Actions are illegal, never people: the title of the Ted Talk that I watched. It's a very profound speech, lead by Mr. Jose Antonio Vargas in the Mid-Atlantic. Mr. Vargas explained how other people in American and Mexican society saw him and how he felt about it.
Mr. Vargas pondered the meaning of 'illegal' and the differences wording can make. The difference between the words 'illegal alien' and 'undocumented immigrant,' although they're used in the same situation, have a very different effect on the people they're said to.
This Ted Talk relates to Reyna in many ways. Reyna did not see immigration as a bad thing; she saw it as an opportunity. However, unlike Mr. Vargas, Reyna was afraid to 'come out' as an 'undocumented immigrant.'
I really liked this Ted Talk. I liked how he spoke emotionally, yet candidly, as he responded to the questions that his colleagues posed. The idea that people would deny anyone a driver's license or ask someone to "stand in line," is demeaning. It suggests that very basic human or inalienable rights are only available to those with a valid social security number. Look at Mr. Vargas: He is a highly-educated man who has only known the United States has his home country. What really differentiates him from most of us? Nothing. As a matter of fact, he surpasses us in most human qualities.
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