SCR 113 – Illegal Immigration Boycott Resolution(Tom McClintock, true blue conservative in CA)

Tom McClintock.com ^ | April 26, 2006 | Tom McClintock

[kellynla]

Senator Alarcon’s talk about the views of the Founding Fathers on immigration caught my attention and interest. I am quite familiar with the writings of Benjamin Franklin on the subject and Senator Alarcon may be very surprised to learn that there was no more ardent or vigorous critic of illegal immigration than Benjamin Franklin. He wrote about it extensively during the mass immigration of Germans into Pennsylvania, in the 1750s. His solution however was not to ban immigration, but rather to insist upon legal immigration.

And that is the problem I have with this resolution: it blurs that vital distinction between legal and illegal immigration. The proponents are absolutely right and absolutely solid in saying that ours is a nation of immigrants. Virtually every one of us is either an immigrant ourselves or the son or daughter of immigrants.

That is what makes this country so great. That is the foundation of a nation, built on that uniquely American motto, E Pluribus Unum: from many, one.

From many people, one people. The American people.

From many races, one race. The American race.

Our immigration laws are not written to keep people out. Our immigration laws are written to ensure that as people come to America, they come to become Americans and to assimilate to American society: they acquire a common language, a common culture and a common appreciation of American constitutional principles and American legal traditions.

[kellynla]

"Illegal immigration undermines the process of legal immigration that makes our country possible in the first place. Blurring the distinction between legal and illegal immigration is an insult to the millions of legal immigrants who right now are obeying our laws; who are doing everything our country asks of them; who are waiting in line to become Americans and who are helplessly watching as millions and millions of people cut in line in front of them."

[mtbopfuyn]

Virtually every one of us is either an immigrant ourselves or the son or daughter of immigrants.

No. My ancestor was here to welcome John Smith.

[brytlea]

Virtually every one of us is either an immigrant ourselves or the son or daughter of immigrants.

This really bugs me. Most of us (at this point) are not immigrants. Our ancestors may well have been (and probably were) but that does not make us a nation of immigrants. Most Americans ancestors were probably also European. Does that make us a nation of Europeans? Besides, virtually everyone on the planet has immigrant ancestors (except whoever is where the first humans were). So, we are really a world of immigrants! Sorry for the rant, but that phrase just bugs the heck out of me. Wouldn't it be more on target to call us an immigrant friendly nation? susie

[robertpaulsen]

It really doesn't help when Fox News titles the article, "A Day Without Immigrants" when, in reality, it's "A Day Without Illegal Immigrants''.

[kellynla]

ping

[miliantnutcase]

So your ancestors were immigrants from east Asia?

[bordergal]

Why oh why can't Tom McClintock be my governor instead of the Terminator?

/bangs head on wall

[kellynla]

"Why oh why can't Tom McClintock be my governor instead of the Terminator?"

McClintock could have been...if everyone who said they were going to vote for him had actually done so...

[Lancey Howard]

It really doesn't help when Fox News titles the article, "A Day Without Immigrants" when, in reality, it's "A Day Without Illegal Immigrants''.

Actually, "illegal immigrants" is self-contradictory, like "gay marriage". It should be "illegal aliens".
And I agree - - that's pretty pathetic from Fox News. I have come to expect better from that outfit.

[truthkeeper]

Proud McClintock BTTT.

[bordergal]

I tried, but they wouldn't let me vote more then once....:)

[hedgetrimmer]

Bump

[jonathan-swift2000]

As a 2nd generation American (no hyphen) you are 100% right. On May 5th, the US government needs to close the southern border. Happy cinco de mayo to el presidente Fox!

[DumpsterDiver]

but that phrase [we're a nation of immigrants] just bugs the heck out of me.

Same here.

Wouldn't it be more on target to call us an immigrant friendly nation?

Yes, it would.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"No. My ancestor was here to welcome John Smith."

I wonder if Kennewick Man's relatives were there to meet your ancestors.

Michael Frazier

[schaketo]

Does anyone else find it ironic these are being held on “May Day”? Big day for communists.

May Day a.k.a. International Workers' Day

International Workers' Day (a name used interchangeably with May Day) is the commemoration of the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, and a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. The 1 May date is used because in 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, inspired by labor's 1872 success in Canada, demanded an eight-hour workday in the United States to come in effect as of May 1, 1886. This resulted in a general strike and the riot in Chicago of 1886, but eventually also in the official sanction of the eight-hour workday. The May Day Riots of 1894 and May Day Riots of 1919 occurred subsequently.

Due to these left-wing overtones, May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot usually right as the first day of May begins. [1] In the 20th century, May Day received the official endorsement of the Soviet Union; celebrations in communist countries during the Cold War era often consisted of large military parades and shows of common people in support of the government.

The Red Scare periods ended May Day as a mass holiday in the United States, a phenomenon which can be seen as somewhat ironic given that May Day originated in Chicago. Meanwhile, in countries other than the United States and United Kingdom, resident working classes fought hard to make May Day an official governmentally-sanctioned holiday, efforts which eventually largely succeeded. For this reason, May Day in most of the world today is marked by huge street rallies of workers led by their trade unions and various large socialist and communist parties — a phenomenon not generally seen in the U.S. (which has a history of strong anti-communism) or the UK.

In most countries other than the U.S. and UK, May Day is often referred to simply as "Labor Day".

[Tokra]

No. My ancestor was here to welcome John Smith.

And even YOUR ancestor came here from somewhere else. The "native Americans" also came here from the old world - across the land bridge on the Bering straits. Granted it was maybe 30,000 years ago, but they still came from somewhere else.

Everyone on this continent traces their ancestry to somewhere else. Originally there were NO humans on this continent.

Literally everyone in the Western hemisphere descended from immigrants. Everyone.

[Burlem]

Don't bang your head on wall, contribute to his campaign for Lt. Governor

[gubamyster]

ping

[robertpaulsen]

"It should be "illegal aliens"."

Although it's redundant, I prefer it also because it drives home the point.

Hey, they're just taking the days off that Americans refuse to.