Posted on 01/11/2004 2:37:16 AM PST by carlo3b
IMMIGRATION INDIGNATION, holy smoke! DID YOU SEE WHAT I SAW?What ever happened to "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..."
They came here for several centuries for the same reasons – freedom and hope -- and then a Frenchman created a statue that embodied their hopes and dreams. And it embodied America's promise as well. "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..."I have been watching with a bit of sadness, and more than a little concern, the debate that has been raging over President Bush's Administration proposed guest worker program. I haven't seen anything definitive yet, but I have to admit that I have some uneasiness about what is being said, and what may be done.
THE STATUE OF LIBERTYFirst and foremost, I do not wish to trivialize the genuine fear and the authentic concern that most of the protesters of the proposal have expressed. Nor do I disagree with the legitimate anxiety over what the future may hold if this proposal is actually what is being portrayed, "a blanket amnesty for illegal aliens". That being the case there would be in fact, national as well as historical principles at stake, and we must be ever vigilant in the protection of our liberties as well as our sovereignty.
"Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed."Immigration is now and always has been a tricky affair. The delicate balance of need and want, verses can and should. We can certainly understand someone living in desperate conditions wanting to improving their lot in life. What better place to do it than the greatest nation on earth. America is the envy of the world. We are a magnet, and a beacon.
-Mark TwainWho wouldn't choose to be free, unless as is the case in too many places, they are incapable of understanding the reality of freedom. Who wouldn't want to have wealth, if we all agreed on what wealth really is. To someone without anything to feed themselves or their children, a neighbor possessing a sack of flour, is indeed wealthy.
To a nation of plenty, it has to be understandable that a desperate and starving parent wouldn't break down a door, or cross a sweltering desert to feed their child, or a family would risk their lives in a sealed boxcar to work for a steady meal.
I must admit, and state for the record, that as a policy, I firmly believe that all law breaking must be prevented, and law breakers should be punished.. the sooner the better.
That said, I may be a candidate for a flogging I might be at most a fugitive from justice, or at the very least a shameful hypocrite, because I have in the past, and without a moment of indecision would again, give employment to someone I suspect but cannot prove, may be an undocumented worker, ..yes, AN ILLEGAL ALIEN!
I have experience with this issue.. up close and very personal...
I AM A PRODUCT OF FORMER ILLEGAL ALIENS.. Thank God.
As a young boy, I watched as my 92 year old great Grandfather, an immigrant from the bowels of depravity in Italy, as he stood in a crowded church basement and took an oath, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to his beloved country to finally become a citizen of the United States Of America. For him, becoming a real member of this wonderful country was the culmination of a lifetime of work, and struggle and hope, and prayers.Yes, my family crossed a border from Canada into the United States in the dead of night in hopes of securing a better life for their children. They suffered the pain of fear, poverty and ridicule to take a chance. What was being said throughout the world, was true, America was and still is a nation of opportunity.My great Grandfather, his aged body bent from years of hard work, managed to stand tall as he listened closely to my uncle, who whispered in his ear, everything that was said from the podium. In those days, hopeful immigrants had to study and be tested to prove they knew enough about this country, and it's founding, history and government, to be qualified to contribute to it's greatness.
He had done his homework, and he didn't want to miss a word.
It was that day, in the cold damp basement, in a soft grainy light, walls decorated with flags, and with his fine and honorable family looking on, he and a large group gathered to prove that they were worthy patriots. That day this proud man who had overcome language, illiteracy and poverty, was at last to be rewarded, he was finally a real American.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, he broke down and cried for the first and only time I ever remember in his long and distinguished life. At that moment, I remember thinking, it must be special to be an American.
I do hear the call of fears and doubt of my fellow Americans, and I share the pain when my neighbors hurt as a nation. There is real worry about the costs and loss of jobs. There are legitimate concerns about lawlessness, and precedent of the apparent "reward the lawbreakers", at the expense of the law-abiding and innocent.
"A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort."I know we cannot be the world policemen, or pantry. We are a mighty nation built upon a foundation of hard work and sacrifice. Much of that labor was done by immigrants, many of which were here illegally not by choice but by necessity. Many, as my family, didn't do it as a thief, but as poor frightened peasants, who came without documentation because the limits on Italians were reached, and they couldn't afford to wait until the bureaucracy opened the doors again.
-Sydney SmithUpon arrival, frightened and stranded in a strange place without money, friends or family, they did the unthinkable, they prayed and began working until they were safe, solid and accepted. They raised a family that contributed and their offspring went to war, and they became solid threads in the fabric of their chosen country. There were a few that gave my folks a boost, a chance, a lifeline until they were secure.
