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Posted on 04/20/2006 7:16:53 PM PDT by Coleus
National Catholic Register (www.ncregister.com/)
The giant immigration marches in April were almost surreal. The attitude of the protest organizers often made them seem inauthentic – but the critics didn’t seem to have their facts straight, either.
First, consider the protesters.
Groups, like A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), swelled the ranks of marchers in major cities. But, like other activist organizations at the marches, A.N.S.W.E.R. isn’t an immigration group. It’s a communist group that actually opposes Cuban immigrants. But they were there in force – as they are at pro-abortion marches, anti-war marches and anti-globalism marches – selling Che Guevera T-shirts and building their mailing lists.
Signs that said “Bush Step Down” and “Bush is the real terrorist” were common at the rallies. But that doesn’t seem wise. Did the marchers not know that Bush is the one who first proposed the national “guest worker” program for illegal immigrants that they were marching for? Did they remember how his decision to do so imperiled his re-election by angering his conservative supporters?
If the march organizers really put immigration policy as their highest priority, you would think they would court the sympathetic president as a key ally – not antagonize and alienate him. That they didn’t do so raises sharp questions about their credibility and their true agenda. But the critics of the march were just as bad.
Talk radio chattered endlessly about the drain heavy immigration put on America’s resources, but without much understanding of what is at stake. Conservatives were furious at a Republican-supported bill that they say “caved” by agreeing to make illegal immigration a misdemeanor rather than a felony.But they didn’t seem to realize that illegal immigration has always been a misdemeanor – and that to make it a felony would increase the drain on America’s resources 100-fold.
If illegal immigration remains a misdemeanor, then cases can be dealt with efficiently and quickly. If security is your fear, this would be the solution. If talk radio show hosts had their way and it became a felony, then each accused illegal case would be entitled as a felon to a jury trial and a court-appointed lawyer and subject to a much longer process. It was also instructive to listen to the attempts radio shows made to play “Gotcha” with the protesters. Reporters who interviewed actual protesters found surprising stories that didn’t quite support the “immigrant threat” storyline.One Mexican immigrant told Sean Hannity’s program that he had been in the country illegally for 12 years, working hard, paying taxes and raising a family. Another reporter met a doctor who was waiting on tables and learning English. Another was a dishwasher with a master’s degree.
These stories of hard-working immigrants suggest that immigration is a net gain, not a drain, for America. The assumption seems to be that immigrants will come to America, stay on the low end of the economic spectrum, then call over for the sick and weak of their families and put them on welfare. Certainly, plenty will do exactly that. But by and large, today’s immigrants seem to be following in the footsteps of immigrants before them – they are people bold and imaginative enough to leave the comfort of their homelands to stake their futures on their ability to work hard enough to build a better life elsewhere.This entrepreneurial immigrant spirit is precisely what we call “the American spirit.”
As for draining America’s resources: Americans should be more fearful of a future without heavy immigration than one with it. Over the last several decades, American family sizes have decreased nearly as much as European family sizes. Without immigrants, the United States would be below replacement-level population growth. We would be losing more Americans each year than we gain. The crisis that threatens Social Security’s future would be upon us today. Without immigrants, we wouldn’t have enough workers paying into the system to support retirees. If you draw Social Security income, you should thank an immigrant.So, what’s the answer?
We like the Knights of Columbus’ resolution, which can be found on their Web site, www.KofC.org . It calls for Congress to gain control over the process of immigration in a way that will encourage, not discourage, immigration.
It is, at last, a position Catholics can applaud.http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=14112
Immigration Debate Is Symptomatic of Society Unable to Say 'No'
by Rabbi Aryeh Spero
Posted Apr 19, 2006
Why Do Ends Justify Means on Immigration?
Wave Flags for Illegal Aliens
Hidden Costs
Phony Flag Waving in American Cities
What makes citizens of a country submit to the demands of people who are not even citizens? What is it that makes people here for decades and centuries cower in front of those here illegally, arriving only yesterday? What is it that makes people unwilling to lay claim to their own land and country?
It is guilt. It is fear. It is a brainwashing that has convinced so many that every member of the world is entitled to U.S. constitutional and welfare "rights." It is a society that no longer believes in itself as a specific culture or even a sovereign country. Worse, it is a society so emotionally weak that it will accept disease, terrorism, crime, bankruptcy and the disintegration of its own chosen laws rather than being called racist, even though such charges are false.
