Fox calls Bush "Jorge" (my title)

Reuters ^

[Mercuria]

I, for one, grew up with stories about my "poor potato farmer" ancestors from Ireland.

And if you had any pride in you, you would have scorned Emma Lazarus for calling them "wretched refuse"!!!

Equating those who came from Ireland to the United States and who became LEGAL CITIZENS and CONTRIBUTORS to rather than thieves from the American taxpayers as a result of a legitimate famine to illegals who are being encouraged by THEIR OWN PRESIDENT to come up here and suck our taxpayer resources dry in order to alleviate the Mexican President of the RESPONSIBILITY of being a good leader just isn't a good comparison, IM.

[independentmind]

Equating those who came from Ireland to the United States and who became LEGAL CITIZENS and CONTRIBUTORS to rather than thieves from the American taxpayers as a result of a legitimate famine to illegals who are being encouraged by THEIR OWN PRESIDENT to come up here and suck our taxpayer resources dry in order to alleviate the Mexican President of the RESPONSIBILITY of being a good leader just isn't a good comparison, IM.

Uh, Mercuria, would you like to explain what a "legitimate famine" is. That legitimate famine was largely caused by bad British policy that enriched landlords while the Catholic peasantry starved. There are MANY similarities between Irish famine immigration and the current Mexican immigration, not the least of which is that the governments in place shirked responsibility for taking care of their people. The biggest difference is that no welfare state existed in the nineteenth century.

[independentmind]

And if you had any pride in you, you would have scorned Emma Lazarus for calling them "wretched refuse"!!!

BTW, I think Lazarus was referring to how they immigrants were commonly perceived in their home countries. She would have considered herself among that refuse.

[Prism]

Don't blame the immigrants. Blame the corrupt despots in their own countries that give them the incentives to leave home for a hostile land where they have to work like dogs.

Exactly- therefore it is immoral to be the pressure relief valve for Mexicos discontented. Address the issue not the symptoms.

[Mercuria]

There are MANY similarities between Irish famine immigration and the current Mexican immigration, not the least of which is that the governments in place shirked responsibility for taking care of their people.

I doubt the Irish Catholics felt they would receive a warm welcome into England when they were suffering through starvation. What is the Mexican government's explanation for their PRESENT-DAY abandonment of its lower classes to the extent that they're encouraging to come HERE and support themselves...and the same abandoning government from which they fled?

One situation has to do with 19th century hard feelings against Irish Catholics by the British Protestants...hard feelings that existed for two hundred years between Britain and a portion of the Irish population who felt they were being decimated by conquerors. The Irish came here and integrated among the American population.

The other has to with 21st century hard feelings by certain Mexicans against a treaty that THEY signed 150 years ago...but now wish to reject in order for them to promote a "reconquering" program against the United States.

You may not see a difference, but I do.

Your feedback on this would be welcome by me!

[Mercuria]

BTW, I think Lazarus was referring to how they immigrants were commonly perceived in their home countries.

But how do you know that for certain?

I mean...Ms. Lazarus being dead and all that?

Kind of putting words in the mouth of Lady Liberty, isn't it?

[independentmind]

Catholic peasantry didn't feel that they were being decimated, they were being decimated. The Irish were basically pushed out of their own country because the British thought they were an inferior race. During the height of the famine, many landlords evicted their tenants or paid for their passage on "coffin ships" to America. There are many historians today who characterize British policy at the time as one of deliberate genocide. (I am getting the itch to post something on this subject.)

And I need to see a lot more evidence before I would agree to describe Mexican illegal immigration as a plot to recapture parts of this country. I know that there are some radicals who make this claim, but I think most Mexicans are just looking for a way out of extreme poverty. Keep in mind that I do not support unlimited immigration. I understand that it can undercut our own labor force and put undue burdens on taxpayers. But Mexico is our neighbor; it behooves us to think of long terms strategies for improving the quality of life for the average Mexican so that he doesn't want or need to emigrate.

BTW, do a search on Emma Lazarus. If you do, I think you'll agree with what I said about her.

[skeeter]

"The New Colossus" is not -- contrary to popular belief -- in the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence, and shouldn't be quoted as if it is such.

Thank you very much.

I'm amazed by those who believe our immigration policy is based upon a poem.

[skeeter]

Good question. You think one of them will answer it?

I will.

Yes.

Hows that?

[rebelsoldier]

I was at the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 across the harbor where Ronald Reagan was officially inaugurating the 100th anniversary of that monument with my LEGAL immigrant wife. The United States wasn't built upon illegal immigration, that's your first stupid mistaken comparison. Second, the Irish and other European immigrants not only went through every legal process required to become US citizens, they also had to pass medical screening for deadly and communicable diseases that illegal immigrants never do. Third, these immigrants you site went through a central processing station wherein they waited their turn in an orderly fashion respectful of the great honor they were seeking to acquire. Illegal immigrants flout federal, state, and local laws, disregard and disrespect the legal immigration process, American custom and culture, and piss in the faces of decent, law abiding foreign applicants who do what is necessary and required follow and respect our laws and thus our civilization. Your "assessments" are both ignorant and irrelevant, regardless of the supposed independence of your mind. Also, race baiting and allusions to racism won't extricate a stupid argument excusing criminal acts.

[PRND21]

Welcome to FR!
Why do you keep posting the exact same reply on every Mexico thread?

[PRND21]

Calling Bush "Jorge" is an insult, however.

Absurd.

[Marine Inspector]

To get the word out to as many people as possible.