“There weren’t many opportunities to work in Paraguay. I was selling tools on the street. There was no money. There was nothing. I came to Argentina when I was nineteen and life has been so much better. I work every day. I’m close to opening another shop just like this. I do get called a lot of names like ‘Shitty Paraguayan.’ But I’m used to it now. In the beginning I would try to fight back, but not anymore. When I first arrived, I fought a man who tried to stab me through the cage. But he came back with twenty people and destroyed my store. So I don’t fight back anymore. Everyone in the neighborhood knows me now, so I’m treated with more respect. And my son was born in this country. So this one is an Argentinian. He's going to study.”
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ferdi Armagan
Its very sad and super funny at the same time.. Why funny you might ask, whats funny about this sad story? Its funny that people still believe in these man-made borders and pretending its "their" Argentina, when every single one of us has ancestors from all over the world. There are no borders, its one world. Let this man work in his little shop to feed his family and stay away from illegal activities, if this man can't feed his son anymore, who knows what hes capable of. Keep it up brother!
Some people can't see it in America but this story makes it clear: Those who have left home, family and country behind are self-selected to be amongst the most hard working, entrepreneurial, long-suffering, compassionate and productive. We need that in our national gene pool. Every country does. It is not simply about tolerating immigration but embracing, celebrating and promoting it. Thank you sir for this lesson. Good luck to you and your family!