The best thing I read this week was a column from the New York Times that brings up a crucial issue in american politics and articulates it very well. The piece is titled “I’m the Child of Immigrants. I’m Not Giving up on the Republican Party.” The writer recounts his experience growing up in the US with immigrant parents, and how, being more family oriented, and religious, he naturally gravitated toward the Republican party. He then goes on to speak of how many republican reforms in recent history not only target immigration policy, but how they also seek out children of immigrants. This isolation then caused him to leave the Republican party.
What interested me so much about this article was that it was written by someone who had experienced the subject first hand. The issue of isolating so many people based on a single issue is something that has plagued american politics, especially being dominated by only two political parties. Although much of the immigration reform started out as an issue in national politics, the writer mentions how it “Trickles down” and becomes an issue in local politics making it impossible for people to ignore. The article takes an approach that many don’t when talking about immigrant reform; there are lots of immigrants, or first generation of Americans who align with the republican party, and these are voters that the party “cant afford to alienate”.
The writer mentions how many social issues that first drew himself and many others to the party, are now, seemingly, being abandoned for harsh immigration policy. Although many are giving up altogether on the republican party, the writer concludes the article by saying that it’s crucial at this time to support politicians who are willing to work across the aisle.
Diary of a Fourth Year Junior 