Letter to President-Elect Obama

If I could write a letter to President-elect Obama, this is what I would write:

Dear President-elect Obama:

America is awaiting you and are ready for your Inauguation. In a few days, you will no longer be President-elect, but finally, the long awaited President Obama. I cannot wait until that day comes too. I want to congratulate you for a tremendous accomplishment. You fully deserve it. You have excited the young crowd, and you have united us with your words of wisdom--I hope you can continue doing that.

I'm sure you have heard all this before--that you give us hope. But I don't know how else to say it but just that. One of the most inspiring words you have spoken that touched me was what you said at the DNC in 2004: "There is no white America, or black America, or Asian America, or liberal America, or conservative America--there is only the United States of America" ( I know it's not the exact quote, but something like that). You give us hope because you have believed in us, when often we have felt ignored in the past eight years. You listen to us and ask us what we want our future to be, and let us contribute to this change. You remind us that we have our bitter days, but brighter days are soon coming, if we unite and work together. This is why you have inspired me.

I look back at this journey you have taken and your campaign, and I think you managed wonderfully, and I hope you continue to do so in the next years. I especially like how composed you are, and how you don't easily give in to others who try to provoke you. For example, the "lipstick on the pig" incident and the Reverend Wright controversy. One incident I cannot forget is how you did not take advantage of Sarah Palin's daughter's situation, when America found out that she was pregnant. You could have easily criticized her, and depicted Sarah Palin as a mother that should be questioned, but you didn't. And I really respect you for that. You had a chance to take advantage of her, and you didn't, and I see this as true compassion for other people.

I admire you for your commitment to social justice. I read both of your books, and I found it to be very candid and real. If you are the person you say you are in your books, and have so far shown us Americans, I believe you will accomplish great things for America.

I thank you for believing that education is a priority. Please end the failed policies of the Bush administration, because schools are suffering right now. I have lived in both immigrant and privileged communities, and I have seen the inequality between the schools available to immigrants and privileged people. No Child Left Behind is a joke, as I have heard you agree to this statement too. We need to do more to listen to the kids who are ignored, and tell them that they can do great things too. Let's offer them the same opportunities in science, math, English, etc. as privileged kids. From my experience, I know enough to know that low-income students are deprived of a quality education. When I was in middle school, we conducted very few science experiments because our school could not afford them, but when I moved to suburbia, suddenly, I see the equipment there, and I was really just elated with joy. There are many more inequalities that exist, such as not offering many AP courses in low-income communities. I know that socially-disadvantaged kids have just as much potential as privileged kids, and I believe you will invest in all children. Let's not continue the ignorance and denial of the Bush administration.

I also would like you to pass the DREAM Act ASAP!! This is very important because many determined children who would only like to contribute to society are not given the chance. Don't we believe in an America that gives every kid a chance? Haven't we invested in these kids, and told them that they can achieve their dreams? America has taught us to believe, to dream, to persevere, and that is exactly what we are doing. Now all we need is America to do its part, and allow us to continue. Please pass the DREAM Act now! Every year that it isn't passed, there are 65,000 children who will suffer and see their dreams shatter right in front of their eyes, as I have seen my dreams do the same because this bill still has not passed, when it should have been passed a long time ago. Please spare future innocent children of this pain. No one deserves to be exploited and forced into fear and silence. The DREAM Act is about humanity and compassion, and is neither a conservative nor a liberal bill. When dealing with justice and humanity, we cannot afford to let leftist and rightist politics get in the way, because lives are at stake. And when lives are at stake, I know we Americans can do what is right and humane. The DREAM Act will bring us one step closer to justice. Education is a human right, and no one should be deprived of one. I am an undocumented immigrant, and would really like to do more for America. I cannot understand why I am being punished for the actions of my parents, especially when I did not know of my status until recently. I am young and would like to continue my educational experience. I still have so much to learn. I am an American, and will always be an American because I respect and love this country very much. Please erase the new discrimination of today's society, which is the discrimination of undocumented immigrants. Please help our nation realize that we are not what the negative stereotypes say we are. We are also citizens fighting for change to make the world a little bit better. We are citizens begging you to give us the opportunity to serve our fellow Americans because we love America. That is all we want.

I wish you the best of luck, and am looking forward to see how you will guide our country and create positive change.