Posted on 07/06/2013 5:39:56 AM PDT by Kaslin
GALWAY, Ireland -- The intense debate over immigration reform in the USA has riveted many in this bucolic area in the west of Ireland. That's because in addition to millions of Hispanic aliens, a significant number of Irish would benefit from immigration clarity. Just ask anyone in the Woodside section of Queens, New York.
The census estimates that there are nearly 35 million Americans of Irish descent living in America, and many of them had ancestors who fled to the United States to save their lives. The vicious Irish famine reached its height in 1847 as hundreds of thousands of starving people boarded so-called "coffin ships" to come to the USA. Many died on those ships -- victims of disease on the long voyage. Their bodies were often thrown overboard into the sea.
In Ireland itself, more than a million people died from hunger and disease during the famine years. The British controlled the country and, incredibly, exported grain to London even as Irish children were dying in the streets. British soldiers actually had to guard the grain stores, killing the Irish who stormed the storage facilities.
Thus, there are still deep wounds in this country of fewer than 5 million. More than a few Irish noticed a visiting American news commentator and asked about the proposed immigration reform. All favored it because of the sensitivity to the suffering of poor people.
The United States today is a far different place from what it was in the mid-19th century, when our vast land needed folks to settle and expand into the west. Then, there was no such thing as an "illegal alien." If you physically made it here, you were an American. Simply showing up entitled you to pursue the dream of prosperity.
But today our country is fragile. The economy is stagnant, and social problems dominate the landscape. Back when my people arrived from Galway, in the 1840s, there was little in the way of social welfare and entitlements. You either earned your way or wound up in the street. America did not support immigrants; it simply gave them a chance.
What has not changed is the humanity of most Americans. People without an agenda realize that most illegal aliens are here to feed their families, not to cause trouble. But we also realize that our federal government has allowed and sometimes encouraged immigration chaos, which has damaged the fabric of the nation. You simply cannot allow more than 10 million people to occupy your territory without any accountability. And that's what has happened.
I told the good people in western Ireland who approached me that I hope a fair but tough immigration bill passes this year -- one that will put an end to the porous southern border and make undocumented aliens earn their citizenship over an extended period of time.
The most powerful nation on earth should be able to pass a fair, effective immigration law that combines compassion with responsibility and does not injure hardworking Americans who are taxed up to here.
We SHOULD be able to do that. It will be shameful if we don't.
Well, there's a modest proposal.
Certainly a Swift response.
Touché!
God is just. England's genocide of the Irish is one of the big reasons that God is letting England die. He's turned His face from England and without His blessing they are nothing. He's turned England over to those who hate her. Socialists. Muslims. It seems that the prayers of my ancestors were not in vain. They cry for justice of those multitudes of Irish murdered 160 years ago did not go unheard. England is dying. And not a moment too soon for this Irishman.
Immigrants are invited, Invaders are not.
Invaders should not reap a reward for their Criminal Acts.
My grandmother came here from Ireland, in the early 20th century. But she had a relative who tried to enter illegally (via Canada) and was promptly sent back and forbidden to attempt entry again. It’s kind of a long and sad/funny story (involves drinking, of course) but we were always told it as the woman got what she deserved.
I’ll also say this most of her family stayed in the old country and those folks did just fine, although they were not really poor in the first place, I don’t think.
OK, here’s a story for you about my grandmother. When she came here she married my grandfather who was born in Germany and came here as little boy. So, of course she now had a German name.
After WWII was over and the English were really struggling with rationing, etc. she got a phone call one day soliciting for money to send aid to England. She let the lady go on and on, detailing how bad they had it, how cold and hungry they were, etc. After a long while, when my Grandmother had all the details on how bad things were over there she said to the woman “Thank God I lived to see the day!” and hung up the phone.
I think Granny would have loved FR.
Hahahaha! Great story! It’s deeply gratifying to watch England circle the drain. I’m grateful that I lived to see this day, that’s for sure.
They could also be drafted in those days.
Plus, they actually blame America for the IRA atrocities.
Some of the 2nd generation folks were a big part of the problem with NORAID, along with the Kennedys, Bulgers, etc. Boston usually gets as much blame as some of those in Derry or Belfast.
My point was that if you read the Irish newspapers or blogs, they blame Americans for IRA atrocities. This, I presume, would include Italian-Americans and Lithuanian-Americans. I. Don’t. Think. So.
Many ill-educated Irish think that America is still made up of primarily English and Irish settlers.
I would imagine anecdotal reporting about people you’ve talked to would be pretty much worthless as well...
Then, there was no such thing as an "illegal alien."
Bunk. The phrase was in existence then. Non-White, non-English speaking people were "aliens" in British common law. Where does he think the term came from?
We needed no fences on our borders for a simple reason: Spanish speaking people were subjects of the King of Spain, and of the Catholic church. They were not considered part of the American white Protestant English speaking citizenry.
The United States owes nothing to people from either Mexico or Ireland "just trying to feed their families".
Both countries in the modern age are well equipped to do that. Any failure on their part to do that is their fault, and generates no responsibility on the part of the Americans.
Was in central Mexico for a bit recently. Climate is great, lots of arable land, Mexico city is built up and doing a lot of re-development. Their new presidente is actually talking about allowing foreign investment.
I saw no one starving. But I did see shantytowns, and I did see massive numbers of riot police, and I did see a country not anywhere as modern as its resources and climate would allow it to be.
The only people responsible for that are the people who are there, not people 1500 miles to the North.
And Ireland proper ain't even open for discussion. It isn't 1649, or 1847, and Eamon De Valera is 38 years dead now. Blaming the British for their problems is ridiculous.
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