Forty years of sick liberalism has created a public so unsure of its own legitimacy yet so sure of every other culture's and nation's goodness that it cannot say "no" to anyone perceived outside the mainstream. Being an outsider proffers today a nobility and entitlement to "rights" that is beyond the scope and hope of those viewed as merely regular Americans.
In fact, in today's America, the more hostile one is to the country and the more brazen against its historic mores, the more protection and concern comes one’s way. Why? Because what greater way to demonstrate one's "tolerance," "sensitivity" and "understanding" than when given precisely to those who are your greatest threat. Showing goodness to your own is labeled "tribalism" while being tolerant of those that differ and even despise is the most shining example of "tolerance."
In today's America, tolerance is God, and the faithful will sacrifice all -- even their security -- to their secular God. Never in history has there been such a need for people to feel good about themselves as is happening in the West. Never have a people become so insecure that they feel unworthy absent the approval of those who deride their ways. Thus, can the foreigner in the land rise with impudence against his benefactors, demanding from them and daring them to say "no.".....
This is the best article I've read recently. More great stuff. We are a country that lacks discipline!!
No, and they wouldn't have cared if they did. It doesn't matter what Bush does. The people that held those signs (and that was a minority of protestors I am sure) despise America even as they live off its blessings.
Awesome article. I was looking for a great statement to answer to - and I wanted to just cut and paste the entire thing!
And the same thing has happened to the European countries - out of their liberal agenda, they've let in massive numbers of immigrants and look how it's turned out for them.
What part of illegal invaders escaped you?
Money.
Right! I'ts time for a REFUND to each US citizen for overpayment of taxes used for ILLEGAL Aliens, including cost of incarceration, collected from Mr. Fox of Mexico fame or Lien on country of Mexico and Foreclosure if not paid within thirty days.
Let's see now 50 million X'x Av. $20,000 cost for each illegal or legal immigrant for past ten years = $100,000,000 plus penalties and interest of 10% per year.
How many dollars 50 million mexican legal and illegal immigrants cost US citizens in past ten years???? at 10% interest each year?? Mexican Indians are not US Indians (different people). US Indians have choice of living on reservations. What is Mexico doing for it's Indians??
Why don't we just start billing La Raza, MALDEF, A.N.S.W.E.R., the Catholic Church and any other organization that supports illegal behavior.
I cannot believe how corrupt the catholic church is. LOL.
"We are condoning activity for which they need to repent and we are condoning a failed economic system (Socialism) that has led to some of the worst crimes against humanity in the history of the world."
Just what I needed to read. Thanks. Do you think Bush hears this?? Someone needs to inform him and his cohorts, after all he is Republican, or isn't he??
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PS: Sorry for the delayed ping, brothers. I've been out of town on business (and away from the 'Net).
Well I'm glade you got that off your chest. Now, the next time tell it to someone who doesn't already know it. Are try this, of the fifty million illegals, how many drive illegally, now what would be the price of fuel if they weren't driving in the us????
Property tax is based on the value of the property, not how many people you can squeeze into the house.
If property taxes are not paid, at least in California, the property is sold for taxes owed.
Other states may differ, but that's how California operates.
"Property tax is based on the value "
Cities also have ordinances re: fire and safety hazards of too many people, cars w/o registration parked off driveways. These situaions out of control in poor overcrowded neighborhoods. Ordinances are ignored many times because officer doesn't want to make waves or claims there is not enough money for enough officers to enforce.
You need to look up the work immigrant and get back to us.
Immigrants who overstay their visa can become illegal overnight.
Give us a break from your hysterical inflamatory rhetoric.
I've known lots of illegal immigrants. NONE of them have commited the crimes you posted.
Some may try to claim "nation" as their own. This soil and puddle of a planet is only on loan from God (just like our very own bodies). Jesus Christ will take back what is His one day. So, it's better to let Him have it before He demands it. He'll be much happier to receive our bodies and our world when we freely give it to Him than for Him to have to take it back.
They don't learn English either, but that doesn't mean they don't pay property taxes. Other taxes they don't pay, but if they own, or want to own property, they must pay their property tax.
Special assesments for fire, schools, water bonds etc, must be paid as part of the property tax.
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