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Video: A Second Grader's Challenge to Michelle Obama on Immigration

by Allison Johnson 05-20-2010 | 3:30pm
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Michelle Obama is used to being in front of children. She routinely visits schools, community centers, shelters, and social service agencies in and around Washington, D.C. She speaks with them, reads stories to them, and brings them to the White House to see her garden.

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Yesterday, First Lady Obama spoke at an elementary school in Silver Spring, Maryland, to a group of inquisitive children. In this video, a 2nd grade girl speaks what is on her heart to the First Lady of the United States.

The text of their exchange is below:

"My mom ... she says that Barack Obama is taking everybody away that doesn't have papers."

Mrs. Obama replied: "Yeah, well that's something that we have to work on, right? To make sure that people can be here with the right kind of papers, right? That's exactly right."

The girl then said quietly, "But my mom doesn't have any ..." and trailed off.

Mrs. Obama replied: "Well, we have to work on that. We have to fix that, and everybody's got to work together in Congress to make sure that happens. That's right."

This exchange between a small schoolgirl and one of the most powerful women in the world strikes me because of the beautiful yet tragic imbalance of power.

In scripture, Jesus had a special relationship and understanding with children. He welcomed curious, precocious, and likely rambunctious children to His side. It was obvious that His preferential treatment of children irked his disciples, who didn't see the same value in the Savior's playtime with little ones. Rarely do we see Jesus as indignant, but in Mark 10:13, Jesus rebuked the disciples for casting off children and reminded them that, "I tell you truly, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a child will never enter into it" (Mark 10:15).

Children, then and now, see life differently and have something to share with the powerful. While politicians bicker amongst themselves about how, if, and when immigration reform will happen, the reality is that there are millions of children like the 2nd grade girl that are trying to make sense of the broken world they inhabit. May we, as adults with access to power, have the ears to hear the children in our lives and allow their perspectives to transform ours.

Allison Johnson

Allison Johnson is the campaign coordinator of Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

+Ask the U.S. Senate to pass national immigration reform this year

27 Comments | Login or Register to post comments
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by: imheart

05-23-2010 @ 6:28pm

There is a need to address this situation. But my heart drops when the name calling and dehumanizing comments begin. The insistence to label human beings as "illegal" is deceptive. "Legal" is relative. For a gay couple in Malawi to marry is illegal and the law is the law. For an abolitionist to have helped a runaway slave was illegal and the law was the law. For a young girl in some places to resist being married to a much older man is illegal and the law is the law. The examples are endless. My heart drops when fear is inserted into comments to halt further considerations. The United States must address immigration, our relations with Mexico and the rampant drug use in our country that has created the Hydra of the drug cartels.

We must have a mature, national conversation about this that results in effective, humane legislation.

What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?

by: imheart

05-23-2010 @ 6:28pm

There is a need to address this situation. But my heart drops when the name calling and dehumanizing comments begin. The insistence to label human beings as "illegal" is deceptive. "Legal" is relative. For a gay couple in Malawi to marry is illegal and the law is the law. For an abolitionist to have helped a runaway slave was illegal and the law was the law. For a young girl in some places to resist being married to a much older man is illegal and the law is the law. The examples are endless. My heart drops when fear is inserted into comments to halt further considerations. The United States must address immigration, our relations with Mexico and the rampant drug use in our country that has created the Hydra of the drug cartels.

We must have a mature, national conversation about this that results in effective, humane legislation.

What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:55pm

Nothing personal against Mrs. Obama or any of the "First Ladies of the United States", but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"? I don't recall her being elected to anything let alone being sworn into to office.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:55pm

Nothing personal against Mrs. Obama or any of the "First Ladies of the United States", but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"? I don't recall her being elected to anything let alone being sworn into to office.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:45pm

The setup may be true, but your comment about the girl is mean.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:45pm

The setup may be true, but your comment about the girl is mean.

by: Rodelyn Lipumano

05-21-2010 @ 9:00am

I can agree that within U.S. Immigration Law this child's mother would be categorized as "breaking the law." But can we consider a much broader picture that asks our society why a mother doesn't feel that her own country can provide the opportunities that her child needs to succeed? Is it possible that she was not informed of her options to take the appropriate routes for legal entry into the U.S.; of what resources she might have in her own country? I of course don't know the full picture of this child's background, but we should consider a more dignified outlook towards our fellow mankind, rather than perhaps deciding for a person the reasons for which they acted.

