If you know me well, this post will come as a surprise. And let me know if what is in this post is not justified. I am guessing most of you have taken the time out to read the article and have already made a mental picture of what I am about to write. Sure, I am going to write about where this lady is. I do not care that she has a name, I do not care that she got to the US. All I care is I have been in this situation, still am, and have seen what it can do.
"Obama a messiah for Chennai family", that's what the headline read. Since the Obama wave has taken over places and people, yes moi aussi, I read the article, only to end up baffled.
I remember this person applying for a visa to get here to the US so that he can see his only daughter graduate with a bachelor's degree. Only she knows what she went through those three years, those three that she so desperately wants to forget. But sure enough he was denied visa, why - no points for guessing- cause he was a potential immigrant. Yes, his daughter was an American citizen, and yes his wife was here as well, sure that made him an immigrant, a potential one might I add. So he has never been able to set foot into the US ever since then. This to a man, who left the US in '86, has been to the US at least three times ever since then. So no brownie points for being here and leaving, nope! It made him a potential immigrant nonetheless. So would it have helped for his daughter or his wife to have sent a letter to the Congressmen in-charge then and seen if it had helped? Would it have been fair to beg for an entry to this country? Should I judge and say that because of this I had to go through graduation without my dad? Or should I just sit back and say, I guess I deserved it.
The article very sweetly failed to mention where this said lady is right now- India or the US? I wonder why........She wanted to come here for her son's house-warming ceremony, and she did. What wrong had my dad done to visit me for my graduation? That he didn't beg to get here, and held up his pride?
I want to know where she is. I want to know how many people here are NOT potential immigrants.
Written on the 25th of January, 2009
"Obama a messiah for Chennai family", that's what the headline read. Since the Obama wave has taken over places and people, yes moi aussi, I read the article, only to end up baffled.
I remember this person applying for a visa to get here to the US so that he can see his only daughter graduate with a bachelor's degree. Only she knows what she went through those three years, those three that she so desperately wants to forget. But sure enough he was denied visa, why - no points for guessing- cause he was a potential immigrant. Yes, his daughter was an American citizen, and yes his wife was here as well, sure that made him an immigrant, a potential one might I add. So he has never been able to set foot into the US ever since then. This to a man, who left the US in '86, has been to the US at least three times ever since then. So no brownie points for being here and leaving, nope! It made him a potential immigrant nonetheless. So would it have helped for his daughter or his wife to have sent a letter to the Congressmen in-charge then and seen if it had helped? Would it have been fair to beg for an entry to this country? Should I judge and say that because of this I had to go through graduation without my dad? Or should I just sit back and say, I guess I deserved it.
The article very sweetly failed to mention where this said lady is right now- India or the US? I wonder why........She wanted to come here for her son's house-warming ceremony, and she did. What wrong had my dad done to visit me for my graduation? That he didn't beg to get here, and held up his pride?
I want to know where she is. I want to know how many people here are NOT potential immigrants.
Written on the 25th of January, 2009
