2005 Winner, Samuel Moore

Immigration to me is the way everything came to be. People came from all over the world bringing with them their languages and cultures. They told us about what it would be like to be in their shoes. From the British to the French, form the Chinese to the Mongolians we all have our own stories. You could be the great general who lead his army to won a war, or you could be the simple house wife taking care of three kids; no matter what it is, your story is who you are and it is important.

Now, my story comes from many places, my ethnicity is wide ranged. My ancestors on my father’s side of the family came from Norway and Sweden and from Scotland. On the other side, my mothers’ family came from England. They traveled to the United States on sailboats. I don’t know much about where they all lived, maybe in the city, or in a castle, or maybe on a simple farm near the rolling green hills.

Immigration is what made the United States what it is with so much diversity. Without immigration the United States would be a ghost town. Immigration is important because how else could we meet people with different backgrounds and traditions. How else could we learn about other languages, and places or hear stories about things that no longer exist.

Immigrants may have built our houses or made beautiful art that we like to admire. We shouldn’t stop and look at their works just because we like and enjoy them, but because of whom the people are that brought them to us. A painting could be the very first of a young artist hoping to sell his art for money on the streets; or the work of a very famous artist in the old country who immigrated here and left all of his other work behind with his former life. No matter what the case, we should be admiring these things because they are unique. The same goes for people. We shouldn’t make fun of the new kid with the funny accent we should welcome them and tell him a little about ourselves.

Without immigration, silk from China, pieroges from Poland, painted eggs from Russia, Spanikopita from Greece, kimonos from Japan would not be things that I know about. Almost everyday, we eat and see things adapted from other cultures.

Immigration made me possible. I might not be living here enjoying all the freedoms in this country if my ancestors had not chosen to come to this country. So, I am glad immigration is allowed. I am very happy that immigration brought my friends here to the United States. Immigration has helped to keep me interested in meeting new people, learning their stories and what they have to say about my story. Immigration makes me unique.