Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Being fair is the American way of life

Saturday, June 7, 2003 | 3:39 a.m.

Last Tuesday the Las Vegas Sun had a front-page story with the headline "1,600 students fail math test, won't graduate." The same edition of the newspaper also had a story headlined, "Immigrants' scholarships are threatened." This story was about a mean-spirited move to deny state Millennium Scholarships to Nevada residents graduating from local high schools because they aren't U.S. citizens.

We are talking about scholarships being denied to residents who have not only passed state tests for mathematics proficiency and reading proficiency but have also earned a B or higher grade point average for four years. Many of them have been counting on the scholarship since Gov. Kenny Guinn brought them into being a few years ago. What a great incentive to overcome other barriers and succeed in high school. Just imagine the other students yet to receive full citizenship who are encouraged to work hard to receive a scholarship next year and the year after. They are determined to become productive members of our community and nation. Dropouts and quitters they are not.

Just last year I wrote about the Hispanic student who had earned a scholarship. She came to Las Vegas at the age of 5 and succeeded in meeting the academic demands of the state and Clark County School District. She was a 12-year resident but wasn't a U.S. citizen. Her parents did apply for their citizenship but were among the hundreds of local immigrants who were defrauded by a scam artist. Their lawsuit has them in a legal limbo. So this resident with so much potential should be pushed aside because she isn't a citizen? Nonsense.

These most valuable residents with the potential of succeeding in higher education shouldn't be denied this opportunity. They have already shown us the qualities that will make them good citizens. Many are also doing menial jobs in addition to studying.

Today there are 31,000 active duty personnel in our military services who haven't yet become U.S. citizens. Not being a registered citizen didn't keep several of them from dying in Iraq when fighting for our country. This has been true in most recent wars, and now, according to USA Today newspaper, they make up 2 percent of our active duty military forces.

Valerie Alvord, writing in USA Today, told readers: "Some of the families of these servicemen killed in the war in Iraq want them buried as citizens, which they can become if their families apply for it.

" 'My son is dead, and I'm broken inside,' says Jorge Rincon of Conyers, Ga. His son, Army Pfc. Diego Rincon, came to the USA from Colombia as a youngster. He was killed March 29 in a suicide bombing attack. His funeral is Thursday.

" 'The only thing that keeps me going now is to make sure that he's buried as an American,' says Rincon. 'That will be my dream come true.' "

Our successful Millennium Scholarship qualifiers, whom some want to punish, are most likely the children of many of our most productive workers. They are workers who do the heavy lifting, housework, pick and shovel and cement work, and provide services for visiting conventioneers and tourists. A recent local study gives us the following information: "Annual wages for non-native Hispanics in Clark County total more than $2.6 billion. Their total spending impact is estimated at $15.6 billion, while state and local governments are receiving $829 million in tax contributions annually ..."

Mary Riddell of UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research added that 131,000 jobs were directly held by Hispanics in 2002, and their spending helped create another 73,441 jobs.

Yes, their parents not only pay taxes but also contribute by sweating in jobs many native Americans don't want. They are invaluable members of our society, and their children are also willing to work and sweat to improve their status in life and help improve our society.

I would suggest that these special residents of Nevada not have another unnecessary barrier put in front of them. They have earned and deserve fair treatment. They aren't asking for anything extra or special but only what they, as local residents and Clark County School District graduates, have earned.