Notice of a "counter-protest" GO SHOPPING on MAY 1
Yes, all of us, except the Native Americans, came here from somewhere
else. However, in our modern history 95% of our ancestors came here
legally, after much labor, hope, sacrifice and left their own
homelands to start over. They left much behind and knew the
relevance of assimilating into the new culture.
They brought many good things: their foods, many traditions, etc.,
but they had, after all, come to America to begin anew.
They learned ENGLISH - at least they insisted that their CHILDREN
learn it. They EMBRACED American ideals and systems wholeheartedly.
They begged for NOTHING. They were offered NOTHING. Yet they stayed
and endured and became the fabric of American culture and ideals.
Those who have come to our shores illegally have been (and European
illegals are STILL) shipped back to their country of origin. My own
family could not get here even with sponsorship, money in the bank, a
job offer, other family and so forth. There was a quota for various
countries. So they didn't get to come here -- PERIOD. We didn't
tell them to sneak in through any other way.
Now those who wish to legalize that which is illegal want to have "no
shopping on MAY 1" day. Good. Most of that money is not spent here
anyway, it is sent back to family in another country. The drain from
our economy to educate and provide medical care for illegal
immigration offsets ANY value from what they may spend.
I have friends of 58-65 years old who want to work and feel LUCKY to
get a job paying $7 per hour. No matter how talented they are, they
can't get hired at the kind of money they were making in their
careers. They had to lose other work because they are caregiving for
aged/ill parents, grandkids whose divorced parents are working, and
so forth. But NO ONE is offering them jobs with higher salaries.
Let's take care of our house before we start welcoming any more
"guests". This illegal immigration is no more than the guest who
came to dinner -- and never left.
So SHOP ON MAY FIRST. BUY what you need on THAT day. Do groceries,
clothes, ALL OF IT on May 1.
else. However, in our modern history 95% of our ancestors came here
legally, after much labor, hope, sacrifice and left their own
homelands to start over. They left much behind and knew the
relevance of assimilating into the new culture.
They brought many good things: their foods, many traditions, etc.,
but they had, after all, come to America to begin anew.
They learned ENGLISH - at least they insisted that their CHILDREN
learn it. They EMBRACED American ideals and systems wholeheartedly.
They begged for NOTHING. They were offered NOTHING. Yet they stayed
and endured and became the fabric of American culture and ideals.
Those who have come to our shores illegally have been (and European
illegals are STILL) shipped back to their country of origin. My own
family could not get here even with sponsorship, money in the bank, a
job offer, other family and so forth. There was a quota for various
countries. So they didn't get to come here -- PERIOD. We didn't
tell them to sneak in through any other way.
Now those who wish to legalize that which is illegal want to have "no
shopping on MAY 1" day. Good. Most of that money is not spent here
anyway, it is sent back to family in another country. The drain from
our economy to educate and provide medical care for illegal
immigration offsets ANY value from what they may spend.
I have friends of 58-65 years old who want to work and feel LUCKY to
get a job paying $7 per hour. No matter how talented they are, they
can't get hired at the kind of money they were making in their
careers. They had to lose other work because they are caregiving for
aged/ill parents, grandkids whose divorced parents are working, and
so forth. But NO ONE is offering them jobs with higher salaries.
Let's take care of our house before we start welcoming any more
"guests". This illegal immigration is no more than the guest who
came to dinner -- and never left.
So SHOP ON MAY FIRST. BUY what you need on THAT day. Do groceries,
clothes, ALL OF IT on May 1.
posted by Lucia Bartoli | 2:19 PM
17 Comments:
European immigrants were never exposed to the kinds of obsticles Latin American immigrants have to overcome to legally enter this country. It amazes me that people in this country are so spoiled by the good life we have that they cannot see the desperation that exists in the rest of the world. We're hungry but they're belly's full - Hungry people won't stay hungry for long!! Your country's laws will never supercede the law of survival. Americans do not have the market cornered on ambition. We're coming and you can't stop us. EVER. But don't worry, when Latinos are the majority I'm sure we'll treat the White minority with the same amount of respect and dignity that Whites have treated all the world's minorities throughout history.
Ummm, I wish this were so black and white, cut and dry. But, it's not.
