Illegal Immigrants are NOT the Same as Legal Immigrants

Submitted by LaundryMom on February 26, 2008 - 9:11am. america | illegal immigrants | immigration | melting pot | United States

I woke up this morning with a "bee in my bonnet" about something I saw on the news last night before I went to bed. It was a story about how there is going to be an immigration protest rally in Annapolis, Maryland today. I used to be what people would call a "bleeding heart" liberal when I was freshly graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Social Work. I believed that everyone needs to be treated with respect and everyone deserves an equal chance at living a good life, everything is all hearts and flowers, blah, blah blah. Now, twenty-some years later, I am not so much a bleeding heart but rather a common sense, no-bones-about-it kind of person. I have seen enough of the injustices and misconceptions that have occured because we Americans have been, on the whole, a kind and benevolent country. We have become push-overs, and have become confused about the difference between immigrants and illegal immigrants. This great country has become great because we are a melting pot of different people. Everyone had something to add to the pot, everyone used to be work to better themselves and the communties they lived in. Now, if you listen to the news media spin on immigration, you would think that Americans are evil, cold, closed-minded and selfish because we want our government to enforce immigration laws. If I were an immigrant who came here to work and make a better life for myself, and I did all the required paperwork and passed the required tests,I would be outraged at what the illegal immigrants are doing now. It seems to me that no other country would be asked to do what we are doing. Does Canada allow people to come to their country illegally and make demands of her healthcare system, legal system, educational system, and almost every institution there? Does Great Britain, Ireland, Australia,Japan or any other country? Why is it that when we want to protect ourselves, our institutions and all we have worked for, we become evil and uncaring? I want my children to grow up with every advantage possible, but if we allow illegals to continue to come here and make demands for "equal rights,"when they truly haven't earned them and don't have repect for others' rights, we are risking all that we legal citizens have worked for.
Absorbing illegal immigrants like we have been doing is causing a strain on us economically, socially, and politically. Why do we put up with it? Why is it that it is largely Hispanic people who are unable to immigrate in the same manner as those from India, Germany, Ireland, Canada, England, China, Japan, Korea,and everywhere else? In all of the video coverage I seen, it appears that it is people of Hispanic decent that are having a problem getting here within the law. Why is this? What can we do to make sure that the laws that are being legislated are going to be good for all of us and not just those who live south of our borders? Is there an answer to any of this? Come here, America has a lot to offer, but please come here legally!

» LaundryMom's blog |

| 98 reads

Because it's HARD, laundrymom

Submitted by spookyyank on February 26, 2008 - 10:57am.

Whenever I encounter questions like this, I point out the things I've also seen on the news. For starters, take a look at our immigration website and look up the requirements for living here legally AND working here legally. They are two, totally seperate things. Now, when it comes to the large number of Hispanics, that has to do with two things. #1: they can cross the boarder in a car or on foot. If Canada was closer, they'd go there, but it isn't. The second reason I'll leave til the end because it's the same for everyone.

Also, even though there are a great number of hispanics here illegally, don't be blinded by the media (let's face it - what better to get American's to "forget" about the war than to stir up crap about immigration!) When I lived in Big Spring, the local prison exclusively housed illegals. When I had a chance to talk with a couple prison guards they clued me in about something - there's a hell of a lot of Canadian's in there! They have folks from all over the world in there. So, the number difference has more to do with the ability to actually make it across the boarder. It's not about one nationality doing things more legally than another.

But, back to what I was saying at the top. We've been conditioned to think of illegal's as trying to get over on our system. Sure, there ARE some cases. People are people, after all. But, let me ask you something - the same question that I've asked others. It is obvious to anyone who's ever read your blogs that you love your family and would do anything for them. Well, let's now transplant your family to a poverty stricken country like Haiti. Marshall law has been instated AGAIN and in the middle of the night all of the males (including the babies) in your home are slaughtered by "recruited" police. They next rape you and the other females (including small children), maybe killing some of you, too. Really, if you're lucky, you're only raped and not beaten to death, as well. You already had nothing and now have no protection because all the men are dead AND that tiny bit of money your husband brought in is now gone, too! Would you worry about learning English and trying to do things the "right way" when this is your life??? You wouldn't even be able to get amnesty because you still don't qualify. And, the same scenerio could be applied to Mexico. Only, instead, this time your oldest child has been kidnapped and murdered because you didn't have the money to pay. Or, simply that your kids are starving because there's no work. They can come over here and work for slave wages, yet still feed their families back home. And, everyone knows the risk they face - not just from immigration. Hell, immigration is a friggen picnic compared to the slavery and exploitation most illegals face here.

