or The Thing That Ruins Your Way
I was reading a Pew Research Report that indicated that legal immigrants (not illegal) were three times less likely to have finished high school, yet they were just as likely to have a college degree. It has also been said that legal immigrants were four times more likely to become millionaires than their US born counterparts. Why?
It could be one of perspective. I remember the first time I went to the Grand Canyon with my buddy, Mark Walker. We drove from Michigan to Arizona in an old truck and as we crossed the country we began to see unbelievable rock formations, and landscapes that we had never experienced before. But, nothing compared to standing on the edge of the canyon and then rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.
I think our first breathtaking words were, “Wow.” Not very eloquent, but the sentiment was aptly expressed. It was absolutely stunning and as two 18-year old kids from Michigan, we had never seen such a sight before.
I think that is how an immigrant who gets to this country feels. Getting here legally is not an easy task. There are many hoops to jump through, it takes time and effort to make it here legally. Then, once here, they look around and say, “Wow! Look at all the opportunities!” There are plenty of jobs available. The communities are much safer than where they came from and education is free. They roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Compare that to the modern youth in America. They are taught our country is racist, misogynistic, corrupt and evil. They become bitter, resentful and eventually have a disdain for this great country. No wonder they don’t do as well as the legal immigrants.
Everything is made available to US born children. They understand our culture, the language and even start off with a better education, yet the immigrants end up doing better and the US born end up being bitter and blaming the country for failing.
It reminds me of a message that King Solomon told his son when he said, “The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the LORD[1].”
Everything you need to be successful is available in the United States. There are books, jobs, capital, housing, food, water and safety. If you aren’t doing well, don’t blame the country. Instead blame your perspective, your attitude, your understanding and your plan. The country isn’t the problem; your foolish plan is the problem.
But, we love to blame anything but ourselves, so we look for the “boogey man” behind every corner and every successful person. Put on a new set of glasses and see the world from a different perspective; the perspective of a legal immigrant and see what happens.
[1] Proverbs 19:3
Robert “RJ” Regan is the founder of The Robert Regan Group and creator of Big Boyz Shorts, encouraging men to be “The Big Kahuna” in every area of their lives.