On paper, I might agree with you--let's take care of ourselves first. Makes perfect sense, after all. But the problems start to surface when you look at what already exists in this country, that is to say millions of undocumented workers who are subsidizing our economy in a variety of ways we can't even begin to fathom. Everyone rolls out the "old woman" who would be happy with a $7/hour job as an example of the types of jobs that illegals are "stealing" from us rightful citizens, which is a feel-good, easy-to-understand example. What isn't so touchy-feely are the hundreds of thousands of jobs that no citizen would want to take at $7 an hour, or even $20 an hour! Jobs like picking strawberries, where the average life expectancy of an adult male worker is an appalling 35 years old. Oh, one more thing—rather than $7 an hour, those migrant strawberry pickers make more like $7 a day. Seems fair, doesn't it? Yes, they bring families that burden our schools and healthcare systems, but when growing season ends, we systematically ship them off to Mexico, only to turn a blind eye to their arrival again the next season. That’s where the hypocrisy lies. And solving for that isn’t so easy.
The point is this: if it were a question of establishing a policy today to either allow or disallow illegals into the country, I think everyone would agree to say "no way". But, everyday we reap the financial benefits of having what amounts to a serfdom of illegal aliens willing to work for much less (and often times much harder) than any natural citizen would ever deign to stoop (“stoop” sometimes literally, as in the case of the strawberry pickers). I’m not claiming to have the answer, but just wanted to point out that there isn’t a clear-cut solution and that sympathy and understanding on both sides of the issue is the road to what has to be the only answer….compromise.
As for me, I will spend May 1st thanking my lucky stars I was born into this country, healthy, and by the standards of the rest of the world, exceptionally wealthy.
Anonymous makes many false statements in badly spelled English. Okay, so this person doesn't have spell check nor care to invest the time to use a bi-lingual dictionary.
People who immigrate here currently and who did so since the early beginnings of this country (U.S.A.) did so SPECIFICALLY because of desperation and need. They came as legal immigrants (many sent back) or as refugees (Vietnamese). Why don't the "ambitious" illegal newcomers reform their homeland by uniting THERE and forcing CHANGE however way they deign to do? But do it THERE or come here LEGALLY. This is not about Latinos. (See Puerto Ricans in this country. Not a problem.)
Lastly, to impress your reading audience, at least TRY to use the Spanish-English dictionary for help.
Things are not always black and white.
Choices in a civil society must be run by fair and equitable laws. Will we then open the borders to those who can enhance our country in other ways? Certainly there must be SOMETHING a Swede or a Russian could offer (if they begin to come illegally) even if they are not good fruit pickers! (I am SO tired of that age old example - the FRUIT pickers.) Why don't we then, as a nation, accept MORE produce and other things from Mexico so that those who are fruit pickers can do so in their OWN country and the fruit can be sold here. There are thousands and thousands of avocadoes and oranges in southern California. Why, I wonder, do I pay the same - or more - for that fruit as my pals in the midwest where this stuff also gets shipped?
Continuing - Actually, a LOT of senior citizens or high school kids work at those $7 per hour jobs and would like to work at more of them.
Maybe the OTHER jobs you speak of might be filled by those on welfare who refuse to go to work. No work, no check. If a policy were ENFORCED, then perhaps it would work to make the lazy ones get moving. You might well take note that African-Americans in a recent news story, are not "siding with" the illegal immigration proponents. Why? Well, they feel that the illegals are taking the jobs that THEY could fill. The plot thickens.
But thank you for a cogent and intelligent discussion. You are a refreshing presence here. I respect well thought-out dialogue.
U CAN KISS MY ASS......SO HOWS MY SPELLING?
Your spelling is not so hot! It should be:
"You can kiss my ass. So, how's my spelling?"
You know what, Its people like you that make it hard for everyone.
You need to take into consideration that everyone at some point goes through some type of struggle and immagrants help this country out so much.
I dont think that residents or US citizens want to go work in the field and clean bathrooms. (They rather Be homeless)
If you go to SF Califonia the majority of the homeless people are US citizens.
Atleast we are immagrants but we come to work!
