MY DREAM OF A BETTER WORLD
BY ANDREA TOVAR

   Imagine in your hands a wish, a wish you can use to make the world a better place. What would you wish for? Of course, world peace, but in real life there is no magic. Maybe we cannot change the entire world, but we can try to make a part of it a better place. I have two backgrounds, two cultures that I am really proud of—Mexican and American. Although I was born in the United States, I have always been concerned about the problems people have experienced in Mexico, and the years I lived in Mexico encouraged me to do something that will help and benefit them.

   Since the 1970’s, the leading country of immigration has been Mexico, with twenty percent more immigrants than all other countries. I saw in the news the unfortunate incident where an American police officer killed a Mexican while he was trying to pass the United States border illegally. This terrible accident became a warning to the United States that something was not right in the frontier. Each year thousands and thousands of Mexicans try to cross the United States border without papers in search of a better life for themselves and for their families. They suffer discrimination, poverty, and hunger just to bring money back to Mexico. It is not only what they suffer in the United States; it is also what they suffer trying to get here. These immigrants have to cross rivers, deserts, and dangerous roads, sometimes only to be caught and deported back to Mexico. Some immigrants even lose their lives. Poverty in Mexico grows each day; meanwhile, people get more desperate. What I would like to do for my world is persuade the United States to issue a certain amount of work visas for the poorest Mexicans to come and work for an amount of time in the United States in a decent environment. With this, both the economy of the United States and Mexico will increase. Tension along the border between the countries will lower, and many accidents can be prevented. This will benefit the United States not only in economy, but it will also help prevent rivalry with Mexico. Later the United States can use this program for other countries as a way to create opportunities in communication.

   I know I am blessed because I was born in the country of opportunities, but also because my roots come from an amazing place, filled with great people. What would be better than to help the people I admire, not only Mexicans but also Americans? Even though we have different characteristics, we are still humans who dream of a better world.