I was wondering, could you change your name?

My grandparents came to America to be accepted and make a better life for themselves in this wonderful free land. No one told them to change their skin color, accent, or heritage when they walked into the red, white, and blue country. So why is now that the Chinese immigrants are asked to change their name? For those who do not speak their language, it was said it would be easier to call upon them. They might as well had asked them to strip them from their soul completely!

Are we becoming the stereotypical "White Man's" land? The ridiculous proposal makes me wonder why do we have the lines "For the Brave and the Free" in our National Anthem? Obviously for the won Revolutionary War, but it means much more than that. We are all immigrants and we fought to come to this country for freedom and individuality. We stood our ground, came for a future, and yet, they reply, "Is it too much to ask of you to change your name?" Oh my! What we'll we wear? Should we also dress a certain way and live in the suburbs? The houses sure don't seem to argue with their identical appearance.

It's not like this is new. Sanae, an immigrant from the Philippines, was told she must change her age. As a proud U.S. football fan, she actually doesn't mind. She knows it isn't fair, but if it means being two years younger, than why not? I strongly disagree. I understand it is hard to pronounce certain names, but isn't that what this country is about? We are a country full of different colors, speeches, and goals, but we all stand for the same thing in this country. Freedom is not just escaping, it is living as yourself, a person, and being able to enjoy that without the hatred others cause.

All aboard, the train is coming!

Am I scared? Scared of what? Oh yes the train tracks! Nothing to be scared of expect the fact someone is going to glue on metal detectors' favorite victims. Oh my, how agonizing it will be. I finally got through all my uncomfortable dental work and now the omen I've been waiting for: Braces.

By next week I shall be wearing car parts on my teeth and talk with an awkward slur. No disrespect to those who have or had braces, but my face is not equip for adapting to these bars. Others who first get their braces seem to cringe as they try to cover their mouths with embarrassment. But it's after awhile, when they begin to look natural and you can hardly tell the braces are there.

I'm still worried, however. What if I never look natural? What if they end up staying on longer than the eight to nine months they estimated? I would like a Colgate smile, but the braces; Ooh!

The bright side of this all, is that I could care less about the silly names others will call me. It's all elementary. "Brace face!" They'd snicker and end it with a Nelson "Ha ha!" Please, like I would waste my time caring what others joke of my metal mouth.

In the end this had to come. Just like tenant shots and picture days, it's going to come sooner or later. I figure I might as well enjoy this process. Besides, nine months isn't so bad. That's the shortest time I've ever heard of compared to others. Some have theirs on for four years! If my mom could carry me for nine months, then why should I worry over this zipper for my teeth? Okay, I stretched that zipper joke there.