A Day Without Me
Ok, everyone keeps asking, so here’s my opinion on the immigration issue.
I do not support the “Day Without an Immigrant”. I repeat, I do not support the illegal immigrants’ activism.
Here’s why – as a newcomer to this country, I had to follow a set of rules established by the people of this country. I had to cut through miles of red tape on my own. I had to drive out of state to complete physicals, fingerprinting, and interviews. My wife and friends had to write countless letters of support. We had to prove beyond all doubt that we are married for real, and not for the Green Card. Our lives were scritinized and documented right in front of us. Did I mention thousands of dollars in fees we had to shell out?
The side effects of being an alien are even more significant. I had to pay double everything in college – my tuition instead of being a couple-three grand per semester was always hovering around six. I could be deported for any misdemeanor normally punishable by a slap on the wrist if I were a citizen.
I believe the process was put into place to single out those motivated enough to complete the naturalization. The process is not perfect, but jumping the fence (breaking the law) and using the excuse “Oh, sorry, I’m just looking for a better life” is bullshit. Just because the U.S. borders Mexico does not enable citizens of Mexico enter the U.S. whenever they please. Citizens of any other country have to become parts of the process, so why should it be different for those enjoying the proximity?
I do agree with the President for once – the illegal immigrants already here must be given the chance to apply for work visas. Given the chance, not given the visas.
Nobody gave me a break when I was naturalizing. I believe I am here because I was more persistent than the coutless thousands who apply, get rejected, and quit.
Thank You!
My great-great-grandparent where born here, so I am looked to be a racist when I say things like you have. I agree and can just say thank you for saying it. Do it legally, if we need to adjust the quota of green cards or visas given that is different then creating a new class of guest workers.
Comment by Carl — May 1, 2006 @ 8:23 am
That is great!! I would be 4th generation American. Although I am of Polish decent – I consider myself American. My Great Grandparents came to this country with nothing. They learned the country’s language and didn’t cry to anyone to accomodate them. Chicago has the 2 largest Polish population in the world – 2nd only to Poland. Yet, I have never seen a pay phone with instruction in Polish. I would also never look for this. WE ARE AMERICANS!! WE SPEAK ENGLISH!!
Comment by D — May 1, 2006 @ 8:42 am
Well, I disagree with the English thing. I believe if enough people in Chicago pushed for the Polish reform, if would happen just like it did for the Hispanics.
Someone’s persistence paid off – now everything is in Spanish as well as English. However, I do believe because it finally happened, a lot of Hispanics got complacent – some of them now simply expect that everything continues to be in Spanish by default. I think there is a Polish holiday in Chacago, so it is possible to accomodate the majority.
Another thing, too – white people should really start learning Spanish. Firstly, it’s easy. Secondly, I’m hearing your salary doubles if you are a professional speaking Espanol.
Comment by How To Be Poor — May 1, 2006 @ 9:15 am
They even had the nerve to vandalize the statue of liberty replica in OKC. Google it.
I read about it here:
http://www.nationalvanguard.org/story.php?id=8831
It’s obviously a bit biased, but it shows how much respect these “immigrants” have for the USA.
Comment by Lawrence — May 2, 2006 @ 1:16 am
lol. calling the national vanguard “a bit biased” is quite an understatement.
Comment by Cap — May 2, 2006 @ 4:15 am
Nice.
I said it once, I’ll say it again – instead of deporting 1.4 million people, Migra should start slowly deporting 1,000 people at a time. However, I’m afraid it’s too late now because the precedent’s been set – if enough people break the law and then hit the streets, not only will the crime go unpunished, but the actual law might get changed.
Of course, you could say that about the civil rights movement and women voting.
Comment by How To Be Poor — May 2, 2006 @ 4:36 am
They had amnesty once – in 1986.
They said that they were going to tightly seal the borders then. They lied.
History might repeat itself.
Comment by Lawrence — May 2, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
Dude,
You are *TOTALLY* sour grapes. My grandparents may have had to walk twenty miles, through six feet of snow, uphill both ways to school in bare feet everyday, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take the bus. Times change.
The US government brought this problem on themselves by failing to protect the borders adequately and luring the undocumented with easy jobs. We can’t just deport everyone- there is NO WAY IN HELL that’s even logistically possible without turning into a Nazi-like state; just forget about that now.
The whole concept of putting people through the expensive and lengthy application process for a green card is a relatively recent phenomenon in US history. The fact is that most of our ancestors who arrived in the US prior to about 1955 entered the country without scrutiny through nearly wholly unprotected borders and shipping ports; even those who arrived “officially” via Ellis Island or other government sanctioned ports of entry typically completed the screening and documentation process in about eight hours (that’s right, I said HOURS, not weeks, months, or years!).
Let’s get off our high horses about immigration. Our ancestors typically came from very humble backgrounds similar to today’s undocumented workers. 99.99% of today’s undocumented workers are honest, hardworking people who are only doing what any of us would do to raise our families up from poverty.
Also, let’s thank our lucky stars that the vast majority of our immigrants are coming from Latin America. These people have an excellent history of assimilation and share many of the same values of mainstream Americans. By contrast, the recent immigrants of Europe are principally from the Middle East and North Africa and have a *terrible* record of assimilation. Europeans have the burden of living among immigrants who have very different values and in many cases, hate the native people of their new country and consider them “infidels”.
For those of you who are wondering, I’m a white American man born in Columbus, Ohio. My most recent immigrant relative was a great-grandfather from Ireland who entered the US sometime around 1910.
Comment by Chris — May 9, 2006 @ 4:55 pm
I don’t have a problem being a white guy and discussing this issue.
Recently, there’s been talks about giving illegal immigrants a chance to become US CITIZENS before, like, Memorial Day. My jaw dropped.
So all I had to do is enter this country illegally and I would be a citizen??? No fees, interviews, physicals, fingerprinting, waiting 6 months for every little decision … All I had to do is sneak on the plane, and I would be granted this glorious opportunity?
You are trying to make good points, but the bottom line is this: just because the US cannot deport everyone does not mean everyone can break the law.
If I throw an empty plastic water out of the moving vehicle, I’ll get misdemeanor. If I jack a candy bar, I’ll most certainly turn into a “guy with a record”. But wait … I cross the border illegally and not only will I not get punished, I actually might be awarded citizenship papers! CROSS THE BORDER! ILLEGALLY!
The fact that the US is a country of immigrants does not make it a country of immigrants RIGHT NOW. There’s a well-defined set of rules everyone has to follow. I’m not saying “don’t let anyone in”, I’m saying “treat equally, track, and tax”.
Comment by How To Be Poor — May 11, 2006 @ 11:46 am
Trust me, as soon as the elections are over this year, you won’t be hearing anymore about “securing our borders”. That is, until we start getting nearer to the next Presidential election.
Comment by SkyeBlue — May 22, 2006 @ 5:37 am
Nations are biological, not geographical, entities; and what’s really happening is happening on the genetic level.
Think about it.
Comment by Honesty — September 6, 2006 @ 12:29 am
K Y…
thx for the info…
Trackback by K Y — October 21, 2006 @ 9:11 am
And all your great-great-grandparents came here “legally”, filled out the paperwork, paid the fees, ate the turkey, then poisoned the native americans so that you would have the nerve to tell somebody they can not come? what bigotry!
Comment by Victor — October 24, 2006 @ 5:55 pm