Lucia,
Sometimes we tend to judge others without knowing facts, for example many Americans state that the Mexicans are draining our resources, monetarily (welfare, foodstamps, social security) but did you know that in order to receive benefits, whither it be county, federal or goverment, you must first apply and usually before they even set up an appointment for assistants, you must prove you meet the requirements; which of course, off the bat "CITIZINSHIP" OR "LEGAL STATUS" among others, and because we do not meet the criteria, the gov., feds, county, whatever it might be, won't "HAND OUT FREE MONEY" to us which then offers us no other alternative but to swallow our pride and give 210% of ourselves in the work we do, maybe thats why our American employers hire us, to pick their fields, cook their meals, and care for their children, for a wage that barely puts a roof over our own families heads, and food on the table. Honestly Lucy, can I call you Lucy? Would you wash someones shitting underwear or care for spoiled rotten kids, who have never felt a belt across there ass, for $6.00 an hour? Of course not, and thank God you don't have too, we'll take care of it for you and every other American who's too good for it, the job that is. So, you see, we are not taking away jobs from the Americans, we are simply assisting the Americans in receiving benefits that we taxpayers are not eligible for because we are "illegal-immigrants." As for speaking english, I agree 100%, we as immigrants must learn to read, write and speak english so that when our civil rights as human beings are violated, we can write and shout "si se puede" in english. So you see Lucy, it is our duty; as Mexican Americans to join in the boycotting, that by the way, is being paid for, not by grants but funds provided by many of different nationalities, who believe not all illigal immigrants are gangsters, rapist, or criminals, just people who are migrating from all parts of the world to make America what it is, the land of the free y punto. So on May 1st, I'll be boycotting for the rights of Mexicans and all others; whither illigal or not, and you'll be shopping, proving to all, your not an immigrant just ignorant. Y punto!
P.S
For all those interested, the boycott is to be held, not just in America but all over the world on May 1st, 2006. Please, we ask that if you know of at least one hard working, law abiding citizen, who lives and breathes, to give his family what he can not in his own country, contributes to society and does not deserve to be branded a criminal, then we ask for you to take part on what will be known for ever in history as "A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN."
P.S.S
By the way Lucy, thank you for setting up this site, you just helped me reach hundreds of people who probley did not know of May 1st. And as for my writing, (spelling, punciation, ect.)besides you, who really gives a shit.
I don't think it is legalized Northamerican citizens who make it hard for anyone.
You are correct in saying the obvious...that EVERYONE goes through some type of struggle at some time. But the ILLEGAL residents did not come here PROPERLY. Many of the illegals who are here wrongfully expect to have hospitals, education, medical services, ALL the rights that the rest of the LEGAL residents have EARNED. Also, it is a fact that so many illegal residents keep one "pata" (foot) on this side and the other "pata" across the border. Since most commentsto the blog want to refer to MEXICANS, then let's speak of that group. They fly the Mexican flag and want to vote in Mexican elections but enjoy driver's licenses issued in the U.S.A. They ask others why they don't speak Spanish. Ay! Ay! Ay! This is bad thinking. Strangely, most of the "anonymous" comments keep saying "Mexican". Also these comments do not ever say "Illegal" immigrants. So, let's get it straight. I am speaking about ILLEGAL aliens from ANYWHERE.
And there are ALWAYS people who will clean bathrooms. I ought to know, because when I was struggling between jobs, raising my baby, holding things together, I DID IN FACT CLEAN BATHROOMS. People who are homeless or out of work are either, a) mentally/emotionally disturbed, b) addicted to some substance or life style c) don't want to work.
My legal immigrant father also used a dictionary to spell IMMIGRANTS! So, represent yourself or your status correctly. FOR THE RECORD, it is ILLEGAL ALIENS I am addressing, NOT legal immigrants who save, struggle, file the paperwork, take the time to enter with documentation, etc.
I taught ESL to immigrants at no charge. The lessons were given on COMPANY TIME. Guess what...the illegals didn't see the relevance of learning English. They rarely did the homework, even something so simple as to watch a television news program in ENGLISH and to also read a magazine in ENGLISH and to return to class with what he/she got out of it. Please don't tell me that cleaning toilets is all that is needed for a person to legitimize his presence in this or ANY country.
To GVAZ:
Wow! What a leap YOU made from a blog about ILLEGAL ALIENS being here to your twisted thing about gangsters, rapists, etc. To be truthful, there are many illegal aliens, in fact, doing time in both federal AND state prisons. Better here than in any other country. They also have a high recidivism for crime.
Anyway, I don't know if it is that some of you STILL do not hear or read is that this is about ILLEGAL -ILLEGAL ALIENS. It is you, GVAZ, who keep talking about immigrants as though they went through all of the necessary "tramites" that others went through to be here LEGALLY. If you didn't get here legally you are not a "Mexican-American", you are an illegal alien who is usurping rights that are not yours for the taking. Read the article I recently posted by a renowned economist who happens to be African American (How many of that minority's jobs are illegal aliens taking, by the way? or even Native Americans?). He states, quite eloquently, all of the facts you need to know about the "false economy". That is, the CREATION of SURPLUS food that my LEGAL RESIDENT tax dollars pay to warehouse. So it would be BETTER if less food were processed anyway. (Even those endless strawberries I keep reading about. I love them, but when I was a kid, we simply didn't eat what was "out of season". I actually was able to ANTICIPATE the berries. ) Why not help Mexicans - or whatever group you want to speak about that has high numbers of illegals - to succeed in THEIR OWN country? That is, the U.S. could increase the importation of those ever popular strawberries. Or work to increase natural gas production in Mexico and agree to purchase more from there. There are many ways. I was a working, legal resident of Mexico City. I attended school, graduated, worked, had an apartment, and lived my life there - LEGALLY.
