How does every ethnic joke start?
...By looking over your shoulder.
At first the racist side of me decided that they were just stupid for picking this Monday rather than next. I mean come on, if you pick the 8th you can at least have a 4-day weekend. Then I stopped assuming that all illegal immigrants are Latino, or at least Mexican, and I began to worry that no one would come around and collect my trash tomorrow. That's when I decided that it's time to act!
Honestly, I feel a little betrayed by the illegal workforce, and in turn, angered by the idiots that have started the habit of hiring them at lower wages. Now we focus on the un-American-ness of these workers, but what about the fucker that hired them over an able-bodied American? Well, that's the betrayal of the American, but what about the illegal immigrant? For years now they have been allowed our public schooling, our health care, bilingual signs and telephone prompts, specified legal services, and courtesy and respect from a great deal of decent human beings in this country. I know as well as anyone else that they get a lot of shit too, but who doesn't? Now you hear of comments stating that while they may be illegal, they are not criminals. Who knows, perhaps they are requesting that they not be placed behind bars and fed bread and water. But doing something illegal (i.e. committing a crime) makes you a criminal. There are no two ways about it. And here we are making proposals for laws, not laws themselves, in order to better the situation for all Americans. So why is everyone up in arms?
I have to say that I agree with this wave of proposal making right now 100%. While it is true that perhaps American can do more to encourage free-trade in Africa, and America could have lent more to Tsunami victims, and America could have lent less to the Taliban, and America could have done more for New Orleans, America is faced with what it can do right now for the future of Her citizens. If we as a country cannot protect the rights of those to whom we give them, then we cannot do shit after that.
Frankly, I recognize the services provided by immigrant labor. I realize that there are few Americans who would be happy to do these jobs themselves, in fact I am very appreciative for the hard work these people accomplish. But in the same vein, I would like an America that offers public schools of merit for my children--Schools that are not over-populated. I would like taxes that provide for others paying said taxes. I think that's why any of us put up with taxes to begin with: they are a necessary evil for us all. I know that there are some illegal immigrants with a taxID number that pay taxes, but that is not a majority. And I realize that it is only in a smaller group of Hispanic immigrants, but I would like a USA that doesn't have another gang-body being added to it. This isn't to say that black people or Asian-Americans aren't in gangs. This isn't to say that white people aren't in gangs. This isn't to say that legal Latinos aren't in gangs. It is to say that immigrant children that find themselves suffering cultural marginality have a tendency to get into trouble. Particularly when their parents are occupied working several hours a week.
And what percentage of these immigrants actually question why immigration laws are in effect? Or why new laws are being considered? Who sees rows of fences and rows of immigration police and still decide to come over. Who checks with the American embassy in his or her country to find that they can't come over right now, and still try? What type of person is that? I'm willing to accept that it's a person unhappy with his or her own living situation. But why not, then, make your country a better place to live? I'm not assuming that that is easy, but do you think that brining over so many problems from so many different countries America is bound to make better or worse?
Emily considered that I bring the situation home. She mentioned a particular immigrant that we know who is perhaps the hardest working man we know. While part of me said, yes, there is he, part of me recognizes that I never would have met him without his illegal entry. I recognize that as cruel, and an extreme. So what do we need to do? Have interviews with people before they are welcome to emigrate to America? I cannot count the number of criminal immigrants that I have had the pleasure of knowing in my 20 years of life. So rather than shipping them all out, perhaps we just need to find a better way.
It might seem that I'm pointing out Latinos more than any other group. But I'm not convinced that it is they and none other. I'm not even advocating that only immigrants are entirely responsible for this situation. And if I've said anything offensive (Aside from the first two comments which were clearly jokes), or incorrect, then rather than rip me to shreds, enlighten me. Work with me in civil discussion toward an answer. I'm only advocating a better way.
At first the racist side of me decided that they were just stupid for picking this Monday rather than next. I mean come on, if you pick the 8th you can at least have a 4-day weekend. Then I stopped assuming that all illegal immigrants are Latino, or at least Mexican, and I began to worry that no one would come around and collect my trash tomorrow. That's when I decided that it's time to act!
Honestly, I feel a little betrayed by the illegal workforce, and in turn, angered by the idiots that have started the habit of hiring them at lower wages. Now we focus on the un-American-ness of these workers, but what about the fucker that hired them over an able-bodied American? Well, that's the betrayal of the American, but what about the illegal immigrant? For years now they have been allowed our public schooling, our health care, bilingual signs and telephone prompts, specified legal services, and courtesy and respect from a great deal of decent human beings in this country. I know as well as anyone else that they get a lot of shit too, but who doesn't? Now you hear of comments stating that while they may be illegal, they are not criminals. Who knows, perhaps they are requesting that they not be placed behind bars and fed bread and water. But doing something illegal (i.e. committing a crime) makes you a criminal. There are no two ways about it. And here we are making proposals for laws, not laws themselves, in order to better the situation for all Americans. So why is everyone up in arms?
I have to say that I agree with this wave of proposal making right now 100%. While it is true that perhaps American can do more to encourage free-trade in Africa, and America could have lent more to Tsunami victims, and America could have lent less to the Taliban, and America could have done more for New Orleans, America is faced with what it can do right now for the future of Her citizens. If we as a country cannot protect the rights of those to whom we give them, then we cannot do shit after that.
Frankly, I recognize the services provided by immigrant labor. I realize that there are few Americans who would be happy to do these jobs themselves, in fact I am very appreciative for the hard work these people accomplish. But in the same vein, I would like an America that offers public schools of merit for my children--Schools that are not over-populated. I would like taxes that provide for others paying said taxes. I think that's why any of us put up with taxes to begin with: they are a necessary evil for us all. I know that there are some illegal immigrants with a taxID number that pay taxes, but that is not a majority. And I realize that it is only in a smaller group of Hispanic immigrants, but I would like a USA that doesn't have another gang-body being added to it. This isn't to say that black people or Asian-Americans aren't in gangs. This isn't to say that white people aren't in gangs. This isn't to say that legal Latinos aren't in gangs. It is to say that immigrant children that find themselves suffering cultural marginality have a tendency to get into trouble. Particularly when their parents are occupied working several hours a week.
And what percentage of these immigrants actually question why immigration laws are in effect? Or why new laws are being considered? Who sees rows of fences and rows of immigration police and still decide to come over. Who checks with the American embassy in his or her country to find that they can't come over right now, and still try? What type of person is that? I'm willing to accept that it's a person unhappy with his or her own living situation. But why not, then, make your country a better place to live? I'm not assuming that that is easy, but do you think that brining over so many problems from so many different countries America is bound to make better or worse?
Emily considered that I bring the situation home. She mentioned a particular immigrant that we know who is perhaps the hardest working man we know. While part of me said, yes, there is he, part of me recognizes that I never would have met him without his illegal entry. I recognize that as cruel, and an extreme. So what do we need to do? Have interviews with people before they are welcome to emigrate to America? I cannot count the number of criminal immigrants that I have had the pleasure of knowing in my 20 years of life. So rather than shipping them all out, perhaps we just need to find a better way.
It might seem that I'm pointing out Latinos more than any other group. But I'm not convinced that it is they and none other. I'm not even advocating that only immigrants are entirely responsible for this situation. And if I've said anything offensive (Aside from the first two comments which were clearly jokes), or incorrect, then rather than rip me to shreds, enlighten me. Work with me in civil discussion toward an answer. I'm only advocating a better way.