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"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask,
'Compared to what?'"
-Sydney Harris

Carlo, what a beautiful essay! Thank you. I cannot add much to what you said, except that I agree. May God bless you for taking the time to write such noble words.

I enjoyed your well-written, truly lyrical essay, but I've got to say a few practical things. At the policy-making level, immigration has always been about the cost of labor, not about the well-being of the immigrants. Of course the immigrants benefited, but (except for a few special situations during the Cold War) immigrant happiness has never been the reason the nation has always permited them to come. Sounds hard-hearted, but that's the deal. Immigraton has always been beneficial for both sides of the arrangement. And all of us are the result. No complaints.

But two things have changed. First, we now have loads of welfare programs, so impoverished immigrants threaten to be an immediate expense to the nation, as our ancestors never were. And second, large numbers are coming from places other than Europe, which -- in these politically correct, multi-cultural times where everyone is encouraged to keep his ancestral language and customs -- promises to change the character of our country.

Business still needs to keep labor costs under control, but for me, under the present circumstances, I'd rather outsource some jobs than import workers from places that have no common ground with the US, and who -- alas -- probably will never assimilate.

I have NO problem with those who come here to be Americans.
when my ancestors came LEGALLY from Ireland and Germany they
were rightly told whatever they left behind is left behind.
They were told you are No longer Irishmen,nor Germans--but
Americans. The politics,language, and flag you left behind to come here belong to the country you left behind. English
is spoken here. There is little room for doubt that many of
the Illegals come here to better themself. But Why do the
Mexicans come only for the employment their own government
will not provide?We have NO obligaiton to provide work and
wellfare to those who do not want to be 100%Americans.

"For 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.. "

As long as illegals get free medical care, free schooling, and free welfare they ARE taking bread out of my mouth, in the form of taxes.

I have no problem with immigration, I have a problem with illegal aliens.

Your post also lovingly touches upon why people do come to America, and how proud they are to be Americans. Unfortunately, the people coming here to So Cal today have no such pride, only contempt and have no reverence for the goals and ideals that have made America what it is. I see them fly Mexican flags, on the top on American ones, if there is an American one at all. They do not want to be Americans, and that is the difference. They don't even want to learn to speak English, let alone any history of why we are such a great country.

I'm saddened by the political correctness that doesn't even allow us to speak up and say that our way of life is being decimated.

Soon there will be no America for the people who want to be free to come to.