Strangely, people from the various states of Mexico kept coming to the Distrito Federal, looking for work. They still do. There wasn't enough work there then and there isn't now and there won't be. So they come here. Yet they want to keep their own ENTIRE culture intact, not giving up anything to adapting to a NEW environment, culture, language.
By the way, I know a zillion ways to work the system without a green card. You know that as well as I do. It is perfectly legal to buy a house here without citizenship. You can get welfare. You can get medical treatment at a hospital. You can send the kids to school (and INSIST that they be taught in Spanish). If that is what you want to KEEP...all of that baggage you supposedly LEFT BEHIND...then why did you come here at all? Why not stay there, fly that "aguila", speak en espanol, eat only "comida mexicana" and get on with life.
A day without a(n) (illegal) Mexican - May 1 or WHENEVER - ought to be kind of like -- kind of like -- Minnesota or Iowa or Idaho - maybe even parts of New York (that's legal Puerto Rican territory)
Maybe the U.S. could send busloads of OUR OWN disenfranchised citizens to Mexico - everyday 1 or 2 or 3 busloads of adventurous U.S. citizens, willing to start a new life. If we send ENOUGH of them, then the government there will see that they have to feed, clothe, employ them. They will need medical services, schools taught in English, all printed government material will have to be in two languages, too. Imagine that!
And yes, GVAZ, the "grito" of "Si, se puede" is a good one...to be yelled by and for LEGAL immigrants from EVERYWHERE. If special status is granted ONLY to Mexican ILLEGALS, I can assure you that pressure will be on to approve ALL OPEN IMMIGRATION for EVERY OTHER COUNTRY to the U.S. Imagine ILLEGAL Mexicans competing with ILLEGAL Vietnamese, Chinese, Greeks, Italians, Russians, Swedes, Bosnians, Herzegovinians, etc.??
In Chicago and New York there are TONS of LEGAL Russians and Ukrainians doing that menial work you so erroneously believe can ONLY be performed by ILLEGAL Mexicans. It used be done by old LEGALLY IMMIGRATED Polish women. ILLEGAL ALIENS have no more right to dictate the policies of this country than I have to do so illegally in THEIRS. Don't embarrass your heritage by speaking so ridiculously. My affiliation with Mexico is much deeper than you could know, so no bigotry here. Unless of course you are among those who believe that ALL Central Americans, South Americans are of only Spanish, Indian or African origins. I have experienced Mexican workers change their attitudes toward me when they realized that I speak the language, have the "credentials" to pass the "gringa or latina" test.
Some even said: "I didn't know. You don't LOOK like..." So who is demonstrating bigotry?! In order to be a Mexican to many of the illegals here, a person has to be in a dead end job, speak no English, care for other people's kids, and resemble Cuautehmoc. If these poor people bothered to enjoy their FREE education in Mexico, they would have LEARNED the history of that country, the immigration that took place to THAT place years ago. I urge all of you to read "Rain of Gold" by Victor Villasenor. THAT is a book every high school student of any school in the southwest U.S. should have as MANDATORY reading. So let's get serious and stop talking about May 1. It's going to be just ANOTHER day...except maybe less Mexicans will be spending money at the lavanderia, the taqueria, the tienda de vestidos para novia, and all of those Mexican places. It will be a day when I guess none of the illegal workers will send ANY U.S. dollars back to their families in Mexico (whose economy would crumble without the influx of U.S. $$ from the illegals. It is almost bigger than tourism.)
