The Story of Sam

[scandal 951]

I listen to NPR quite a lot. Usually during the week - All Things Considered, Marketplace, Fresh Air. Excellent high quality news and analysis.

Unlike many who consider it to be a biased left-leaning news source, I've always considered their reporting to present issues factually, they interview people on all sides of an issue, and an opinion piece is clearly identified as such.

Today I happened to be driving in my car and there was a segment by "Latino USA" called "The Story of Sam".

As I was listening, I think what I could call the "Danno effect" started to take place. In stunned disbelief, I was swearing at the radio.

This kid Sam is apparently a bright and ambitious kid who just happens to be illegal. Well, it's referred to on the radio broadcast as "undocumented". No fault of his own, of course, his parents entered the country illegally with him when he was a kid and never told him about his status. Now a college student, he can't legally get a student loan or a job. The radio piece interviews his friends to whom he's recently "come out" regarding his status. They're all supportive of this great guy and talk about how he could easily lie on a job application or loan application, but Sam's too good to do that, he wants to do "what's right". Namely- he is looking for a job from an employer that won't ask him his legal status, so that he won't be required to lie to get the job. And that's when I start losing it. This is now the definition of honesty? When you can avoid lying by finding someone else who's willing to be dishonest? And this is a piece put on with a straight face by NPR? Shame on him. And on them. Yes, he may never have known another home other than the USA. Yes, his parents put him in a fix. That's no excuse for what he's doing and certainly none to present his situation in a sympathetic light without calling attention to what it is - illegal.

http://latinousa.kut.org/881/

The Story of Sam

December 3, 2009

Parts 1&2

The American ethic that hard work and gumption are keys to success is one not lost on public education students. Stay in school, go to college, find a good job – all themes that educators press in school. But imagine that you do all that only to find that the rules actually don’t apply to you. That’s the plight of thousands of high school graduates every year.

By law, the public education system cannot turn away students based on immigration status. A free public education is available to all in this country. And children who were brought here by their immigrant parents often thrive in this system. But what happens after they leave high school? The best and brightest have no problem getting accepted into top universities. But that’s where their immigration status gets tricky.

Only a handful of states have passed legislation allowing undocumented children who graduate from public high schools to attend public colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates, some with student financial aid. For those lucky few, the opportunities end there. They cannot enter the U.S. job market legally, despite diplomas and degrees. The vast majority of undocumented students, however, have no access to student aid and must pay international student tuition rates. This has led to calls for supporting federal legislation commonly known as the DREAM Act. But despite public support for it, the legislation has become mired in national immigration politics.

American Dreamer Part 3

February 17, 2010

This past December, Latino USA, brought you the story of Sam, an undocumented honors student from Indiana who has been raised in this country since the age of four. Sam left high school as a top student and a musical protégé but his college prospects were bleak due to his immigration status. For Sam, being undocumented was akin to a family secret. None of his friend or teachers knew.

Finding a college to accept Sam was only the beginning of his problems. Getting to pay for it was a totally different one. And after years of intense friendships, Sam decided to “remove the mask” and start telling his closest friends about his undocumented status.

Most of Sam's classmates knew him from the school orchestra and had no idea that he was undocumented.

[MrsCat 6]

Wow, loose definition of morals for sure.

I listen to HPR/NPR every morning on the drive to work too. Don't agree with everything, but do likes their news and analysis.

[Jenn! 918]

So what are Sam's options?

[Revenesque 2]

Don't agree with everything, but do likes their news and analysis.

Ditto

[Ali G. 37]

'By law, the public education system cannot turn away students based on immigration status. A free public education is available to all in this country.'

There is the problem right there, as the United States is not UNICEF. It's wrong that American kids and students have to share limited resources with that of illegal liens.

Edited February 22, 2010 by Booyah

[scandal 951]

So what are Sam's options?

They're bleak. He can leave to a country that's never been his home, or he can stay and live in the shadows in the USA. I don't envy him his plight, I'd even say that I'm sympathetic. But to make it seem like he's a good guy by staying in a situation he knows is illegal and is rationalizing to himself - what kind of journalism is that? I'm more incensed by the stance of the Latino USA reporting, than his.

Suppose his parents were not illegal immigrants. Suppose rather that his dad was Bernie Madoff. Suppose Bernie Madoff's kid grew up in the lap of luxury with all that money could buy. Now, years later, abruptly it's discovered that all the wealth was ill gotten and would need to be disgorged. How much sympathy do you have for the kid who has to go from being a millionaire to now just another shlub who has to work 9 to 5 to pay the rent? Probably not very much. That's roughly how I feel about Sam.

[Ali G. 37]

All of our locals school districts are having massive cuts in their school budgets. Some of the programs cut are those for children that are blind, mentally disabled, have physical disabilities and other special needs, however, those here illegal are literally still receiving free lunch. To add insult to injury, still have a multitude of ESOL teachers, because by the 5th grade, still refuse to learn English.

I will be attending the next budget meeting. To cut services from students actually in need, from students who cannot help their physical disabilities, while providing silver service to illegal aliens is just bloody wrong. It's bloody pathetic actually.

Edited February 22, 2010 by Booyah

[spookyturtle 9,466]

That Sam I Am, that Sam I Am, I do not like that Sam I Am.

[scandal 951]

That Sam I Am, that Sam I Am, I do not like that Sam I Am.

[William33 110]

An unfortunate ramification of his parents actions. This is a perfect case example of the complications faced by our Government over illegal immigration.

[sjr09 155]

Most of Sam's classmates knew him from the school orchestra and had no idea that he was undocumented. Like they had no idea? Right.....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Who knows. Speculation is rampant in these kinds of threads because people love to judge.

Regardless of what he does, the kid would probably be deported, which is unfortunate as its not really considered acceptable to punish people for the sins of their parents.

[scandal 951]

Most of Sam's classmates knew him from the school orchestra and had no idea that he was undocumented. Like they had no idea? Right.....

They didn't, because he didn't during most of those years. His parents did not tell him his legal status until he was towards the end of high school and facing college. He has now "come out" to his friends and the wider public.