Published: April 11, 2006
Birgitta Sundstrom
Since when has our state had a problem with illegal immigrants? As a letter carrier for five years in south Minneapolis I have seen what illegal immigrants can do. I watched neighborhood after neighborhood clean up because of illegal immigrants. Bloomington Avenue, 15th, 17th, Pleasant, Pillsbury all went from brown and sad-looking to green and blooming. I watched mothers and fathers working four jobs and paying taxes teach their kids the real value of a dollar. I have seen the "American Dream" really happen, time and time again. Which illegal immigrants is Gov. Tim Pawlenty actually after? What is he trying to stop here? Has he even walked around Powderhorn in his life? When I was a kid our family lived on 33rd and Portland. In 1979 my parents moved my brother and me to Bloomington after our house was broken into for like the third time. The neighborhood was bad. It was dangerous. Fourth Avenue was infested with crack and violent crime. My parents loved the city, but they had kids and needed to do what was best. Then in 1994 I moved back. I bought my first house in Powderhorn for $54,000. Over the years that I lived there I watched the neighborhood change. Every year it became a little bit safer. In seven years' time my duplex tripled in value. I thank all those dangerous immigrants who moved into my neighborhood. I thank them all. Not for the revenue or taxes, but for bringing back the beauty of south Minneapolis. For cleaning up a neighborhood that no one seemed to care about. For growing grass, for planting flowers, for opening new businesses, for coming to America and making it better, I thank them all. So the next time you're in an immigrant neighborhood, stop and really look around. See what immigrants have done for Minnesota. I say Minnesota should create its own immigration policy and welcome more people who care where their kids are raised and dream of a better life -- a better America.Birgitta Sundstrom, Bloomington, is a student at Metro State University.
©2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
We can be proud of our children for all kinds of reasons. We are very proud of both of our children, especially now that they have become such wonderful adults. They are very much imbued with the values of Betty and me. When we see those values in action, we get even prouder.
Birgitta
We are always talking about writing letters to the editor, but rarely send something in. It was to our surprise and delight to discover that Birgitta sent an op-ed piece into the Minneapolis StarTribune. The Strib not only liked the piece but they also published it on the 11th of April and they paid her for it.
We both agree with her opinion. Like her we have seen the marvelous things that Mexican immigrants have done for the Twin Cities and the Midwest. Like her we value their contribution to our region and the United States. Like her we find the politicians that attack Latin American immigrants to be disgusting fear-mongers.
We always knew that Birgitta had the talent to be a great writer.
We hope that she continues on this path.
You can read her op-ed piece on the right side of this page, where I have reprinted it.
You can also find the piece of the
StarTribune web site.
If you have not read it already, I hope you will take the time to read it now.
Wow, impressive! Congrats on your lovely daughter and her wonderful values, not because of her opinion on immigrants, but because she dares see through... she won't buy what's being said by politicians or the media, who have personal interests intertwined in their fancy rhetorics, she sees for herself and expresses her own opinion with impeccable style!
Lots of hugs from Argentina. Especially to Betty, who taught me the importance of Malbec! :D
Mariana
I saw the day it came out. Really nice. I was impressed. Salient points, no bullshit, and she's right, you know.
You must be proud - of course you are.
Love,
John G
Posted by: John Ganapes at April 26, 2006 03:09 AMAwesome! Very thoughtful and true. when I went to Thailand in 1979 with the American Refugee Committe out of Minneapolis, I was very moved by the open-ness of Minnesota to the plight of refugees and how so many lucky Southeast Asians were welcomed there.
beautiful, open hearts and minds! Go Goddess!
Love and respect, your long-lost Cousin Danny (your Daddy found me)
carmel, california
29 april, 2006
Posted by: daniel susott, md, mph at April 29, 2006 01:13 PMGo Birgitta! Really love that article. Wish there were more US Americans like you! Beso, Ingo
Posted by: Ingo at May 8, 2006 08:01 PM