I, for one, am glad that we only have to redrawn the boundaries of the U.S. House Districts once every ten years because whenever that time comes around in most states it generates a tremendous struggle. State legislators draw those boundaries after the census that is taking up every decade. More accurately, the majority party in the state legislature draw those boundaries and, sadly but naturally, the majority party tries to draw the boundaries in a way that is advantageous to it giving it more seats in the Congress or at least protecting the seats they already have.

Are you old enough to remember an election held in every Southern state called “the Democratic White Primary?” That is the name that was given to the real General Election. It was used by all Southern states and black people were not permitted to vote much less run for office. Needless to say, that kept blacks out of office until late in the 1960’s when Congress passed the Voter Rights Act that demanded a fair electoral system be established and removing the obstacle Southern states placed between African Americans and the voting booth. In 2006, that Act was extended for 25 years by a vote of 90 to nothing in the Senate and 390 to 32 in the House. You might think therefore it was secure for the next quarter of a century but that is not the case.

Serious efforts are being discussed to undercut the Act or to go around it. A history of prejudice and discrimination is so deeply embedded in Texas and most of the other Southern states that every effort must continue to be made to protect minorities from their full rights as American citizens.

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Want to imagine a difficult situation?  Consider a 12-year-old Mexican kid whose parents brought him to this country illegally when he was a small baby.  Because of the family’s lack of legal status, this little kid faces very real obstacles in the future.  Now we have a wonderful suggestion for removing those barriers and permitting these young people to pursue a promising future through education and military service.

Naturally, there are conditions.  The person must have entered the United States before the age of 16, lived here for five continuous years, graduated from high school or gained admission to an institute of higher learning, not guilty of any crimes and have good moral character.

The DREAM act has always had strong bipartisan support and the U.S. bishops have themselves been long standing supporters.  However, we are in the last days of Congress.  The bill could come up within the next week or so.  It could easily die during these jammed days in the congressional calendar.  Letters and calls from all of us could really make a difference.  Why don’t you take five minutes, call your representative or senator, and ask them to support the DREAM act?

U.S. Senate:                                    (202) 224-3121
House of Representatives:            (202) 225-3121

Make the dream real.

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