MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Mitt hired Mexicans to cut his lawn
I read that article in Time on my break at work today.
It was pretty interesting, and explained some of why I feel the way I do about the immigration issue.
I think some people here could do well to give it a look.
Didn't read it but the author was on Bill O'Reilly a few nights ago. Interesting... his grandfather brought him over from the Philippines with a fake visa and social security number. He lied to get into journalism school, lied on his job application for the Washington Post (which he admited was a crime) and didn't say if he ever registered to vote. Our system "forces you to lie" he said. Well, all crime forces the culprit to lie doesn't it?
So he lied to take the slot in journalism school from an American student.
He lied to take a newspaper job from an American worker.
He had a false social security number -- if you or I do that it's called identity theft by the way.
And if he didn't, many of these "undocumented immigrants" vote disenfranchising a voting American citizen. And yet HE'S the victim !!
And these are the "otherwise law-abiding immigrants" the president says we shouldn't, and he won't, deport.
Well I call B. S. We have a problem that needs to be addressed but this is pandering.
And by the way, even if you totally disagree with my take or think me a xenophobic bigot (BVS ), are the president's actions going to alleviate or exacerbate this problem if we don't first stop illegal immigration at our borders?
Moonlit_Angel said:He broke the law, yes, but otherwise, he seems to have made a proper life for himself in every other regard. He hasn't become one of those "lazy bums" that some stereotype immigrants as (again, if they aren't working, they're lazy, but if they're working, they're taking jobs, so they can't seem to win either way). He hasn't turned to a life selling drugs or causing trouble within the country or whatever. In nearly every definition he is as American a citizen as anyone else here.
Didn't read it but the author was on Bill O'Reilly a few nights ago. Interesting... his grandfather brought him over from the Philippines with a fake visa and social security number. He lied to get into journalism school, lied on his job application for the Washington Post (which he admited was a crime) and didn't say if he ever registered to vote. Our system "forces you to lie" he said. Well, all crime forces the culprit to lie doesn't it?
So he lied to take the slot in journalism school from an American student.
He lied to take a newspaper job from an American worker.
He had a false social security number -- if you or I do that it's called identity theft by the way.
And if he didn't, many of these "undocumented immigrants" vote disenfranchising a voting American citizen. And yet HE'S the victim !!
And these are the "otherwise law-abiding immigrants" the president says we shouldn't, and he won't, deport.
Well I call B. S. We have a problem that needs to be addressed but this is pandering.
And by the way, even if you totally disagree with my take or think me a xenophobic bigot (BVS ), are the president's actions going to alleviate or exacerbate this problem if we don't first stop illegal immigration at our borders?
And by the way, even if you totally disagree with my take or think me a xenophobic bigot (BVS ), are the president's actions going to alleviate or exacerbate this problem if we don't first stop illegal immigration at our borders?
Your post isn't exactly repugnant but it seems lacking in compassion. It's one thing of this guy came over of his own free will and then proceeded to live a life of lies so he could stay. What was missing from your post--what would have made me buy it--was "If it were me, when I found out I was illegally in the country and was old enough to do something about it the first thing I would do, is get a ticket back to the Philippines. I know it would be hard to say goodbye to my friends, family, and life here in America knowing that I'll likely never come back. But it's far more important that I follow the law and not take jobs from the Americans who are actually supposed to be here. I would figure things out in the Philippines and hey, there's always Skype too!"
Great post, Sean.
These are my views as well. I immigrated to the west (lived in more than one country before settling on Canada) as a child and while we did so legally, I often think, what would I have done if my parents had taken me abroad out of desperation, as a young child? For people who weren't immigrants as children, you just can't at all understand the difficulties or even the process itself. What happens is that you were born somewhere else and at home you may speak one language, eat ethnic food, celebrate your birth country's holidays or observe their religious practices. But in every other way you become integrated with the society around you. For example, I have no friends in my country of birth. I speak the language fluently but not as well as English. I graduated from elementary school, high school, university and law school in Canada. I learned how to drive here, I had my first boyfriend here, my first job, all the big milestones that you can think of. My partner is Canadian and obviously does not speak my native tongue, though he's picked up some odds and ends here and there.
