OPINION:

The March 5 deadline for action has passed. In September, Donald Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) with a six-month gap time in order to come up with new legislation to deal with those who immigrated as young children and have lived in America for most of their lives.

Even with the California judge reversing Trump’s action (of canceling the program without a replacement), those who are affected by DACA are still unsure if they will end up in a country they have little to no memory of.

March 5 was supposed to tell them what would happen, but the deadline for Congress passed without action.

Those affected by DACA have grown up in American school systems, gone to college or work in America, paid their taxes, and chased the American dream just like citizens. Only, there is no path to citizenship for these people who know no other country but the one denying them this certainty.

Over 75 percent of DACA recipients are employed, so deporting them would come at a major cost to the U.S.

This seems to directly conflict with American ideals of opportunity. How can the government not tell people what country they will be living in even as they have lived and grown as Americans?

They are in limbo as Congressmen decide their fates based on numbers, budgeting, and political agendas.

DACA deals with human rights, and right now Congress is saying that these people’s fate is reduced to negotiations and budgets.

There must be a bipartisan resolution to have a more lenient immigration policy and an easier path to citizenship.

Americans must call out the government for pursuing actions that do not align with the purpose of American freedom. It is the people who continue marching, protesting, and writing to argue that DACA recipients are Americans like everyone else.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

The old saying, “the movie is not as good as the book” used to not faze me. I always thought that the people who said this were just upset because most of teenagers’ time is spent on their phones or watching television.

But recently, I have seen a lot of book to movie adaptations and have come to the realization that those people whose words went in one ear and out the other may actually be right.

When I was younger, “Matilda” and “Harriet The Spy” were two of my favorite movies. They are coincidentally both books, but I did not care. I just enjoyed watching Matilda pour Cheerios with her eyes, and Harriet sneaking around.

Since I was young, I do not recall actually reading the books, but I can almost tell you I would not have enjoyed them because I had already seen the movie, and in my mind I thought the movie was always better than the book.

Times have changed. I just read “The Great Gatsby” in English class. We then proceeded to watch the movie as we read.

To be quite honest, (nothing against Mr. Benjamin Vore–he is one of my favorite teachers) the movie did not live up to my expectations, therefore making me not as satisfied with my “Great Gatsby” experience. It shows that sometimes the book is all you need.

On the other hand, consider “The Hunger Games.” In my opinion, the book and the movie are just equally as good, unlike “Divergent” where once again, the movie ruined my experience and made me not want to continue on with the sequel.

It is upsetting that after I read a book I really enjoy, I watch the movie and I no longer have any respect for the story line and the book.

I hope that future book to movie adaptations can continue to improve.