Valedictorian Larissa Martinez's graduation speech

[struggle4progress]

[63splitwindow]

1. Compared to that young woman...

Don the Con is a dust mite. He isn't fit to sharpen her pencil.

[johnnypanic42]

2. what a brave individual

to come forward like that.

[Dustlawyer]

6. Especially when you understand that McKinney ISD is in a very Red part of Texas (yes we have

some not so Red spots). Wish her the best. She would make a Great American!

[Downwinder]

7. McKinney has some good sorts.

They are not all like Paxton or the Pool Police.

[bluestateguy]

10. McKinney: Was that where the "pool party raid of 2015" took place?

??

[Jack Rabbit]

3. I will remember her name and check now and then to see that she's doing well

We need more Americans like Ms. Martinez.

[Equinox Moon]

4. You Go Girl!

[Gothmog]

5. She is an amazing young lady

I want her to be a citizen of this country. She has a great deal to add to our country

[passiveporcupine]

8. Before I even played the video

My first thought was, yes...we need more of our young POC to hold positions like valedictorian...to break THAT glass ceiling. To prove to all those stuffy and racist old white men that these kids ARE our future and it doesn't matter what color their skin is. We've made some progress in this country in seeing POC move up the ladder and take positions where they can show the world that they too are brilliant, motivated ,compassionate, and socially responsible humans...and break that old myth that whites are superior...that unfortunately still exists today...in way too many stuffy old white men, and unfortunately in white youth and women too.

She is going to YALE! Congratulations Larissa. Be proud of yourself and your ethnicity. And thank you for wanting to join this country. You will make it a better place. I'm sorry we've made it so hard for so many of you. We need you here.

[bluestateguy]

9. Much of the hatred and vitriol she is getting comes from jealously

Losers who were too dumb to get into Yale or UT, or maybe the same is true for their mediocre kids.

Or maybe they were just too stupid and/or lazy to learn a foreign language.

[downeastdaniel]

12. What???

[63splitwindow]

15. What is confusing to you?

The statement made is clear.

[elmac]

11. Beautiful graduation speech

America's future is brighter because of Ms Martinez & the millions like her fighting for positive change. Undocumented children should never feel threatened by deportation, that is a form of child abuse, Obama did help with executive orders but we need laws passed to protect these children and their parents.

[Sancho]

13. My wife and I are educators (40 years at this point - still going) and live in FL.

We have seen two generations of people like this young lady. I picked tobacco in the 60's alongside migrants - it was only a little different then.

One reason that FL and TX went for Hillary is because some of us have seen the Clintons working on behalf of immigrants and education for decades. I worked for Richard Riley (Clinton's Sec. of Ed.) in the 80s. Equal opportunity for education for all students in the US is still a myth. Even though Congress will not cooperate, Hillary gets it and she will work for a path to citizenship for millions.

My guess is that the estimates are wrong. Here in FL, 25% were born outside the US according to the statistics. In reality, we see 40%, 50%, or even more in some classrooms. Parents can't attend PTA or talk to teachers without fear of deportation, children live in fear, and families are broken up. Many states (Vermont) don't have tuition equity or equal opportunity for admission to college; even if you were valedictorian of your HS!

Immigration reform is the most important issue facing the US today. It has a direct impact on 30-40 million Americans, but would change the entire country if reforms were enacted.

[struggle4progress]

14. +