What does a person like that do when they come to a full understanding of the law and that they are breaking it? Do what Sean's done? It's completely unrealistic, because that person no longer has reasonable or real ties with their "home" country. And by NO CHOICE of their own. I understand what he means when he says that the law forced him to lie, because after a while he felt like an American and everything about him was American. And you expect a person like that to go return to a place around the world that he no longer knows. It's cruel. Deal with the parents or the grandparents in some appropriate way, I agree. But for a law abiding citizen like him who is really a victim of circumstances, let's be a little...Christian, shall we?
This is a couple of months old but still a hoot.
BREAKING! Senator Durbin wants ILLEGAL ALIENS to become PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.! - YouTube
I'm surprised that this statement would come off from a person like you.We already got a non-US citizen in the White House, so why is this absurd?
I am actually pretty conservative when it comes to illegal immigration. I see no reason to oppose stronger measures to control illegal immigration.
However, I rarely find an opportunity to express my support because the tone of so many of the proponents of stronger measures is so repugnant.
Your post isn't exactly repugnant but it seems lacking in compassion. It's one thing of this guy came over of his own free will and then proceeded to live a life of lies so he could stay. What was missing from your post--what would have made me buy it--was "If it were me, when I found out I was illegally in the country and was old enough to do something about it the first thing I would do, is get a ticket back to the Philippines. I know it would be hard to say goodbye to my friends, family, and life here in America knowing that I'll likely never come back. But it's far more important that I follow the law and not take jobs from the Americans who are actually supposed to be here. I would figure things out in the Philippines and hey, there's always Skype too!"
If you'd said that, well, okay. Maybe I can buy a hardline stance.
It's interesting, because Vargas actually more or less made the choice I described above when he decided to go public with his immigration status. He's actually approached the ICE because he expected that with all the publicity they must surely be planning to deport him. But they told him that they actually have no record of his existence and so can't/won't do anything about him.
But I'm guessing if you were in his shoes you would have taken the onus on yourself and left voluntarily, right?
And don't forget Mexico, with a projected per capita income of about $63,000 by the end of 2050, compared to the current one being about $16K.
The drug wars are taking place against the backdrop of an economy that has responded robustly to the global crisis. Mexico is becoming a manufacturing powerhouse at a time of vindication for those countries that kept or developed their industrial bases, unlike its crisis-ridden giant northern neighbour. Its aeronautical and auto industries have helped propel growth rates since the crisis of 2008 and recession in 2009, with manufactured goods accounting for 84% of exports. Mexico aims for trade to account for 85% of GDP by 2017.
financeguy said:You say Indy500's post is borderline repugnant and lacking in compassion. If what you say is true - if you genuinely are a conservative on immigration issues but are not prepared to advocate for it on the forum - then your post is something worse - plain cowardly and vacillating.
So he lied to take the slot in journalism school from an American student.
He lied to take a newspaper job from an American worker.
I've been thinking about this for a few days because it's bothering me. I find it interesting that you didn't say that he took a spot in school or a job from somebody in the US legally, but from an "American". Makes me wonder whether you distinguish, perhaps subconsciously, between "real" Americans and immigrants who may have a green card or are naturalized citizens, for example.
I ask because I have found this attitude on occasion (in Canada, the beacon of immigration policies, so they say). I actually found it astounding that somebody would say to my face that "those people" are taking jobs or spots in universities because their parents force them to study more, etc. Like, hello, you're talking to one of THOSE people. Ridiculous.
It's ridiculous that you don't even try to understand opposing views. What part of ILLEGAL immigrants don't you understand. "THOSE PEOPLE" are not neutralized citizens, those on visas, those with green cards, exchange students or Irish musicians on tour in America.
I'm surprised that this statement would come off from a person like you.
You say Indy500's post is borderline repugnant and lacking in compassion. If what you say is true - if you genuinely are a conservative on immigration issues but are not prepared to advocate for it on the forum - then your post is something worse - plain cowardly and vacillating.
INDY500 said:It's ridiculous that you don't even try to understand opposing views. What part of ILLEGAL immigrants don't you understand. "THOSE PEOPLE" are not neutralized citizens, those on visas, those with green cards, exchange students or Irish musicians on tour in America.