Editor’s note: The following is in response to Brian Beckley’s “Our Corner” column of May 12.
I want to thank you for the article, “Freedom for all means everyone.” I started crying when I read it.
I am Mexican, born in Mexico, but raised in Enumclaw. I have seen just about everything from people being nice to me and my family, to people being racist, and calling us names. But it is so nice to see that there are people like you that think like us.
My mom and dad were born in Mexico, I was also born in Mexico. My sister and my brother were born here. That does not make my sister and my brother better than us, more or less Mexican-American than us. I am lighter skin than my sister and my brother and I have to say some people treat us different because of our skin tones. That is wrong, and even though Arizona says that they are not going to act based on skin tone, they will.
I have relatives in Arizona and yes they are immigrants, and they are scared to go outside. They are scared to take their kids to school. All of that makes me think of Hitler. And it is so sad to see what that state is becoming.
Like all nationalities, there are rich, poor, middle class Mexicans, Mexicans that have made bad choices, but like I say that is in all nationalities. Yes, Mexico has a huge drug problem, but that doesn’t make me part of that. I am a married, 23-year-old college student, mom of a 2-year-old, volunteer interpreter of the Enumclaw School District and the Enumclaw hospital. I help out at the senior center, toys for tots and my church. My parents have their own business and my sister is about to start college. All three of us play sports here in Enumclaw. My sister played varsity basketball this year for the Enumclaw Hornets. As you can see we live the American dream, but there is always somebody or something that tries to make us feel less than Americans.
Once again thank you for the article. On behalf of all Mexican residents of Enumclaw, thank you.
Crystal Saborio
Enumclaw