by: nuclearferret

05-20-2010 @ 7:40pm

It is a shame when parents' law-breaking puts their children in such difficult positions as this child.

by: roger9192004

05-20-2010 @ 7:51pm

That was a heartbreaking moment -- that this little girl lives in fear of losing her mom and hopes that maybe the wife of the president can do something about it. It's the face of immigration that many people refuse or don't want to see. Harsh "enforcement only" solutions to our immigration laws works to separate families in devastating ways. Rep. Gutierrez reported that there are over 8 million children in the U.S. with one or more parents without documentation. Simple compassion and justice dictate that we find legal ways for non-criminal aliens with deep ties to this country to stay here with their families.

by: thedeporteeswife

05-20-2010 @ 9:55pm

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/05/2...

by: squeaky

05-25-2010 @ 6:42pm

"but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"?"

Yeah, especially since everyone knows that's Oprah.

by: Rodelyn Lipumano

05-21-2010 @ 9:00am

I can agree that within U.S. Immigration Law this child's mother would be categorized as "breaking the law." But can we consider a much broader picture that asks our society why a mother doesn't feel that her own country can provide the opportunities that her child needs to succeed? Is it possible that she was not informed of her options to take the appropriate routes for legal entry into the U.S.; of what resources she might have in her own country? I of course don't know the full picture of this child's background, but we should consider a more dignified outlook towards our fellow mankind, rather than perhaps deciding for a person the reasons for which they acted.

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 4:08am

sure we need more gangbangers here like ms13 and maybe some drug cartels leaders can have a party at the whitehouse , how about some middle easterners that want to kill the infidels , im for legal imirgration these people already committed a crime we dont need any more criminals , and if they are here illegally they are breaking the law . send them home now and let them fix their own corruption back in mexico , and we will deal with our corruption in november

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 4:08am

sure we need more gangbangers here like ms13 and maybe some drug cartels leaders can have a party at the whitehouse , how about some middle easterners that want to kill the infidels , im for legal imirgration these people already committed a crime we dont need any more criminals , and if they are here illegally they are breaking the law . send them home now and let them fix their own corruption back in mexico , and we will deal with our corruption in november

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 3:28am

another set up and the girl couldnt even get her line right , maybe she should have used a teleprompter , she was supposed to say arizona not obama !

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 3:28am

another set up and the girl couldnt even get her line right , maybe she should have used a teleprompter , she was supposed to say arizona not obama !

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 3:28am

another set up and the girl couldnt even get her line right , maybe she should have used a teleprompter , she was supposed to say arizona not obama !

by: nuclearferret

05-20-2010 @ 7:40pm

It is a shame when parents' law-breaking puts their children in such difficult positions as this child.

by: nuclearferret

05-20-2010 @ 7:40pm

It is a shame when parents' law-breaking puts their children in such difficult positions as this child.

by: roger9192004

05-20-2010 @ 7:51pm

That was a heartbreaking moment -- that this little girl lives in fear of losing her mom and hopes that maybe the wife of the president can do something about it. It's the face of immigration that many people refuse or don't want to see. Harsh "enforcement only" solutions to our immigration laws works to separate families in devastating ways. Rep. Gutierrez reported that there are over 8 million children in the U.S. with one or more parents without documentation. Simple compassion and justice dictate that we find legal ways for non-criminal aliens with deep ties to this country to stay here with their families.

by: roger9192004

05-20-2010 @ 7:51pm

That was a heartbreaking moment -- that this little girl lives in fear of losing her mom and hopes that maybe the wife of the president can do something about it. It's the face of immigration that many people refuse or don't want to see. Harsh "enforcement only" solutions to our immigration laws works to separate families in devastating ways. Rep. Gutierrez reported that there are over 8 million children in the U.S. with one or more parents without documentation. Simple compassion and justice dictate that we find legal ways for non-criminal aliens with deep ties to this country to stay here with their families.

by: imheart

05-23-2010 @ 6:28pm

There is a need to address this situation. But my heart drops when the name calling and dehumanizing comments begin. The insistence to label human beings as "illegal" is deceptive. "Legal" is relative. For a gay couple in Malawi to marry is illegal and the law is the law. For an abolitionist to have helped a runaway slave was illegal and the law was the law. For a young girl in some places to resist being married to a much older man is illegal and the law is the law. The examples are endless. My heart drops when fear is inserted into comments to halt further considerations. The United States must address immigration, our relations with Mexico and the rampant drug use in our country that has created the Hydra of the drug cartels.