So now the dirty laundry, I did the same for others, but I am apparently not alone. This isn't a unique thought to bend the some rules to help those who need help when the need is the greatest.
History is replete with law breakers that did what turned out to be a blessing. There has always been a few that took the law into their own hands when it seemed that was the only way. Moses, was spared by a benevolent stranger. Thank God a man named Schindler broke the laws to save a few hundred Jews from the Nazi's and where would we be if the Underground Railroad was derailed, because it was against the law to save a slave.
"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances - to choose one's own way."The overwhelming numbers of our newest immigrants aren't fleeing death, or slavery, and I am not Schindler, but I could see the desperation in their eyes and feel the need in their hearts. And what was I offering? A job, and friendship. A job that few Americans wanted, and friendship that has lasted decades.
-Victor Frankl"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."There are jobs that nobody wants and few would do, unless they had no other choice, a situation which rarely arises in our country. But they are good jobs that need to be done. By and large these jobs are hard, thankless, dirty, repetitive jobs, at odds with a normal schedule. However, they are at the limits of those that need them.
-Nelson HendersonContrary to popular belief, almost no large companies would ever pay cash to save a few dollars, or underpay wages to a poor man because he is illegal. We never paid under the table, or less than the going rate because we were a well known company, and a scandal of that pettiness, would have harmed everyone, including hundreds of employees, almost all homegrown Americans.
"Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim."Lest you think it was all one sided, these workers were solid as a rock, and usually faithful as a clock. The work ethic in other countries is as it was in much earlier times in our history. The bottom line is they needed us, and we needed them. They stayed with me and climbed the ladder in the all American tradition, and I watched them with pride, and admiration.
-William Feather, The Business of LifeFor those that are really concerned about these poor people taking the bread out of your mouth, unless you are a pot scrubber, or a garlic picker, you are at little risk.. And to ease your mind, I have discovered a new money making venture, one that has a fabulous track record. This one has recent and past history has never failed to pay-off. It's remarkable in it's simplicity!
Here it is... bet against the fatalist, place all of your available milk money on the person needing something, and against the person wanting to keep it from him.. in short, betting against profits of doom.
Bet the farm, or the futon, that the screams are always louder during an election year, and the spin is more spit than polish. Just like the generations that preceded us the Italians, Irish, Germans, Haitians and Vietnamese, these folks will continue to be a blessing to our country. Take a deep breath and think about it without the shrill voices whispering apocalyptic threats.
Before you make your final decision on this matter, ask yourself a simple question. What would you do if you were in their place, but first, take a long look around your home, in you fridge and in your pantry.. and just for an added effect, and take an extra moment thinking of your children. Perhaps, you'll come away with a slightly different outlook. Then again, maybe not.. you have that right, my once removed, illegal uncles and a lot of others died for your right to be wrong..
I am proud of our President, he knew there would be anger and once again he faced the problem head on. Dealing with this now is going to save us all in the long run, and as to the near future.. remember we are free Americans thanks to our immigrant forefathers, and some day as in the past, these new Americans may well save you and your country...
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."
-Abraham Lincoln"One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."
-Arnold GlasgowGOD BLESS AMERICA
I think you are correct - most people that did not experience the effects of the H-1B and L=1 visa program do not see this new work visa policy for what it is. They do not realize that this new program will decimate many professions in the USA the same way the H-1B work visa program decimated the engineering profession. Illegal immigration will be the least of their concerns. Blue Card = Look out American worker your job is next.
Well, CJ, at least you are consistent. The same "tow the party line, no matter who it destroys" that you've always been.
Well, you won't be bothered by my posts for too much longer. Because of policies like the one Pres. Bush wants to push on us and GOD only knows what the congress will embelish it to be.....I am broke. I won't be able to pay for internet.
Now, go ahead and assume anything you'd like about me, because you will anyway. But I'll put my life history up against yours any day...that includes helping foreigners out who make this country their home. But when it switched to where they had more rights than a good citizen who paid taxes for 56 years, never owed a person a dime..EVER, NEVER used a government program and STILL lost everything...I STOPPED towing the line. One day this is gonna hit you and people like me and sauropod won't be there to help your sorry ass.
When this country is finally diluted down to it's lowest common denominator, and that's real close to happening, the world will NEVER have another chance to get it right. I don't intend to be a part of promoting that.
Pretty uppity on your part counselor, and a bit dismissive.. This problem is a scant more complex than your puff piece. But thanks for your suggestions, it is a start that at least we are addressing the problem.
