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Guest Commentary January 22, 2002
Diversity Is One of America's Greatest Strengths
The Honorable Mike Honda
As a young man, I spent two years in the 1960s in El Salvador in the Peace Corps, building schools and health clinics and getting to know many communities and people in that region.
It was an important experience for me in personal development, especially because the many people I got to know during my time in El Salvador welcomed me into their homes and into their hearts.
For this reason, I have always tried to keep the people of El Salvador, and of Latin America as a whole, in mine.
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As the grandson of immigrants who migrated to the United States from Japan, I also keep the experience of the immigrant in America close to my heart when making policy decisions. ...
The beginning of a new year always brings hope and new opportunities to accomplish our goals and to work on those important projects that for some reason we were not able to complete the year before.
Last year, due to the tragic events of September 11, our plan to turn the Democratic Immigration Principles into meaningful legislation to help hard-working, tax-paying immigrants had to be put on hold.
Some argue that the terrorist attack should compel us to close our doors to hard-working immigrants. We Democrats, reject this approach. Diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the United States. And hard working immigrant families contribute in countless ways to our economy and to our culture.
That's why in November of last year, House and Senate Democratic Leaders traveled to Mexico to meet with President Vicente Fox and Mexican officials, as a first step in resuming the important work of the binational agenda, which includes immigration, border safety and economic development.
This visit brought a new wave of hope and signaled that both, the United States and Mexico are ready to move forward with our efforts on these issues for the sake of both nations.
The New Year is giving us a chance to build on the American tradition of tolerance and inclusion.
Democrats remain committed to bringing justice to our immigration laws and opportunity for all in our economic system.
Immigrants who have worked hard, respected the law and contributed to our nation should have a chance to pursue their dreams without constant fear of losing their families, their freedom, and even their lives.
Mike Honda is a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (D-California). The above has been adapted from a national radio address by Rep. Honda, January 12, 2002. To contact him, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
