by Sam Woodruff<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 it had become impossible for me to see them as anything else but poor. \u00a0Their poverty was my single story of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
-Chimamanda Adichie<\/p>\n
In this quote from Chimamanda Adichie\u2019s Ted Talk, \u201cThe Danger of a Single Story,\u201d she talks about a boy who was her family\u2019s live-in domestic help when she was young. \u00a0She talks about not seeing this boy for who he was, but simply as \u201cpoor.\u201d \u00a0This story draws a parallel to that of many United States citizens\u2019 opinion on illegal immigrants. \u00a0The \u201csingle story\u201d of illegal immigrants seems to be a story that doesn\u2019t get past the legislative problem of illegal immigration. The extent of the story is that these people have come here illegally and are using resources without having to pay for them.<\/p>\n
The main basis of this piece is the story of a current BYU student who immigrated illegally to the United States with her family. Here are her words on the subject of being called an \u201cillegal immigrant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being called an \u201cillegal immigrant\u201d\u2026makes me feel uneasy. \u00a0When people are objectified and stripped of their humanity is when we usually treat them the worst. When people call us illegal aliens, it makes it easier for them to deport the dad or mom and separate our families because we are so different to them that it is tough to relate to us. Also, when just the word illegal is used, I don\u2019t like it because people associate it with negative things. I am a really good student, have a bright future, and have never stolen or done anything against the law. But when I am called illegal, people see me as a criminal.<\/p>\n
Her statement flies in the face of the single story told of illegal immigrants. The goal of this game is not to make any judgments or advocate any particular policy, it is simply to tell a different story that helps people realize that many illegal immigrants are not criminals. \u00a0Even more than that, to realize they are responsible people with real and even pressing reasons for being here.<\/p>\n
The game is a great platform for the person playing to not only sympathize with one who has crossed the border illegally, but to additionally validate the decision to do so by making the same decision themselves. This game speaks to the power of new media<\/em> in bringing about new forms of storytelling, which ultimately effects how content is received. In this case the \u201clistener\u201d takes a more active role in how the story unfolds; thus \u201cputting oneself in the shoes\u201d of the person in the story becomes a much less abstract concept.<\/p>\n I believe that most Americans who play this game thoughtfully and honestly, will decide to come to the United States illegally as their game character.\u00a0And even if they do not, I hope they will at least better understand the motivations that one has in doing so. This is important because our perceptions of others affect how we treat them politically speaking or otherwise.<\/p>\n