We must have a mature, national conversation about this that results in effective, humane legislation.

What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:55pm

Nothing personal against Mrs. Obama or any of the "First Ladies of the United States", but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"? I don't recall her being elected to anything let alone being sworn into to office.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:45pm

The setup may be true, but your comment about the girl is mean.

by: thedeporteeswife

05-20-2010 @ 9:55pm

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/05/2...

by: thedeporteeswife

05-20-2010 @ 9:55pm

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/05/2...

by: squeaky

05-25-2010 @ 6:42pm

"but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"?"

Yeah, especially since everyone knows that's Oprah.

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: nuclearferret

05-20-2010 @ 7:40pm

It is a shame when parents' law-breaking puts their children in such difficult positions as this child.

by: nuclearferret

05-20-2010 @ 7:40pm

It is a shame when parents' law-breaking puts their children in such difficult positions as this child.

by: nuclearferret

05-20-2010 @ 7:40pm

It is a shame when parents' law-breaking puts their children in such difficult positions as this child.

by: roger9192004

05-20-2010 @ 7:51pm

That was a heartbreaking moment -- that this little girl lives in fear of losing her mom and hopes that maybe the wife of the president can do something about it. It's the face of immigration that many people refuse or don't want to see. Harsh "enforcement only" solutions to our immigration laws works to separate families in devastating ways. Rep. Gutierrez reported that there are over 8 million children in the U.S. with one or more parents without documentation. Simple compassion and justice dictate that we find legal ways for non-criminal aliens with deep ties to this country to stay here with their families.

by: roger9192004

05-20-2010 @ 7:51pm

That was a heartbreaking moment -- that this little girl lives in fear of losing her mom and hopes that maybe the wife of the president can do something about it. It's the face of immigration that many people refuse or don't want to see. Harsh "enforcement only" solutions to our immigration laws works to separate families in devastating ways. Rep. Gutierrez reported that there are over 8 million children in the U.S. with one or more parents without documentation. Simple compassion and justice dictate that we find legal ways for non-criminal aliens with deep ties to this country to stay here with their families.

by: roger9192004

05-20-2010 @ 7:51pm

That was a heartbreaking moment -- that this little girl lives in fear of losing her mom and hopes that maybe the wife of the president can do something about it. It's the face of immigration that many people refuse or don't want to see. Harsh "enforcement only" solutions to our immigration laws works to separate families in devastating ways. Rep. Gutierrez reported that there are over 8 million children in the U.S. with one or more parents without documentation. Simple compassion and justice dictate that we find legal ways for non-criminal aliens with deep ties to this country to stay here with their families.

by: thedeporteeswife

05-20-2010 @ 9:55pm

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/05/2...

by: thedeporteeswife

05-20-2010 @ 9:55pm

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/05/2...

by: thedeporteeswife

05-20-2010 @ 9:55pm

http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/05/2...

by: Rodelyn Lipumano

05-21-2010 @ 9:00am

I can agree that within U.S. Immigration Law this child's mother would be categorized as "breaking the law." But can we consider a much broader picture that asks our society why a mother doesn't feel that her own country can provide the opportunities that her child needs to succeed? Is it possible that she was not informed of her options to take the appropriate routes for legal entry into the U.S.; of what resources she might have in her own country? I of course don't know the full picture of this child's background, but we should consider a more dignified outlook towards our fellow mankind, rather than perhaps deciding for a person the reasons for which they acted.

by: Rodelyn Lipumano

05-21-2010 @ 9:00am

I can agree that within U.S. Immigration Law this child's mother would be categorized as "breaking the law." But can we consider a much broader picture that asks our society why a mother doesn't feel that her own country can provide the opportunities that her child needs to succeed? Is it possible that she was not informed of her options to take the appropriate routes for legal entry into the U.S.; of what resources she might have in her own country? I of course don't know the full picture of this child's background, but we should consider a more dignified outlook towards our fellow mankind, rather than perhaps deciding for a person the reasons for which they acted.