Anonymous, GVAZ: Mexicans here and in Mexico MUST wake up and realize the problem and shame is THEIRS, not ours. Why aren’t you writing to Mr. Fox et al to do something to stop emigration of his country’s citizens. Why aren’t you asking them to change course and 1)hire workers because of “what they know”, not “who they know”; 2)respect the Mexican of Indian culture as must as those of European descent; 3)privatize the oil industry so they can afford to add much needed refineries, increase output and hence income; 4)put the $15billion tourist dollars back into the communities so there is clean water to drink and decent schools to attend. There is so much Mexico could do for itself. How is it possible that Mexicans, with their warmth, humor and great work ethic, in a country with the climate of California cannot succeed? Why do you insist on coming to the USA rather than create opportunities for yourselves in your beautiful country? Particularly those of you who are so very bitter about America's prosperity. You two are a different breed of immigrant and we Americans do not like your ingratitude, your arrogance and lack of respect for our culture. Unlike your fathers before you, your intention is not to become American, but rather to partake in our successes while maintaining allegiance to your homeland. It is this attitude and actions like the booing of our national anthem and the chants of "Osama, Osama" as the U.S. soccer team played as guests in your country, that have stirred the ire of Americans. The best solution to this whole problem is for Mexico to create the opportunities for its own citizens.
Bravo, Bravo! That's exactly it! Thank you for commenting.
Hey Guys,
This is truly a no win situation. I am afraid that May 1 will not go down as a peaceful demonstration that so many people think that they will be participating in. Maybe I am wrong and hope I am; Look at the LA riots. Did anyone really benefit from that mess?
This issue is turning into a race just like the OJ Simpson travesty. The issue is illegal aliens. ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS.
Business has always exploited the poor, so that they can have a bigger profit margin. Ultimately it comes down to this. Are we getting our goods and services cheaper or are we supplementing big business at the real dollar cost of social issues, such as overcrowded schools, exploited workers, and taxed welfare systems, etc.
I married a man who came from another country out in the South Pacific. He entered the country legally but overstayed his visa. When we married there was a lot of paperwork, penalty fees, and a lengthy yet thorough background check. The process took longer than we had wanted but in the end he was able to stay. My point in all this is that no one should just be allowed to stay without some recourse. Each individual should be given a deadline as to when to register with Immigration, pay the penalty fees, do all the paperwork (which is extensive), and definitely complete a background check. If you are someone truly here doing exactly what you should be - no illegal activity, no criminal background, then yes - stay but go through the full process with no penalty of deportation - AGAIN, ONLY IF REGISTERED BY DEADLINE GIVEN. The right to remain after committing an illegal act is unfair and same for considering these individuals as felons - instead come to a middle ground where each side is satisfied.
“A day without an immigrant” An immigrant… that is what I am. I was born in Jamaica and stepped foot on American soil in 1969. I lived as a ‘legal alien resident’ until October 2004, when I became an American citizen. There are many stories like mine. Like other American citizens, I am proud to be a citizen and I can hold my head high because I live by the laws of the land. I can’t imagine living, working and raising kids in a country that I did not belong in.
There is nothing that is Great or American about this boycott. I have hired illegal aliens; I will no longer do so. The services of day laborers are easy, you pick up a few guys from Home Depot, pay them $10 bucks an hour, and bam, your yard is clean. I have also been a victim of these workers. On several occasions I have had expensive items stolen from my home. These items will never be replaced. I never filed a police report, how could I???
You can probably guess by now, I am against everything that the boycott represents. If these illegal so-called low paying workers weren’t here … our world would be different place. Legal residents would get hired for jobs that the illegal’s immigrants take, they would make more money, the money would stay here, not get shipped to Mexico. The money would support local businesses, they could then afford to pay a hire wage, and WOW the economy improves. When the evolution of life is thrown off, everything changes. It would take sometime, but American’s would get used to a day without an immigrant!
I have to tell you - I wish they would boycott all the time!
Today has been the most peaceful day on the road driving....no people...
PEACE.
This made me realize just how much nonsense we're having to choke down!
Today felt like a day out of 1950. Leave it to Beaver Land!
Very few cars, few people and
I didn't have to deal with someone at the drive-thru window at my local BK who couldn't understand my order. Enough stress with just that!
Try ordering four kids meals everyday and having it screwed up EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Aaaahhhhh....if only every day were THIS good!
I say round 'em all up - somehow - and send their butts back!
So much less aggravation...
Besides immigration laws, what other laws are being violated by illegal aliens? Many of them work. They need transportation to get to work. Most of them drive their own cars. Are those cars/drivers insured? Are their cars registered with the DMV? Do they have legitimate driver licenses issued by the state as opposed to forged documents most of them probably have in their possession?
Should they be rewarded for breaking all these laws? I THINK NOT! But if they are rewarded with amnesty, then I think it's only fair that we all get a reward for breaking the laws. So if I get caught speeding on the freeway, I'm going to demand that the cop that stops me write me check for $50.00 instead of giving me a speeding ticket, because I don't agree with posted speed limits!
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