Over the past few weeks, I have engaged in debates with concerned liberals over the DREAM Act, and I have come out of these shocked and betrayed. These are the people I usually stand shoulder to shoulder with at an anti-war or pro-choice rally, and help bail out of jail.

The conversation usually starts with misconceived notions of DREAMers as "illegals" who want a free ride in college and who don't even pay taxes. When I step in to note how my parents did in fact pay thousands in taxes and that we paid my way through graduate school (without taking loans), I am accused of either fabrication or privilege. "You should quit feeling disempowered" is the comment levied at me last week, and I knew I had to step back from the discussion at that point because this person was knowingly or unknowingly scapegoating and I was not about to share the levels of disempowerment that I face in American society.

But this is what we have to deal with. We are not expected to know and understand English well enough to communicate, and when we do demonstrate our ability to communicate in English, talk about our contribution to America by paying taxes, we are sure to be labelled as 'privileged' by working class America.

I can see that the backlash comes from resentment. It comes from realizing that this "illegal alien" is an actual human being who has been able to overcome some major obstacles. It may also arise from a sense of failure and sudden loss of power. I am not a psychologist so I cannot truly analyze the sentiments behind rejection from a fellow working class American but there is an element of power in being and belonging to America than being undocumented. And that power can and has been used to put us down and otherize us for the benefit of the working class American, who can feel better about their position because they are not "us" -- not "illegal." We are at the very bottom of the totem pole at the moment due to our "undocumented" status and the DREAM Act allows us an opportunity to come out of the "rut." And when the working class American sees that Congress is doing nothing for their dreams, the anger and resentment comes out on us.

What can we do to prove that we belong in America? What can we do to alleviate the fears of working class Americans?  

I do not know where to start drafting a letter or peace offering to working class America. I still feel hurt and betrayed. If their issues can also be my issues (war, education, healthcare, environment...), why can't my issues be OUR issues? But I will say that I still believe we are more alike than we are different. We must not resent the advances of those that have overcome significant obstacles; instead, we must feel inspired by their achievements. When I use my "MaGraduate" username at DREAM Act Portal, I use it to speak for all of us--to inspire fellow underprivileged students--legal or illegal or in-limbo--to not just dream, but act on their dreams. I hope we can compromise and resolve our differences because I really don't want a divorce from the L-word.