Immigrant

I attempted to sign up my children for swimming lessons this week.
And, I would have succeeded except that — out of curiosity —I decided
to ask the owner of the gym a question about the forms she gave me to
fill out.

The forms had the usual, name, age, address, and telephone number
fields followed by four identical spaces for each of the children’s
biographical information with a puzzling question: Is the child a US
citizen?

I was surprised by the fact that someone would ask this question for
swimming lessons. This wasn’t a public pool or a place where kids
received funding or free classes, or a government or state run program
where this information would be pertinent. No, this was a private
swimming club, so I politely asked this lady why they were interested
in the children’s citizenship. 

Almost immediately, the owner of the aquatic center got very
defensive and told me that she had every right to put the question on
the form, and that people were way too politically correct and
sensitive about these things. 

Well, maybe she had a point. Actually two points: Whether we agree
with an issue or not, people are more sensitive about race, gender, and
sexual orientation. And, as the owner of the establishment and she can
pretty much do whatever she wants to, with some limitations.

But, I became irritated when the owner explained that this question
was crucial in keeping the clientele of her establishment up to a
certain level. She knowingly looked at me and added, “Do you know what
I mean?”

I knew what she meant but refused to acknowledge it, so I asked if non-U.S. citizens could take swimming lessons.

To my shock she responded, “It depends.”

On what? The nation the immigrant actually comes from?

I laughed because I wasn’t sure how to express my annoyance, and
before I could say anything else this lady told me that I had no idea
what immigrants are doing to this country and how they’re destroying
and depleting “our” resources, and that she couldn’t and wouldn’t allow
certain people to infiltrate her club.

I informed her that even though I am a U.S. citizen, I am an
immigrant myself and won’t “infiltrate” her pool. She did tell me that
it would still be ok for me and the kids to use the pool, but I didn’t
want to frequent the establishment.

As I left, I saw the club had several signs expressing support for
the military and discounts for military families. I wondered if me
being a foreigner and a military spouse would make her re-examine her
beliefs. Probably not.

I didn’t take this woman’s ranting personally, but I realized how
difficult it is to change our minds when we define a person based on a
stereotype. 

My children didn’t get their swimming lessons, but they did learn
that I am a “immgrant” and that the lady at the pool doesn’t like
“immigrants.”  They concluded that it’s better to look for another
pool, one that has slides, waterfalls and giant Disney characters.