Immigration IS the foundation of America! The day we deny that is the day America FALLS

United Press International Via Cox.Net ^ | 1/6/2004 | Backslidendemocrat

[BackSlidenDemocrat]

"The New Colossus"

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land, Here at our sea-washed, sunset-gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose fame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome, her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin-cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she, With silent lips. "GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE; SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS, TEMPEST-TOST TO ME, I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR!" November 2, 1883

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

[BackSlidenDemocrat]

Hey, no problem I accept your apology with an open heart. I thought you were asking me what my positon was on the business owner so I shared it not trying to read anything into your post. I just hate to see us putting all of the blame on the immigrants even though I agree that some are less than honest about their intentions as far as coming to the US. Either way that still leaves us with a lot of folks who need and want to be apart of the greatest country in the world. Most of them want to contribute to making America better. I live in Colorado where we have an enormous community of latinos and hispanics. They are very hard working and they are also loyal to their herritage and the United States. Cinco de mayo is a great festival I enjoy experiencing just as much as Mardi Gras growing up in New Orleans. Both places are homes to many immigrants...esp. New Orleans...or Nawlens as we say.

I'm not sure either what the end results should be, however I know that the first step to solving the problem is identifying it and isolating it so that everyone can understand how it effects each and every aspect of our lives. Then you can apply different solutions and the cost short and long term to match and solve the issue of the problem. I know this...I am not for shooting, arresting and incarcerating just to deport them so they can come back. That's why I have arrived at the position that I am today. The cost to do anything other than have them somehow legally intergrate, regardless of amnesty, citizenship, and SS is just to hugh to even consider. It ain't like we would just take them to the border and drop them off.

I agree....the Who is a tuff act to trump....I was being a little tongue and cheek there. Please forgive me. Tell the wife all is well. Thanks for posting!!

[texastoo]

The onus is on Mexico.

All Bush has to do is demand and present Fox with a bill for all the social services that Mexicans collect from the American taxpayer. But will Bush do that for Americans? NO, as he would lose the hispanic vote.

V. Fox would close the borders in a heartbeat if he knew he had to pay for the illegals. When Canadians use our hospitals, we bill Canada. Why not Mexico? After all, V. Fox claims these illegals are his citizens as they will have dual citizenship.

[Thumper1960]

Legal immigration made this country what it is, today. Stop parsing words and phrases like a Demoncrat.

[Dan from Michigan]

I know it's not all that uncommon with some parts of Eastern Europe.

[BackSlidenDemocrat]

You know sometimes the position a leader has to take in not the most popular one and most of the time it certainly is a difficult position because there is always someone who gets hurt, left out, or isolated. Bush is taking this position and broaching this issue because it one that is hurting our country. What I admire about him is that he is not willing to just take the 86% side and say get the #$%^ out. They are here for a reason and the cost to hall them to the boarder and kick them across is more than you can imagine. The cost is more than just a financial cost...there will be a spiritual and humanity cost as alot of these who are here have family here. We made alot of people criminals who were not over prohibition too. Why should we make the same mistake here. I'm sure if the base of the conservative voters can not see clear on this one they will not vote and what they forget is no vote is a vote for the opposition. What a way to cut of your nose to spite yourself. But, you know what...until little children learn, that kind of behavior is not profitable, I guess we can endure another 8 years of liberal democratic control from the white house. Sounds like to me you have a beef with Rove. I'm not sure why though...unless you think the President you elected is just a hand puppet for one of his political advisers...you don't really believe that now do you.

Thanks for the post!

[Thumper1960]

Legal or illegal, people will come to America because they have a dream of being free. It is up to us to find a way to make them a legal part of the system. Most important thing is that they become a participant in the system and the economy...work, pay taxes, and elect representation.

Yeah...there is a mechanism to make them a legal part of the system. It's called a Visa and Passport! I have one. Do you? I can't get on a plane or ship and go to another country without one!

Ther's also a mechanism to allow immigrants to vote. It's called Naturalization! It's called Citizenship! That means, an immigrant declares Loyalty to the United States of America. What is so hard to understand about that. Furthermore, why is it wrong to demand that immigrants who wish to enjoy the fruits of freedom become a legal part of the country which possesses that freedom. You tell me how I explain to the young people why the most powerful man in the world, the leader of the greatest nation to ever exist, proclaims it OK to ignore the Law.

Once the leaders of a nation openly state that the Law is NOT blind, we are lost as a people and a society.

[BackSlidenDemocrat]

And I'm am not denying that the illegal side of immigration is a problem, but what really is the problem here? Just by saying it is a problem doen't mean you have really identified how and why it is a problem. Also, in your little one liners you have yet to offer any solutions to solve it. You seem to enjoy sitting on the sidelines of the political debate, only to cheer when yourside smashes the mouth of the opposition and draws a personal foul. Make a play or sorry make point and then elaborate on it a little. Offer some positive debate on the possible solutions that may or may not exist.

Thanks for the post! We await your entry into the game.

[ladyinred]

I don't know if those who came here through Ellis Island had permission in advance to do so, but I do know when they got here, they became Americans. They worked, they learned the language, they contributed to the nation, they didn't just come here to suck the rest of us dry!!!

[ladyinred]

They need to come here LEGALLY that is the point. At least that is what most of us are saying. I am sure there are those here with a hatred for certain ethnic groups who don't want them here at all, but that is not the majority.

