You’ve seen it before. Riots, protests, and chaos in the streets. It happens again and again.
The palm trees, the beautiful weather, and the endless countryside make it look like paradise. The sunsets are legendary, and the ocean views are breathtaking. California is the land of opportunity.
But these days, the state’s beauty is overshadowed by violence and division.
In Los Angeles, the place I grew up in, we are seeing riots, burning cars, and protests on a scale I never imagined. This is not the California I remember.
I am a first-generation Mexican-American, and like many Americans, I am deeply concerned. And I’m not the only one who feels this way. Many others feel the same.
My father came to this country from Mexico, 50 years ago with the belief that America was a land of opportunity. He believed that if you worked hard, you could achieve the American dream. And that’s exactly what he did.
He worked long hours, learned English, and provided for his family. My mother, from El Salvador, shared that same belief in America’s promise.
But today, those values seem to be disappearing. Instead of embracing the American dream, some immigrants, and yes from Mexico, seem to reject it.
They don’t want to become part of America. They want to remain Mexicans living in California, not Americans.
As a Latina, I no longer live in California, but I am American with Mexican descent. It breaks my heart to see the growing entitlement mindset and the flag-burning protests that dishonor the very land of opportunity that my family came to.
The values that made this country great are being ignored, and I can’t stand by and let it happen.
When I was growing up, I watched the American dream come true for my family. My father worked hard to give us a better life. He wanted us to own a home, go to good schools, and live in a safe neighborhood.
America didn’t care about our skin color. It cared about the work we put in. The American dream wasn’t handed to us, it was earned. Work hard, and you’ll succeed.
But today, something has changed. Instead of working hard, too many people seem to feel entitled to what they haven’t earned. Just take a look at what’s happening in California right now.
You can find videos on social media of large protests, with people burning cars, causing destruction, and shouting hateful messages like “kill” and “f’k ice.” This isn’t activism; it’s violence.
What happened to the California I knew? The one built by people who worked hard, respected the law, and dreamed of a better life?
Instead, we see a state where criminals, including illegal immigrants, are emboldened.
The number of illegal immigrants in California has skyrocketed over the years. In the 1980s, estimates put the number of illegal immigrants in California at around 2 million.
Fast forward to today, and that number has more than doubled, with an estimated 4 million illegal immigrants now living in the state.
And now, they’re not hiding in the shadows!
They’re marching in the streets, causing destruction, and protesting loudly. What happened to the values of hard work, respect for the law, and family?
In my hometown – the place where I grew up learning about the red, white, and blue – this is far from the values I was taught. We were taught to value family, education, and the idea that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything.
But now, many seem to be turning their backs on those values, embracing a mindset of entitlement instead of working hard.
It’s especially troubling to see this mindset within the Mexican community.
My father, who came here seeking better opportunities, is shocked by what’s happening. He never expected anything handed to him. He believed in earning his place in society, not demanding it.
But today, it feels like too many have rejected this idea. They come to California expecting the system to owe them something, instead of realizing they must work for it.
The benefits California provides like food stamps, medical assistance, free phones, and education, only seem to encourage this mindset.
Rather than encouraging people to come into the country legally, work hard, and contribute to society, the system has created an environment where entitlement and lawlessness are becoming the norm.
What happened to the Golden State of California?
California’s countryside and beautiful weather are still here, but they no longer represent the California I knew.
The values that once made California great – hard work, respect for the law, and a strong sense of community – are being overshadowed by a new generation of immigrants who aren’t interested in becoming Americans.
They’re more focused on keeping their Mexican identity and rejecting what America offers.