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 3:28am

another set up and the girl couldnt even get her line right , maybe she should have used a teleprompter , she was supposed to say arizona not obama !

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 3:28am

another set up and the girl couldnt even get her line right , maybe she should have used a teleprompter , she was supposed to say arizona not obama !

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 3:28am

another set up and the girl couldnt even get her line right , maybe she should have used a teleprompter , she was supposed to say arizona not obama !

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 4:08am

sure we need more gangbangers here like ms13 and maybe some drug cartels leaders can have a party at the whitehouse , how about some middle easterners that want to kill the infidels , im for legal imirgration these people already committed a crime we dont need any more criminals , and if they are here illegally they are breaking the law . send them home now and let them fix their own corruption back in mexico , and we will deal with our corruption in november

by: Twana Jones

05-22-2010 @ 4:08am

sure we need more gangbangers here like ms13 and maybe some drug cartels leaders can have a party at the whitehouse , how about some middle easterners that want to kill the infidels , im for legal imirgration these people already committed a crime we dont need any more criminals , and if they are here illegally they are breaking the law . send them home now and let them fix their own corruption back in mexico , and we will deal with our corruption in november

by: imheart

05-23-2010 @ 6:28pm

There is a need to address this situation. But my heart drops when the name calling and dehumanizing comments begin. The insistence to label human beings as "illegal" is deceptive. "Legal" is relative. For a gay couple in Malawi to marry is illegal and the law is the law. For an abolitionist to have helped a runaway slave was illegal and the law was the law. For a young girl in some places to resist being married to a much older man is illegal and the law is the law. The examples are endless. My heart drops when fear is inserted into comments to halt further considerations. The United States must address immigration, our relations with Mexico and the rampant drug use in our country that has created the Hydra of the drug cartels.

We must have a mature, national conversation about this that results in effective, humane legislation.

What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?

by: imheart

05-23-2010 @ 6:28pm

There is a need to address this situation. But my heart drops when the name calling and dehumanizing comments begin. The insistence to label human beings as "illegal" is deceptive. "Legal" is relative. For a gay couple in Malawi to marry is illegal and the law is the law. For an abolitionist to have helped a runaway slave was illegal and the law was the law. For a young girl in some places to resist being married to a much older man is illegal and the law is the law. The examples are endless. My heart drops when fear is inserted into comments to halt further considerations. The United States must address immigration, our relations with Mexico and the rampant drug use in our country that has created the Hydra of the drug cartels.

We must have a mature, national conversation about this that results in effective, humane legislation.

What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?

by: imheart

05-23-2010 @ 6:28pm

There is a need to address this situation. But my heart drops when the name calling and dehumanizing comments begin. The insistence to label human beings as "illegal" is deceptive. "Legal" is relative. For a gay couple in Malawi to marry is illegal and the law is the law. For an abolitionist to have helped a runaway slave was illegal and the law was the law. For a young girl in some places to resist being married to a much older man is illegal and the law is the law. The examples are endless. My heart drops when fear is inserted into comments to halt further considerations. The United States must address immigration, our relations with Mexico and the rampant drug use in our country that has created the Hydra of the drug cartels.

We must have a mature, national conversation about this that results in effective, humane legislation.

What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:45pm

The setup may be true, but your comment about the girl is mean.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:45pm

The setup may be true, but your comment about the girl is mean.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:45pm

The setup may be true, but your comment about the girl is mean.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:55pm

Nothing personal against Mrs. Obama or any of the "First Ladies of the United States", but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"? I don't recall her being elected to anything let alone being sworn into to office.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:55pm

Nothing personal against Mrs. Obama or any of the "First Ladies of the United States", but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"? I don't recall her being elected to anything let alone being sworn into to office.

by: jb321

05-23-2010 @ 9:55pm

Nothing personal against Mrs. Obama or any of the "First Ladies of the United States", but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"? I don't recall her being elected to anything let alone being sworn into to office.

by: squeaky

05-25-2010 @ 6:42pm

"but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"?"

Yeah, especially since everyone knows that's Oprah.

by: squeaky

05-25-2010 @ 6:42pm

"but why do you refer to her as "one of the most powerful women in the world"?"

Yeah, especially since everyone knows that's Oprah.