[Mamzelle]

I'm beginning to wonder if Fox has Bush over some kind of barrel. Has Vicente threatened to campaign against Bush in 2004, with Bush's Dem rival?

[StopGlobalWhining]

How quick we forget that immigration is what made America who she is and always will be the source of her foundation tomorrow.

There are difference between the immigrants of old who built the foundation of this country, and those greedy law breakers who come here illegally today:

• The earlier immigrants came here without any handouts from American citizens forced to support them at the point of a gun.

• Most of the immigrants who came here years ago did so legally. I have witnessed prospective immigrants to America standing in long lines at Sunrise outside American embassies in a number of 3rd world countries, and what these ignorant illegal immigrants have done, is jumped in front of the hard working honest people who try to do it legally, and who are now in effect being spit on by our government.

• Earlier immigrants wanted to become Americans, not hyphenated pseudo Americans who want no part of assimilating into the American culture. Today's hyphenated pseudo Americans are a negative, undesireable drag on American society. They harm our country more than they help.

Don't try to compare the real Americans who came here as legal immigrants and made this country what it is today with the social parasite illegal immigrants who flood our country today and degrade the wages and quality of life for real Americans.

[BackSlidenDemocrat]

I agree that they need to come here legally, but perhaps the current laws or the way the laws are structured and inforced do not accomodate solving the current problem. Perhaps in order to solve the problem we need to first deal with those who are here. We have choices; shoot them their criminals, arrest them, incarcerate them, and deport them, or make them a part of the solution which they can become some type of legal participant in the current system... that doesn't necessarily mean amnesty, citizenship, and all of the welfare and ss beni's that current Americans are entitled too. Next, we need to think about how we deal with those who come both legally and illegally in the future. It is this effort and the future enforcement of this effort that will determine the success of the future. What that entails I can not say....we must all debate on the merits of the issues. However, solve not this problem and it will only continue to grow exponentially.

Thanks for the post!

[F16Fighter]

Can you spell I-L-L-E-G-A-L?? Naah, apparently not...

Do you clowns ever tire of being both intellectually dishonest AND delusional??

[BackSlidenDemocrat]

I don't know you bring up an interesting and intriging point. Why not elaborate on it a little more so we can understand a little more where you are comming from or perhaps what you are trying to say in your statement....well I guess it was a question actually.

[Tempest]

Nice idealism. And where as a large part of me supports President Bush's proposal for an immigrant guest worker program. I also have to wonder how do you explain to all the good people who waited in line and entered this country legally. How do you tell them that what they did was good and right but we're still going to let these other people who didn't bother to take the same measures that you did a place in line???

True America is founded on immigration but these are no longer the founding years. These are the established years and we need to come to some terms as to how we intergrate immigrants into this nation while keep jobs and economic balance for those whom were born here and for those whom immigrated here legally.

I'm siding with Bush so far and I'll still vote for him come election time. I'm just curious as to how people (perhaps yourself)would explain justification of this policy to those whom immigrated here fairly.

[Mamzelle]

Let's just say my mass just got critical yesterday.

My small town has changed practically overnight, and there's a godfather at work--he's a pretty good godfather right now. A good dictator makes for good government, they say. What happens when he is replaced?

You know that there are jefes out there, padrones . In other towns, I hear scary things.

Interestingly enough, churches learn these things first. They invite the Spanish-speaking newcomers, and learn quickly that not only will they not come to your church, they are under orders not to. Hang around and talk to the local ministers, and you start hearing about other padrones in other towns.

How do you think they find their work and housing so quickly?

[Tempest]

"Legalized controlled immigration is with what America was built."

?!?!?Huh?!??! I don't think the vast majority of immigrants who came here between the inception of the bill of rights and the early 1900's were really part of legalized goverment controlled immigration. Do you?!?

[livius]

I think you're right, and I believe a lot of other folks do, too. One of the problems is that the anti-immigrant folks become irrational ("kill them all at the border"), so it's a little hard to discuss this.

I certainly think there have got to be controls, but the ones we have now aren't working, so it's time to think of something else. As Rush said, Bush is being a real leader in this matter. He knows this is of no political gain to him: Latinos are Dems and won't vote for him no matter what, and the Pat Buchanan influence is now going to stir up most of the latent anti-immigrant (and anti-Catholic, judging from some things I've read here, announcing that Mexicans were not "Christians") wing of the Republican party so they will probably vote for a 3rd party candidate or not vote at all.

But he has the courage to do something about a problem that nobody has wanted to face, and I am once again really impressed by Bush. And to think, I just voted for him because he wasn't Al Gore - and all of a sudden, he's changed the dynamic in the entire Middle East and is now taking on a problem at home that is so major nobody has wanted to face it for decades.

[eleni121]

Your idealism is refreshing and I agree with the sentiments but I fear that the unenforcable laws and the incompetent and corrupt Mexican government have come together to create a monstrous problem in the southwest, one that this proposed policy is attempting to solve. It won't do the job completely but it is a start. There is no promise of legalization just the security of working legally.

And no matter what many say here, there are not enough native born workers who are wiling to work in low wage jobs (restaurants, construction etc. )

[eleni121]

Actually Europe is worse off than the US.

Most of the farm work in Europe is done by migrants from North africa and the middle east and from the poorer countries in Eastern Europe.