"The story of our lives - It is only a summary. This is the story of our lives - so far. It is a story of Guatemala and Mexico and America. It is the thousands of immigrants who cross these borders in pursuit of a dream. It is a story that is still being told, in the fields and factories of the United States. How it will end, we cannot know, but we have hope, because you are listening."This was the end of a play I went to, created by eight men who were involved in the immigration raids in Postville, Iowa. Their story was a heartbreaking one, describing their journey to America. Many members of the community were involved in efforts to support the workers and families affected by the nearby devastation. There is so much to be learned about the culture and lives of these men and their families from Mexico and Guatemala. The whole play was in Spanish, and the depiction of their journey was shocking. Their desire for "the American dream" was apparent, and it was depressing to know that they will probably never achieve that goal. I was constantly thinking about the children involved in these raids and the affect it had on students there. Through this depiction of a real life event that was so close to our campus, I was reminded of the confusing immigration policy that can be a major factor in the education of students. The students that are the product of immigration can have some negative attitudes attached to them, with their economic status and family occupations. Teachers need to remember the events happening in their community and the students that are involuntary connected to them. By understanding stories like these, teachers can become involved in community efforts and generally be more accommodating to their students.
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