and a car with money that is all he taught during his childhood. So right After high school with the money he had been saving he bought a coyote august 10 he had to say goodbye to the little ranch that shaped who he has and to his family and friends leaving everything behind…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Illegal Immigrants Should be Provided a Pathway to Citizenship The American dream can defined as the idea that all American citizens have a chance for great success and happiness in life. To many, America is viewed as a place where opportunity is around every corner. Not every country offers the same freedoms as the United States, so immigrants travel from their country to another in hopes of obtaining a better life for not only them, but their families as well. Not every person that comes over is legal, however.…

    • 1329 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States stands to be the number one most frequently immigrated country in the world. The idea that draws so many people to this country every year is the American dream of opportunity. Much of the world population is struggling to survive each and everyday, living on nothing and fighting a continuous fight against drugs and violence. The idea that draws so many Latin American’s attention is the idea that an individual can cross the border and suddenly be capable of providing a prosperous life for themselves or their family. This is an opportunity that to some, is not one that can be easily passed over.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    culture and diversity. Without delay to this topic, when illegal immigrants come to the United States from their own country they have their own culture and traditions that they take with them (not literally). Almost every country has different things about it; the main thing concerning us right now is the differences of their culture and the traditions. As I have said before once those illegal immigrants come to United States they still have their own differences with culture and traditions which they keep when they come to America. This then increases the diversity in the United States because of their culture and the different countries the illegal immigrants come from.…

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    We all have dreams and goals in life, it doesn 't matter who it is, whether it’s someone poor or wealthy, we all want prosperity, opportunity and equality. The American Dream is not only one goal, we want to achieve, it’s a variety of goals we 'd like to accomplish, but everyone 's dream differs. People such as immigrants have crossed the United States border; left their homelands, families and all they know to live in a country they know nothing about to reach their goals and dreams. People do whatever it takes to make everything they have dreamed of come true because they have sacrificed all they have for a goal or goals.…

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My family’s migration story goes back to when my father was born in the sovereign state of Guanajuato in Mexico. He migrated to this country in 1983 at the young age of eighteen facing many challenges along the way such as racism and the fact that he had nothing to his name. His journey was long and difficult as he traveled alongside his cousin and a coyote leading the way. Although my father did not enter the country in a way that is considered “legal” he felt he needed to in order to attempt to achieve a better life. Gloria Anzaldúa perfectly states how it is like to cross the border in The Homeland,…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Denise Pagliccia Alan Goldman CT100-702 05/09/2016 Illegal Immigration 1. The issue of illegal immigrants The United States is largely regarded as the land of opportunities where dreams become reality. This view has influenced immigration into the country via legal and illegal means. The cause for concern remains the illegal immigrants who shun the legal immigration process.…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I have always considered my relationship with writing to be very insignificant. Although I enjoy spending time verbally expressing my thoughts and feelings to others, it becomes difficult when these thoughts and feelings are expressed through writing. Throughout my adolescent years, I would often receive feedback for my writing given by the teacher in the form of a grade. Being unable to effectively organize my thoughts and ideas into words and sentences, I would feel reluctant to continue writing confidently whenever I received an undesirable grade.…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Values, Culture, and Socialization at the Mall Our group was assigned to take a trip to the Crossroads Mall in Portage, Michigan to observe others and keep track of twenty American values along with keeping a low profile and not making everything so noticeable. We did not ask for help and we made sure to stay communicating between our group. Even if we were approached by a greeting employee, we would just ensure them that we were just taking a look around the store. Values, Culture, and Socialization are the three main topics that were observed while being at the mall while with my group.…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My first semester of college has been an intersting learning experience. It has been full of ups and downs. I’ve learned a lot since being in college, mostly how to take charge of my life and get my priorities straight. I learned that being successful in college depends on how you prioritize your work and how serious you take it. At first my priorities weren 't where they were supposed to be, and I realized my grades were going to suffer if I did not change.…

    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Importance Of Human Values

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages

    All Humans have the distinctive ability to represent their identity, choose their standards and set up their values. All three of these are directly influence a person’s behavior. Values are our principles and guiding standards. Morals and values are the base of human values. Just as a building has a foundation of concrete, the structure of human values rests on ethics and values.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays