Okay, Okay
I will admit that my tone was probably not the most mature way to argue my case. If we were discussing this in person I am sure that we would have a much more civil way of talking about this, because well, we are friends and we do respect each other. So I apologize - my emotions got the best of me. I guess I was just so shocked (and yes, angered) at your tone (calling immigrants bitches and stupid) and I reacted inappropriately/immaturely probably.
This isn't something that I all of the sudden jumped on the hippie/liberal/whatever bandwagon with. Traveling, and especially teaching ESL last year in Pittsburg, has opened up a whole gamut of issues and solidified a lot of my political beliefs on this subject. And I spoke up and acted as much as possible - trying to teach people English and American History, and helping them find health care, etc. Yes, some of my students were illegal, probably a large part of them. They just want a better life and they are doing all they can to find it, even if that means living in Kansas working at a factory.
I am not in favor of illegal things, per se, but I think that we should respond to this issue in a better way. Let's reform the process of becoming a citizen. Let's reform our social programs. Let's reform the way we distribute wealth in our country. Maybe instead of spending millions of dollars on inauguration balls we could put those appropriations into social security. But there are so many things that can be done, of course. And I am no expert. I don't claim to be. So I am trying to understand as much as I can. I appreciate hearing both sides, because both sides are guilty of misconstruing the facts and making sweeping generalizations. It's a complex huge issue, which is evident in the many different types of protests/demonstrations that went on yesterday (both sides were out in full force).
I did watch the news and I have been reading the articles, but I guess I missed the fact that most of the people protesting (in TX) were saying they are simply reclaiming what was once theirs. I am not trying to be sarcastic, but do you have some articles I can read more about this? I looked at the Dallas Morning News to try and find some specific Texas news, because they don't show much of it up here, or any other place for that matter. There were so many marches up here as well that those were the ones covered mostly. I want to learn more about what is going on and with our media manipulation it is hard to get the whole story - so I am trying to pull it from all over.
The big thing is that the Latinos are being focused on the most because they are the ones who tend to cross illegally. Most of the other immigrants come over with money and assets, so they can do it the right way. But the ones who are illegal are the ones who need our help the most in becoming legal. How will they take away our SS $$ if they are legally contributing by paying taxes? I think that if all of these hard working individuals start paying taxes then it can only help our economy and decrease our debt. I know in NYC there are millions of immigrant families who run business and/or work, and contribute to this city in many wonderful ways. The illegal factor tends to happen more in the rural communities and also yes, in Texas, where one of the wealthiest US states clashes next to a poor disenfranchised nation.
I would love nothing more than for people to be able to strengthen their own countries. It seems like instead of coming over here and working, they should somehow be able to see their work directly benefit and improve their own homeland. I know they would like that too. But the bottom line is that there is nothing set up for them to do that. I don't know what can happen to make this better, but perhaps if we could figure out some way to offer people work permits in exchange for a small garnish of their wages - some of which go to our country since obviously they are working here - and some of which we agree to reinvest into their own country if they agree to go back or apply for citizenship once their permit expires. Don't take that as any sort of proposed solutions, because now I am just thinking aloud. Anyway, yes, it is complex and it is both humanitarian and social and political. It is life.
Okay, I will shut up too. Brian you can come out of hiding now - I think the storm is over.
We are cool, Carla? Sorry if I was mean.
Back to work for me as well.
And back to my granola (I giggled a little because that is what i had for breakfast!)
sc :)
This isn't something that I all of the sudden jumped on the hippie/liberal/whatever bandwagon with. Traveling, and especially teaching ESL last year in Pittsburg, has opened up a whole gamut of issues and solidified a lot of my political beliefs on this subject. And I spoke up and acted as much as possible - trying to teach people English and American History, and helping them find health care, etc. Yes, some of my students were illegal, probably a large part of them. They just want a better life and they are doing all they can to find it, even if that means living in Kansas working at a factory.
I am not in favor of illegal things, per se, but I think that we should respond to this issue in a better way. Let's reform the process of becoming a citizen. Let's reform our social programs. Let's reform the way we distribute wealth in our country. Maybe instead of spending millions of dollars on inauguration balls we could put those appropriations into social security. But there are so many things that can be done, of course. And I am no expert. I don't claim to be. So I am trying to understand as much as I can. I appreciate hearing both sides, because both sides are guilty of misconstruing the facts and making sweeping generalizations. It's a complex huge issue, which is evident in the many different types of protests/demonstrations that went on yesterday (both sides were out in full force).
I did watch the news and I have been reading the articles, but I guess I missed the fact that most of the people protesting (in TX) were saying they are simply reclaiming what was once theirs. I am not trying to be sarcastic, but do you have some articles I can read more about this? I looked at the Dallas Morning News to try and find some specific Texas news, because they don't show much of it up here, or any other place for that matter. There were so many marches up here as well that those were the ones covered mostly. I want to learn more about what is going on and with our media manipulation it is hard to get the whole story - so I am trying to pull it from all over.
The big thing is that the Latinos are being focused on the most because they are the ones who tend to cross illegally. Most of the other immigrants come over with money and assets, so they can do it the right way. But the ones who are illegal are the ones who need our help the most in becoming legal. How will they take away our SS $$ if they are legally contributing by paying taxes? I think that if all of these hard working individuals start paying taxes then it can only help our economy and decrease our debt. I know in NYC there are millions of immigrant families who run business and/or work, and contribute to this city in many wonderful ways. The illegal factor tends to happen more in the rural communities and also yes, in Texas, where one of the wealthiest US states clashes next to a poor disenfranchised nation.
I would love nothing more than for people to be able to strengthen their own countries. It seems like instead of coming over here and working, they should somehow be able to see their work directly benefit and improve their own homeland. I know they would like that too. But the bottom line is that there is nothing set up for them to do that. I don't know what can happen to make this better, but perhaps if we could figure out some way to offer people work permits in exchange for a small garnish of their wages - some of which go to our country since obviously they are working here - and some of which we agree to reinvest into their own country if they agree to go back or apply for citizenship once their permit expires. Don't take that as any sort of proposed solutions, because now I am just thinking aloud. Anyway, yes, it is complex and it is both humanitarian and social and political. It is life.
Okay, I will shut up too. Brian you can come out of hiding now - I think the storm is over.
We are cool, Carla? Sorry if I was mean.
Back to work for me as well.
And back to my granola (I giggled a little because that is what i had for breakfast!)
sc :)
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