Military Service in the Pacific Northwest

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Freedom, a word used by Americans often. One hears "we have freedom of speech, and religion" etc. Soldiers fight to protect "the peoples" freedom. Have you ever noticed what nationality these soldiers are? The American military is the most diverse fighting force then any other fighting force in the past. The Christian Science Monitor article states, "Most important, they will be far more diverse than almost any military force of the past." Today's military is made up of Anglos, African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Immigrants. Immigrants fight for freedom; in fact, some of the immigrants are undocumented. Immigrants fight to keep a freedom they never had. Immigrants fight for a country they are not from. Immigrants are willing to risk their lives' for the United States. Why are immigrants willing to risk their lives' to fight for the United States? Immigrants serve in the military because immigrants want to show that they can contribute just as much, to the United States, as "Americans" can. Although immigrants can contribute just as much, to the United States, immigrants are still limited as to what positions they can hold in the military.

Immigrants can get in the military many ways. Immigrants need a green card to join the military. Military.com states, "Immigrants holding a valid green card may enlist." In the Prolog article, Illegal Mexican immigrant who fought in Iraq facing deportation from US, Juan Escalante forged a green card needed to join the army. How many other immigrants forge a green card to join the army? Another way to join the army is if immigrants are recruited. Immigrants must have a valid green card or have U.S. citizenship. Immigrants usually have to show an interest in joining to...

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...us Medal of Honor, the highest level of recognition presented by the President of the United States." (Hispanic Link Article). Only a few out of millions that have served in the military have received that medal. That says a lot about immigrants' contributions and loyalty to the United States.

Immigrants have shown that they can contribute just as much, to the United States, as "Americans" can by the actions they have taken in war. Immigrants risk their lives for freedom they do not have yet. The promises in our contemporary moment are great, because immigrants are slowly being accepted into the U.S. and are being granted citizenship. The perils are still there, however. Immigrants are still limited in the military. Immigrants can't hold as many positions, in the military, as citizens can. We, as a nation, just have to keep working at getting equality.

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