The thread was titled, MoveOn.org becomes anti-Bush online powerhouse
" Posted by Cultural Jihad to sauropod On News/Activism 01/11/2004 11:48:47 AM PST #91 of 100"
"But that is just speculation and conjecture that he is pandering. Perhaps those who claim that President Bush is pandering are really just pandering themselves, while what President Bush is proposing is based solely upon what is in the best interests of the nation.
And my response:
"Posted by sauropod to Cultural Jihad; hellinahandcart
On News/Activism 01/11/2004 12:53:02 PM PST #93 of 100
"Explain to me how Campaign Finance Reform is in the best interests of the nation.
" Explain to me how the "guest worker" program is in the best interest of the nation.
"Explain to me how the non-means-tested prescription drugs for seniors new entitlement is in the best interest of the nation.
"Explain to me how the bloated farm bill and education bill (no child left behind) is in the best interest of the nation.
Maybe you can answer where the faux conservative could not.
From:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/specialreport/20040111-121951-9116r.htm
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the country's foreign-born population in March 2002 was 32.5 million, about 11.5 percent of the total U.S. population — 52.2 percent of whom were born in Latin America. This compares to 19.7 million foreign-born residents in 1990, 14 million in 1980 and 9.5 million in 1970, according to Census Bureau records."
Sounds to me like we have increased immigration beyond what ever occurred in the past. Just saw a Spanish TV commercial on Nickelodeon.
Sorry, pod, I have no idea what that is...guess I sneaked in an html code....it should have said "property rights"....something we used to have in this country, remember?LOL!!
Just to be clear, a GREEN card is a permanent resident visa. It is the card granted to legal immigrants, many who have waited years to be allowed to immigrate and have been sponsored (meaning someone has pledged that they will not become a burden on society). Once one has a green card, they basically have all the rights of a citizen except the right to vote. So yes, they can buy property, pay taxes, hold a job, send their children to school, become members of society. In five years, they can become citizens if they pass the exam and do not have a criminal record.
You can thank the moral-liberal baby-boomers for that fact.
I've seen clowns like this plenty of times here on FR. I'll bet it's got a cute, bright red rubber nose anyways. :-)
"Explain to me how Campaign Finance Reform is in the best interests of the nation.
This is a red herring, Bush didn't start this nonsense, but he did finish it.. This will burn the liberals who wanted a campaign issue. They and everyone else thought it would be overturned and the lefties got snookered. No way this will hurt the RNC fundraising, or the Rush, Talk Radio - Fox, contingency.. advantage America!
" Explain to me how the "guest worker" program is in the best interest of the nation.
No one has seen this bad boy yet, but if the rhetoric is anywhere close to the mark, this will start the famed Slippery Slope in immigration. The left hates it because it begins the registration process, and much like the GUN REGISTRATION fears this has teeth that can stop the States from overriding the Feds in cracking down on documentation..
If my guess is correct, and I would bet heavy on it if I were you.. LOL, we will begin to see the La Raza and other Chicano/Latino Civil Rights organization's start to really scream, and sweat.. no more motor voter for the registrants, no more double dipping in state and federal programs, and this is just a prayer, no more Social Security because of work requirements.. This problem is as much a state problem because of liberal programs to encourage the Democrat base, gone nuts, than a Fed border crossing dilemma, although that is certainly a fact.. Grand Slam, America
"Explain to me how the non-means-tested prescription drugs for seniors new entitlement is in the best interest of the nation.
Strictly political, and a forgone conclusion. Better we brought it to the floor, with long range goals or the Dems would have.. WE get to craft it and win an election.. Hat Trick, America
"Explain to me how the bloated farm bill and education bill (no child left behind) is in the best interest of the nation.
Words without meaning, for the "left behind propaganda", and the farm money was coming anyway, with a catch that the environmental wacko's don't think will get done, .. The TEA can't bite this bullet.. if the Dems in the Education scam endorse it they get more testing only this time teachers.. GASP.. They also give up an issue, if they don't.. we win hands down in 2008.. Touch Down, America..
Here is an extra point.. all of the above has driven the Democrat party further to the left, in an effort to pander even more and alienating the moderates.. this will keep the Repub.'s in control of congress, for a long, long time!
Or a chicken on his lap.. Bwhahahhaahah ..sorry.. :)
Weren't you just earlier today griping over the property rights of those legal resident aliens who had livestock, and played South Asian music, and lowered property values of those neighbors who wouldn't bother to complain about it? It makes one think the big issue isn't really property rights but who is enjoying them.
BTW - great editorial, and some choice quotes. Made me think. Thanks. :-)
At least I take it that they were born and raised here or at least are naturalized citizens.
BINGO!
My brother is in the greater Chicagoland area. He is a union drywall taper. The illegals charge half of union scale so my brother is out of work.
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