It's so easy to get caught up in the media's crap about immigration. But, the hard thruth is that ,for the most part, we're dealing with people who are trying to feed their families, trying to keep their kids alive, trying to protect their daughters from the abuses their country subjects them to just for being female, or even trying to keep their sons from recruitement into terrorism.

And, just as important here - we're not the only country with this issue. Let's not forget how desirable the UK is! Let's also not forget about France. After the flood of immigrants from Africa, France has also become the destination of choice for people fleeing poverty and persecution. And, of course, there are plenty of illegal immigrants in Canada. Wanna take a guess at how many of them are US citizens???? You'd actually be pretty damn shocked!

But, finally, (yes, I'll actually be done in a second lol) I myself have found immigration to the UK impossible as things are now. I'm educated, hard working and able. Yet, I don't even come CLOSE to qualifying for a work Visa. And, that's the important bit of info the media and politicians ALWAYS LEAVE OUT. If I can't get a work Visa, what makes anyone think that a poverty-stricken Mexican citizen with no education and no resources (remember - if they were making money in Mexico - they wouldn't need to come here!)would qualify to work here??? It's all crap as far as I'm concerned. And, if you look at "the system", there's more of us weighing it down than them.

Just my .45 cents ;-)

STALKING EDGAR ON MYSPACE

HOME OF 'STALKING EDGAR' THE MOVIE

» login or register to post comments

I agree with most of what you say, Spookyyank

Submitted by LaundryMom on February 26, 2008 - 11:39am.

but there has to be a way to make things easier so that we don't have so many people waiting for so long. And just because it is hard, doesn't mean that it is impossible. The two pronged approach of streamlining our system and helping countries like Haiti and Mexico seem impossible, but we have to start somewhere, and so far, all I have heard are loud demands of "equal rights" from those who are here without being "legal." Their only right, as far as I can tell is to be treated humanely while being escorted back to their country to try the legal way. That kind of behavior puts people off and makes it bad for everyone. I have yet to hear any good, do-able ideas for a solution, have you?

» login or register to post comments

Nope, laundrymom

Submitted by spookyyank on February 26, 2008 - 12:50pm.

The only thing I hear is - "We need to stop this problem!" , "Immigrants are terrorists!" , or, "Why can't they do things legally??". I could easily get a work Visa to the UK.....if I had a PHD! For most, doing things the legal way IS impossible. I'm on message boards for people trying to immigrate to the UK and hands down, the folks without the most desirable stats like a PHD or surgeons or nurses (there's a shortage there, too) have to do it the illegal way. And, we're talking about college grads, here. The rules are pretty much the same as here. To legally immigrate - unless you can claim citizenship due to lineage - you need a job offer. BUT, it's ILLEGAL to actively seek a job unless you have a work permit! BUT, you cannot even apply for a work permit unless you have a job offer!!! Is your head spinning yet? And, that's just the beginning of the red tape that immigrants face. So, (and I'm NOT recommending this - hell, I'd be there already if I were) what the successful folks have done is travel there on "holiday", looked for work while there and simply stayed if they land a job. That's 100% illegal. It's also what most of our illegals do - the big difference is that the employers here KEEP them illegal. Instead of going through the right channels, they keep them enslaved.

And, as far as the loud illegals go - that always rings to me of the reporters who pick the most ignorant from the crowd to give the details of a tornado. I've known a couple of illegals and the last thing they bitched about was their rights. It simply makes for racier headlines and perpetuates the racism and hate that is already infecting this once great country. But, I'm sure I would have been just as pissed off if I'd seen what you did! It's all just meat for the machine, though.

Change, yes you're so right about that! We need to change how the system works, but also need for it to become common knowledge just how impossible it actually is for most trying to come here to better their lives.

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus, 1883

And, those who were once warmly greeted with that at the Statue of Liberty, are now exactly who we are now trying to keep OUT.

STALKING EDGAR ON MYSPACE

HOME OF 'STALKING EDGAR' THE MOVIE

» login or register to post comments

Online users:

Today's:

Last viewed: