President Obama

Yesterday, 11/4/08, after a pickup basketball game my friend Matt drove Hugo to their local polling place at the intersection of Colorado and Eagle Rock. They waited in line and when it was his turn, Hugo took a ballot and cast his vote for the first time. That night, Hugo watched the election with his wife and two kids, witnessing his vote manifest into our new elected President, Barack Obama. None of this would have been possible three months ago when Hugo was living and working in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant. Just this fall, after a long process and a lot of money spent, Hugo obtained his citizenship making him an official American.

I met Hugo early this past summer. After spending some time with him, Hugo seemed to be just as American as I was. After all he was very connected in the community, worked harder than I did, sustained a family, and still had time to teach me a lay-up. My encounters with Hugo and other Highland Park locals gave me a really unique opportunity to get to know the culture I was living in. They accepted me as the white privileged college kid I was, inviting me to whatever local happening was going on. While I always believed myself to be accepting of immigrants, my idea of myself was challenged in a policy class.

In class a student asked if we believed immigrants in the U.S. should learn English and assimilate. My response to that question was an automatic “yes.” However, asked that question again I would take pause and say “no.” My change of opinion is a result of one student in the class who said, “by fully assimilating, immigrants are going against their own best interest.” He then went on to explain that if they really committed to assimilating to American culture, they are re-enforcing the oppression they fought to enter society in the first place. It is therefore, clearly cyclical.

When reflecting on Hugo’s new political efficacy, I think of this cycle. Hugo has participated in the American democratic system by joining other citizens in casting their vote. Although he is now an American who helped determine our countries next President, I do not believe he has fully assimilated, adopting traditional U.S. ideals. Instead, I believe Hugo represents a new phenomenon developing where you can rebel within the system. By participating in the political system Hugo has not oppressed other undocumented immigrants because the politics themselves have changed.

Whereas most elections and major national decisions were decided using the “inside strategy,” meaning behind close doors open only to the elite, they are now being decided by “common” U.S. citizens thanks to grassroots efforts which utilized the “outside strategy.” I may be optimistic but I believe we are on the pinnacle of an ideological revolution. President Obama represents the possibilities that allow Hugo’s vote to count, and that make Hugo want to vote. I hope as a nation we begin to acknowledge the huge contribution undocumented immigrants have done this country. With that understanding comes the realization that is oppressive to deny these hard working people their rights. Therefore, I believe process of becoming an American citizen ought to be more accessible, less expensive, and more comprehensive. I do not believe undocumented citizens should assimilate; I value their culture and ideas as necessary pillars of a progressive community. But I do believe they should have the decision to obtain citizenship so that they may broadcast their opinions without fear, and continue to share with us everything they wish to offer.